Welcome to Moment’s Notice, WRTI’s regular guide to the Philadelphia jazz scene. We’re here to tip you off to the best shows during the week ahead. Sign up now to receive this service in your inbox every week. And if you want to let us know about a show on the horizon, or share any other feedback, drop us a line!
Spotlight: Emmet Cohen Trio — Thursday, Perelman Theater
A pianist of sparkling ebullience, Emmet Cohen became a viral name brand on the basis of a pandemic-born livestream series, “Live From Emmet’s Place.” But Cohen, 33, has a glowing track record well beyond his online notoriety: he’s a winner of the prestigious Cole Porter Fellowship, and the driving force behind the Master Legacy Series, which connects his cohort with an array of jazz elders, most recently the tenor saxophonist Houston Person. Through it all, Cohen remains a steward of the swinging modern jazz tradition as well as a brilliant connector and communicator. His trio, with Philip Norris on bass and Kyle Poole on drums, is sure to turn this Ensemble Arts Philly presentation into a party.
March 14 at 7 p.m., Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 South Broad Street, $40 to $60; purchase tickets.
Ches Smith’s Laugh Ash — Monday, Solar Myth
Ches Smith has earned his reputation not only as a powerful and adaptable drummer, but also as an imaginative composer. Laugh Ash is his new exploration, and the name of the electro-acoustic ensemble he leads here, which has Shara Lunon on vocals, Anna Webber and Oscar Noriega on saxophones, Nate Wooley on trumpet, Jennifer Choi on violin, Kyle Armbrust on viola, Michael Nicholas on cello, and Shahzad Ismaily on bass and synthesizers.
March 11 at 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street, $25; more information.
Pat Bianchi Trio — Thursday, Temple Performing Arts Center
An organist with a strong foothold in the hard-bop tradition, Pat Bianchi has a new album, Three, that serves as the formal introduction to his working band, We Three, with saxophonist Troy Roberts and drummer Colin Stranahan. For this free afternoon hit at the Rite of Swing Jazz Café, Bianchi will be joined by Roberts and an ace substitute, Byron Landham, on drums.
March 14 at 4:30 p.m., Temple Performing Arts Center, 1837 North Broad Street, free; more information.
Cindy Blackman Santana Band — Thursday, South Jazz Kitchen
You may have noticed her in the musical montage before every NFL game last season — and hopefully you were savvy enough to know that was Cindy Blackman Santana on drums. If not, here’s your chance to get acquainted with this precision rhythm engine, who leads a fusion-esque band stocked with killer talent: saxophonist Emilio Modeste, guitarist Aurélien Budynek, bassist Felix Pastorius, and pianist Zaccai Curtis.
March 14 at 7 and 9 p.m.; South Jazz Kitchen, 600 North Broad Street, 7 p.m. is $75, 9 p.m. is sold out; tickets and information.
Goldings, Bernstein, Stewart — Friday and Saturday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
Organist Larry Goldings, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart have been functioning as an equilateral triangle for more than 30 years — and can credibly claim not only a rare longevity in the realm of Hammond B-3 organ trios, but an exceedingly fine rapport besides. Drawing partly from a recent album, Perpetual Pendulum, they’re making their fond return to Philly after an excellent show at the Rite of Swing Cafe last year.
Mar. 15 and 16 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $30, $85 and $105, with dinner packages; purchase tickets.
Tim Berne’s Bearclaw — Saturday, Solar Myth
The alto saxophonist and composer Tim Berne is always juggling several projects — last week, seemingly for kicks, he dropped an archival bootleg of his band Science Friction — but that doesn’t mean he ever wavers in his focus. Bearclaw is a new band that may remind some listeners of an older one; with Gregg Belisle-Chi on guitar and Tom Rainey on drums, it has the same instrumentation as Big Satan, an incredible trio Berne led in the mid-to-late 1990s, also with Rainey on drums.
March 16 at 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street, $25; more information.
Chronicles Fusion Fest — Saturday and Sunday, Black Squirrel Club
The Chronicles, an eight-piece funk-fusion band, has organized this festival as a summit for Philly’s scene at ground level. Among the artists performing on Friday are drummer Nazir Ebo, Studio Wednesdays, Space Race, and the R2 Quintet, led by Rob Rutigliano of The Chronicles. Saturday’s lineup includes The Chronicles along with Atomic Fizz, Featherbird, and Dream by Dream.
March 16 and 17 at 7 p.m., Black Squirrel Club, 1049 Sarah Street, $30, or $40 for a two-day pass ($20 and $30 for students); purchase tickets.
