As we send out this edition of Moment’s Notice, I’m on the ground at the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, immersed in uplifting sounds. The same holds true around town this coming week, as we welcome not one but two bright young jazz vocalists to town, among other highlights. While I have you, an invitation: do you have a question for me or Greg Bryant? If so, we’d love to answer it on The Late Set. Email editor@wrti.org, and you may hear your Q (and our A) on a mailbag episode of the pod!
Spotlight: Stella Cole — Wednesday, City Winery
On the face of it, Stella Cole might seem like an all-American answer to Laufey: she’s a fresh-faced songbook warbler who blew up on TikTok, and she’s quickly ascended from sheer obscurity to stages as grand as the Kennedy Center. But Cole, who’s just a few years out of college (Northwestern, where she majored in theater and international studies, not music), exudes a dramatic grasp of her material that recalls the likes of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand more than any jazz or coffeehouse crooner.
On her self-titled debut album — produced by Matt Pierson, the seasoned hand behind Samara Joy’s breakthrough career — Cole encourages this association by singing “Over the Rainbow” and “The Boy Next Door” (as per Judy) and “Moon River” (à la Barbra). For now, she’s a persuasive, pitch-perfect ingénue, even when she’s walking the less traveled route as a jazz singer, and offering her take on Billie Eilish’s “My Future.” Singing that song’s chorus — “I’m in love / But not with anybody else / Just wanna get to know myself” — Cole sounds achingly earnest, but also firmly in control.
Her show at City Winery this week comes on the heels of two album-release concerts at New York’s Sony Hall. And if you missed this chance to see her, take heart: she’ll be at Longwood Gardens on March 6, and at least for now, tickets for that concert are still available.
Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street, $35-$50; purchase tickets.
Bobby Zankel’s Wonderful Sound 7 — Monday, Solar Myth
To celebrate John Coltrane’s 98th birthday, Bobby Zankel brings his alto saxophone, his intrepid spirit and some fresh arrangements to Solar Myth, where he’ll lead an ensemble well suited to the task. Along with trusted elders like drummer Pheeroan akLaff, pianist Sumi Tonooka, bassist Lee Smith and trombonist Robin Eubanks, the band will feature Immanuel Wilkins on alto saxophone, Bryan Rogers on tenor saxophone, and Fabien Enger on trumpet.
Sept. 23 at 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street, $35; tickets and information.
Marion Meadows — Thursday through Saturday, South Jazz Kitchen
Soprano saxophonist Marion Meadows has been a steadfast presence in smooth jazz ever since the release of his debut, For Lovers Only, in 1990. He’s embarked on what he calls “The Romantica Tour,” which shows how focused he remains on the fundamentals; he performs at South under the auspices of the Unscripted Jazz series.
Sept. 26 at 7 and 9 p.m., Sept. 27 and 28 at 7 and 9:30 p.m., South Jazz Kitchen, 600 North Broad Street, $47-$52; tickets and information.
Julius Rodriguez — Thursday, World Cafe Live
If you heard his interview on a recent episode of The Late Set, you know that multi-instrumentalist Julius Rodriguez is serious about channeling pure jazz energies into a contemporary mode. He does so on his fine new album, Evergreen, which will be the basis for this stop on his tour. Judging by what he delivered at the Newport Jazz Festival this summer, it should be a winner.
Sept. 26 at 8:30 p.m., World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street, $17-$20; purchase tickets.
Anaïs Reno’s All Star Quintet — Friday and Saturday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
A jazz singer with a warmly assured style beyond her years, Anaïs Reno, still all of 20, has been steadily gaining ground on the scene. At PizzaExpress Live - in London, her latest album, finds her backed by a top-shelf trio. For this weekend engagement, part of the 35th anniversary celebration for Chris’ Jazz Cafe, she’ll be in similarly exalted company: Dylan Band on saxophone, Adam Birnbaum on piano, David Wong on bass and Matt Wilson on drums.
Sept. 27 and 28 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $30, $100 and $120 on Friday, $35, $105 and $125 on Saturday, with dinner packages; purchase tickets.
