The fall collections may be out, and the NFL season is about to get underway. But we aren't ready to let go of summer just yet. If you feel the same way, you'll appreciate this week in Moment’s Notice, which includes an A-list saxophonist down the shore, a smooth operator at the Mann, and a full-blown festival in Fort Washington. Sign up now to receive this service in your inbox every Sunday. See you out there!
Spotlight: Imani Records Club Patio Jazz Day — Saturday, Whitemarsh Valley Event Center, Fort Washington, PA
Club Patio, in case you’ve never heard of it, is a grassroots concert series that pianist Orrin Evans started up in the summer of 2020, when actual clubs and concert halls were still out of commission due to COVID restrictions. Originally held on the actual front patio of his home in Northwest Philly, the series — the subject of a profile by Jazz Night in America — has found new life in our post-pandemic era: on Saturday, its latest iteration will take flight at the Whitemarsh Valley Event Center in Fort Washington.
Along with Evans, the lineup will feature homegrown talent like pianist Luke Carlos O’Reilly and bassist Jonathan Michel — as well as the saxophonist Caleb Wheeler Curtis and trombonist David Gibson, who are both members of Evans’ Captain Black Big Band. Also prominent in the lineup is Marianne Solivan, a searching and soulful vocalist whose fifth album, Re-Entry, was released earlier this summer.
Aug. 31 from 12 to 6 p.m., Whitemarsh Valley Event Center, 493 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, PA, $50, VIP $150; purchase tickets.
Nu School Collective — Monday, Solar Myth
Kayla Childs, the keyboardist, vocalist and beatmaker also known as Black Buttafly, spearheads this aptly named, groove-forward monthly series at Solar Myth. For its second installment, she’ll lead what she’s calling the Black Buttafly Electric Band, featuring peers like Keyanna Hutchinson and Dai Miyazaki on guitars, Jermaine Holmes and Redd Lavoe on vocals, and a rhythm team of Evan Lawrence on bass and Steve McKie on drums.
Aug. 26 at 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street, $20; tickets and information.
Melissa Aldana — Thursday, Kennedy Plaza, Atlantic City
Melissa Aldana has been a prominent force in motion since she took first prize in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition just over a decade ago. Echoes of the Inner Prophet, her captivating new album, reflects a noticeable maturity on all fronts — the result of a process she discussed in depth on a recent episode of The Late Set. She’ll draw from the album in this free concert on the Chicken Bone Beach Jazz Series, with an opening set by Dwain Davis & Friends.
Aug. 29 at 7 p.m., Chicken Bone Beach Jazz Series, Kennedy Plaza Stage, Atlantic City, NJ, free; more information.
Grant Stewart and Aidan McKeon — Friday and Saturday, Chris' Jazz Cafe
An intergenerational tenor saxophone front line joins the Tim Brey Trio for this weekend engagement, which is sure to evoke the spirit if not the style of past summits like Tough Tenors and Tenor Madness. The experienced hand on deck is Grant Stewart, a hard-bop revivalist who can always be trusted to infuse any bandstand with intelligence as well as fire. He’ll stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Aidan McKeon, who parlayed his formative training at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz into further studies at the Juilliard School.
Aug. 30 and 31 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $25, $80 and $100 on Friday, $30, $85 and $105 on Saturday, with dinner packages; purchase tickets.
Eric Darius — Saturday, Mann Center
Those seeking a dose of smooth soul could do worse than this concert by Eric Darius, an alto saxophonist whose energetic take on contemporary jazz has led to considerable chart success. His most recent album, Unleashed, gives a solid indication of the vibe he’ll deliver in this Jazz Under the Stars concert, with expert backing from the Gerald Veasley Band.
Aug. 31 at 8 p.m., TD Pavilion at the Mann, 5201 Parkside Avenue, $45-$65; tickets and information.
