Two sublime vocalists, two killer guitarists — that’s just part of what we have on deck in the coming week on the greater Philly jazz scene. Whether you’re more drawn to soulful exposition or swinging groove, there’s plenty to get excited about. See you out there.
Spotlight: esperanza spalding — Tuesday and Wednesday, City Winery
There’s no point in trying to stay caught up with esperanza spalding. At last check, this bassist, singer-songwriter and composer was at Robert Wagner Park in Lower Manhattan, presenting interdisciplinary work with the dancer-choreographer Kayla Farrish. Earlier this summer, she spent a week as artist in residence at Moldejazz in Norway, collaborating with local musicians as well as fellow travelers like flutist and multi-reedist Shabaka Hutchings.
This week, spalding (who stylizes her name all-lowercase) will bring something comparatively more conventional to City Winery, as part of her current tour. Sharing songs, stories and notes from her forays into herbalism and healing — see for instance “Thang,” from a recent show — she’ll lead an ensemble of trusted musical partners like the multi-instrumentalist Morgan Guerin.
Aug. 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street, $94-$130; tickets and information.
Bobby Broom Trio — Wednesday, Sellersville Theater
Twenty-five years ago, guitarist Bobby Broom formally introduced his trio with Stand! — an album that took popular tunes from the 1960s and reframed them in a soul-jazz argot. Now Broom has organized a tour to celebrate the album’s anniversary, with bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Kobie Watkins; its Sellersville Theater stop is a WRTI Presents concert.
Aug. 26 at 8 p.m. Sellersville Theater, 24 W Temple Ave, Sellersville, PA, $35-$56; tickets and information.
Peter Bernstein Quartet — Friday and Saturday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
Peter Bernstein is the very embodiment of a guitar hero in the modern jazz mainstream: articulate, attentive and ever-crisp. His most recent quartet album, Better Angels, features an all-star assemblage, including the late drummer Al Foster; he’ll likely draw from its track list in this engagement, with Tyler Henderson on piano, Alex Claffy on bass and Byron Landham on drums.
Aug. 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $30, with dinner packages; tickets and information.
Brianna Thomas — Friday and Saturday, South Jazz Kitchen
Brianna Thomas came to the fore as a singer with a foothold in the wayback: basically, 1920s and ‘30s jazz and blues, the purview of Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. She expanded the frame with her 2020 album Everybody Knows, whose title comes from a scrap of lyric in Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam.” She’s likely to cover a similar range in this weekend run at South, with soulful support from her band.
Aug. 28 and 29 at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., South Jazz Kitchen, 600 N Broad Street, $33; tickets and information.
Chris Botti — Saturday, Scottish Rite Auditorium, Collingswood, NJ
The moonlight gleam of Chris Botti’s trumpet sound has been a staple of contemporary jazz, and a special effect across a range of tasteful adult pop. He stocks his touring band with some of the sharpest talent on the jazz scene, and gives them plenty to work with. This tour date in Collingsworth will surely include some of the Miles Davis-associated standards that Botti featured on his most recent Blue Note album, Vol. 1.
Aug 29 at 8 p.m., Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, NJ, $68-$330; tickets and information.
