This week, Moment’s Notice is all about groove. But don’t confuse that for a restriction! Consider all the variations in rhythm and feel that are descending on our city this week, from the son clave of Pedrito Martínez to the turbocharged funk of Snarky Puppy to the cool ebullience of Keiko Matsui. Whatever your preference, there’s a vibe here for you.
Pedrito Martínez — Aug. 24, City Winery
The pulse of Afro-Cuban clave can feel like a surging electrical current in the hands of Pedrito Martínez. A master percussionist who plays congas as well as the hourglass-shaped batá drum, a staple of the Yoruban tradition, he’s also a brilliant rumbero who has made himself indispensable on the New York scene and beyond. There’s a reason that Martínez is a sought-after collaborator for everyone from Paul Simon to Paquito D’Rivera to Wynton Marsalis, who goes so far as to proclaim him “a genius.”
That impression isn’t dispelled by the irrepressible album — Ilusión Óptica, on the GroundUP Music label — that Martínez released this spring. It’s a showcase for a well-honed band, stocked with improvisers like trumpeter Jesús Ricardo, trombonist José “Xito” Lovell and bassist Sebastián Natal. And it’s a flexible framework for high-octane guest appearances by the likes of pianist Osmany Paredes, rising multi-instrumental star Wampi, and even non-Cuban actor Bill Murray, who opens the album with a welcome in the guise of a warning: “I am here as your safety monitor, to make sure that you are all prepared,” he says.
That dry deadpan masks a genuine truth: Martínez and his band know how to bring the fire. This rescheduled concert at City Winery should be no exception; brace yourself.
Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street, $35-$45; tickets and information.
Snarky Puppy — Wednesday, Longwood Gardens
The smart-groove juggernaut Snarky Puppy hasn’t released an album in a few years — since 2022’s Empire Central, which earned them a Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album — but don’t let that lull fool you. The band has kept busy with side projects and special events, like its popular GroundUP Music Festival in Miami (and next year, an additional summer edition in Italy). This midweek show at Longwood Gardens provides a chance to catch them doing what they do best.
Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, $52-$87; tickets and information.
Hiruy Tirfe Quartet — Thursday, Love City Brewing
Born in West Philly, raised in Upper Darby, saxophonist Hiruy Tirfe keeps a busy schedule both in his hometown and beyond. His industrious drive provided a natural focal point on his debut album, 10,000 Hours, which we celebrated early last year. In this outdoor performance, a collaboration between Love City Brewing and PhillyJazzScene.com, Tirfe will lead his quartet, and also spin a set as DJ Tirfe.
Aug 21 at 7 p.m., Love City Brewing, 1023 Hamilton Street, $10, free for children; tickets and information.
Bobby Zankel and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound — Thursday, Hawthorne Park
Alto saxophonist Bobby Zankel leads his flagship ensemble with fiery conviction but a flexibility of purpose, including the occasional tribute to his musical heroes. This free concert in South Philly will feature Sumi Tonooka on piano, Bryan Rogers on saxophone, Abdul Shakoor Hakeem on percussion and Chad Taylor on drums. Co-presented by Jazz Bridge and Friends of Hawthorne Park, it will celebrate two giants of the saxophone, Lester Young and Charlie Parker, in the week preceding their birthdays.
Aug. 21 at 7 p.m., Hawthorne Park, 1200 Catherine Street, free; more information.
Keiko Matsui — Saturday, Downstage @ the Mann
Euphoria, the title of Keiko Matsui’s most recent album, gets at the heart of her appeal as a keyboard, bandleader and composer. She’s a deft fusioneer who understands precisely how to carry a lyrical theme aloft, and her brand of earnest, energized smooth jazz should be a natural fit for the Jazz Under the Stars series at The Mann, also featuring the Gerald Veasley Band.
Aug. 23 at 8 p.m., Downstage @ the Mann, 5201 Parkside Avenue, Fairmount Park, starting at $138; tickets and information.
