The style meter this week runs from deep inside the jazz tradition to way out in the farthest reaches. But what pulls everything together is a sincere intention to be present, making genuine real-time connections on the bandstand and with an audience. I hope this music finds you in a similar state of grace — or helps you get there.
Josh Lee — Friday, Cellar Dog; March 23, Notsolatin
Josh Lee is the living embodiment of a moving target. You may know him as the host of Jazz Through the Night on WRTI, but he travels the world as the baritone saxophonist in the Count Basie Orchestra, which won a 2024 Grammy for an album on which he plays.
Lee is also a regular sub with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Sun Ra Arkestra, and the Mingus Big Band, among others. Meanwhile, he’s on the faculty at both Villanova, where he teaches a survey called Jazz: America’s Music; and his alma mater, Temple, where he teaches saxophone and leads ensembles in the Boyer College of Music and Dance.
This coming weekend brings not one but two local Josh Lee gigs, showing different sides of his musical personality. On Friday he leads a quartet at Cellar Dog, the new jazz club and billiards hall in Center City; he’ll be joined by Silas Irvine on piano, Sam Harris on bass and Patrick Hwang on drums. (And mere hours after the gig, he will be on the air at WRTI.)
Next Sunday, he’ll lead his primary group, Josh Lee & the Extended Family, at their second home: the Notsolatin Concert Series in South Philly. As always, the band will breathe new life into big band music of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s — in this case, focusing on Basie, Duke Ellington and Jimmie Lunceford.
March 21 at 6 p.m., Cellar Dog, 258 South 15th Street, $5-$10; more information.
March 23 at 7:30 p.m., Notsolatin, 1440 West Ritner Street, $10-$25 suggested donation.
Ensemble Arts Philly All-City Jazz Fellowship — Tuesday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
The students are the stars in this ensemble, featuring promising talent from across the Philadelphia School District: vocalist Emma Jimenez, saxophonist Jacob Dennis, pianist Simon Church, bassist Lily Toner, and drummer Elijah Booker. They’re being coached and presented here by trumpeter Josh Lawrence, and will be joined by a few of their Jazz Fellowship mentors: Luke Carlos O'Reilly on piano, Steve Beskrone on bass and Byron Landham on drums.
March 18 at 7:30 and 9 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $15, $70 and $90, with dinner packages; purchase tickets.
The Drew Sedlacsik Sextet — Thursday, Temple Performing Arts Center
Drew Sedlacsik is a trombonist drawn to the full-bodied, articulate example of modern jazz masters like Curtis Fuller. Returning to his alma mater to perform at the Rite of Swing Jazz Cafe, he’ll lead a six-piece band with Kal Ferretti on trumpet, Christian Ertl on saxophone,
Anthony Aldissi on piano, Graham Kozak on bass, and Donovan Pope on drums.
March 20 at 4:30 p.m., Temple Performing Arts Center, 1837 North Broad Street, free; more information.
Carlos Niño & Friends — March 23, Solar Myth
Carlos Niño is a percussionist, producer, and radio host who has catalyzed so much of the spirit around ambient improvised music in the last decade — and especially over the last several years, in and out of phase with André 3000. Last year Niño released Placenta, an album that captures the earnest wonder, at once inward-looking and outward-facing, that illuminates his music. He’ll strike the same balance here with a regular partner, keyboardist Surya Botofasina, and two special guests: the centenarian alto saxophonist Marshall Allen and the dynamic jazz-R&B singer Bilal.
March 23 at 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street, $40 advance, $45 day-of-show; purchase tickets.
