Freedom means many different things, and as we barrel toward America’s 250th, we’re giving some thought about what it means to our music. You could do worse than to peruse what’s happening on the scene in the coming week, which ranges from the rugged to the smooth, with spiritual uplift in a few different forms. See you out there.
Spotlight: Steven Bernstein ResoNation Trio — Tuesday, Solar Myth
Steven Bernstein is a known wildcard in the modern jazz game. He’s a wily slide trumpeter, and the whip-smart bandleader-arranger behind both Millennial Territory Orchestra, a pugnacious little big band, and Sexmob, a go-anywhere four-piece band whose most recent release is Let X=X (Live), a collaboration with the visionary multimedia artist Laurie Anderson.
So in some respects, Bernstein’s new album is striking for its directness. ResoNation Trio finds him strictly playing valve trumpet and flugelhorn, with a lean-and-limber rhythm team of Scott Colley on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums. The spontaneous interactions among the trio are inspired, and the clarity of their expression is absolute.
True to form, Bernstein added a further twist — enlisting the maverick producer Scotty Hard to reconstitute the trio’s recordings in a new form, on the companion album Ultra Resonance. The result is a kaleidoscopic refraction that evokes both dub and electronic collage. Bernstein and his ResoNation Trio will surely bring some of that energy to their performance at Solar Myth, in what’s sure to be an expedition.
June 30 at 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 S Broad Street, $30; tickets and information.
Bokani Dyer — Tuesday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
One of the most acclaimed jazz musicians to emerge from the current South African scene, Bokani Dyer has a compelling piano style rooted in churchly uplift, folkloric lyricism and deep harmonic fluency. He has lately branched out into a crossover mode with vocals, notably on his album Radio Sechaba — but for this one-nighter, a WRTI Live event, he’s leading an acoustic trio with Timothy Norton on bass and Lumanyano Mzi on drums.
June 30 at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $20, with dinner packages; tickets and information.
V. Shayne Frederick — Friday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
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 shows on a recent album, Treasures. He’ll perform here with some first-tier Philly talent: Elliot Bild on trumpet, Yesseh Furaha-Ali on saxophone, Tim Brey on piano, Madison Rast on bass and Khary Abdul-Shaheed on drums.
July 3 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $25, with dinner packages; tickets and information.
Ikechi Onyenaka — Friday, Spruce Street Harbor Park
An alto saxophonist with a sleek, imploring tone, Ikechi Onyenaka has been building a career in and around the realm of smooth jazz. But his new single, “On My Own,” leans pointedly toward hip-hop and R&B production — an area he also explores in a regular gig at Time. He should be a good fit for the Friday Night Jazz Series at Spruce Street Harbor Park.
July 3 at 7 p.m., Spruce Street Harbor Park, 301 S. Columbus Boulevard, free; more information.
Webb Thomas & the Superband — Friday, South Jazz Kitchen
A drummer of broad experience with a strong foothold in the traditions of jazz and funk, Webb Thomas can generally be trusted to put together a good small band. His Superband typically features trumpeter Patrick “Face” Rickman, saxophonist Robert Landham, pianist Neil Podgurski and bassist Lee Smith.
July 3 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., South Jazz Kitchen, 600 N Broad Street, $30; tickets and information.
