Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass may be sold out at Ensemble Arts Philly, but you’ll have no problem finding your musical bliss elsewhere this week, especially if you’re willing to travel. The big event is down the shore this weekend — I’ll be there, along with a few of my WRTI colleagues. You’ll also find recommended picks in Princeton and in Lancaster County. Tell ‘em Moment’s Notice sent ya.
Spotlight: Exit Zero Jazz Festival — Friday through Sunday, Cape May, NJ
The spring edition of this biannual fête in Cape May is absolutely stacked, with headliners including trumpeter Terence Blanchard, with his E-Collective; harpist Brandee Younger, with her trio; pianist Orrin Evans with his Captain Black Big Band, featuring vocalist Lisa Fischer; and as a closer, singer Samara Joy with her octet, fresh off a triumphant Carnegie Hall debut.
But it isn’t just the big names that you’ll want to seek out at Exit Zero Jazz. Spread out over four venues in a compact stretch of Cape May’s historic waterfront, the festival offers a crash course in current jazz — including seasoned hands like the trumpeters Thomas Marriott and Josh Lawrence, each leading a quintet; and up-and-comers like trumpeter Brandon Woody with Upendo, the Baltimore-based band heard on his just-released Blue Note debut.
WRTI is the official media partner of the fest, and will have a presence all weekend, with Evening Jazz host Nicole Sweeney introducing artists, and a WRTI table with giveaways in the Cape May Convention Hall. And for the first time, The Late Set will be taping live interviews in front of an audience — with the aforementioned Blanchard and Woody, and with the Curtis Brothers, bassist Luques and pianist Zaccai. Be sure to say hello!
Friday through Sunday, Cape May, NJ, $85 on Friday and Sunday (Sunday sold out), $100 on Saturday, $200 for a three-day pass, with VIP options; tickets and information.
Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda & Antonio Sanchez — Tuesday, McCarter Theater, Princeton, NJ
Brethren in breezy virtuosity, the banjoist Béla Fleck, Colombian harpist Edmar Castañeda and drummer Antonio Sánchez recently formed a collective: their album BEATrio will be released this Friday. A few days prior, they’ll perform at the McCarter Center in Princeton — and if their recent stand at the Big Ears Festival is any indication, it should be a staggering display of dynamic precision.
May 13th at 7:30 p.m., Matthews Theater, McCarter, 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ, $33-$73; tickets and information.
V. Shayne Frederick — Thursday, The Lounge at World Cafe Live
V. Shayne Frederick’s deep baritone and burnished elocution might remind you of an old-school jazz crooner like Joe Williams, but he comes to the jazz tradition through a soul and R&B portal. The synthesis suits him as if it’s been tailored, as he’ll demonstrate here, drawing from a forthcoming album, Treasures.
May 15 at 8 p.m., The Lounge at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street, $20 advance, $25 day of show: purchase tickets.
The Philly Five — Friday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
The articulate swagger of hard-bop meets a local dialect in this quintet, which features Tony Miceli on vibraphone, Chris Farr on tenor saxophone, John Swana on trumpet, Madison Rast on bass, and Dan Monaghan on drums. Each is a bandleader in his own right, but their cohesion on this bandstand comes naturally.
May 16 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $25, $95 and $115, with dinner packages; purchase tickets.
Nasir Dickerson & Life Light Empower — Saturday, The Fallser Club
An unassuming pillar of the local jazz community, Nasir Dickerson is a tenor saxophonist who also doubles seriously on kora, bringing a folkloric West African influence into his music. This concert — part of the Painted Bride’s Satellite Sound series, co-presented by WRTI’s own J. Michael Harrison — will feature his Life Light Empower band, with trusted partners like pianist Eric Wortham II, trumpeter Jojo Streater and drummer Khary Shaheed.
May 17 at 7:30 p.m., The Fallser Club, 3721 Midvale Avenue, $20; tickets and information.
Ken Fowser Quintet — Saturday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
A tenor saxophonist with a robust and swinging style, Ken Fowser convenes a combo with a fellow saxophonist, Aidan McKeon, in a companionable front line. They’re backed by a crisply assertive rhythm section featuring guitarist Matthew Rotker Lynn, bassist Alex Claffy, and drummer Willie Jones III.
May 17 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $30, $100 and $120, with dinner packages; purchase tickets.
Chris Oatts & the Pretty Big Band — May 18, Mickey’s Black Box, Lititz, PA
Saxophonist Chris Oatts is a third-generation jazz musician, and a product of Temple’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, where he now teaches. As the name suggests, his Pretty Big Band is a midsize ensemble that packs the punch of a larger ensemble; this gig in Lancaster County, part of the “Fresh Takes on Jazz” series, will feature a frequent collaborator, vocalist Chelsea Reed.
May 18 at 3 p.m., Mickey’s Black Box, 101 Rock Lititz Boulevard, Lititz, $20; tickets and information.
