Here at WRTI, we’re still basking in the glow of Coltrane 100 celebrations around the city, including at A Love Park Supreme. But we’re also now in the midst of our fall member drive, and hope you’ll consider supporting this station and all that we do — including this very newsletter. Now let’s get into it, because there’s a lot of great stuff ahead this week.
Spotlight: Michael Mayo — Friday, Harold Prince Theatre
At one point during his afternoon set at the Newport Jazz Festival this summer, Michael Mayo ventured a scat improvisation that had many in the crowd shaking their heads in awe. It came on a reharmonization of the standard “Just Friends,” and as Mayo carved up the form, firing off one surprising phrase after another, I noticed the reactions of some fellow artists nearby, including Thundercat and the members of Lake Street Dive. Everybody seemed equally floored.
Mayo is that kind of performer — a natural wonder, a vocal unicorn. But as you know if you heard his interview on The Late Set a couple of years ago, he’s also as down-to-earth as they come. For his Penn Live Arts debut this Friday, he’s sure to bring his book of personalized jazz standards (like “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was”) and soul-searching original songs (like “You and You”). He’ll also bring a whip-smart band that knows how to anticipate his moves, and meet him in the air.
Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m., Harold Prince Theatre, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, $55; tickets and information.
Pat Metheny and Side-Eye III+ — Wednesday, State Theatre, Easton
“World-building” is a phrase often affixed to prestige TV series or fantasy films, but it could just as easily apply to the musical output of Pat Metheny. As a guitarist and composer, his irreducible body of work is recognizable in an instant; that’s certainly true of Side-Eye III+, an album that augments his now-long-running Side-Eye trio, featuring keyboardist Chris Fishman and drummer Joe Dyson, with a few other collaborators. If you missed them at the Miller Theater (or even if you didn’t), head to Easton to catch them on this stop of a world tour.
Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m., State Theatre, 453 Northampton Street, Easton, PA, $60-$110; tickets and information.
Kirk Whalum — Wednesday, Downstage @ Highmark Mann
Saxophonist Kirk Whalum is one of the most soulful and grounded performers in the smooth jazz format, and he brings both light and heat to his live show, with a band well stocked with younger players. In addition to his most recent album, Epic Cool, he’ll draw here from a 2012 release titled Romance Language, a contemporary tribute to John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, featuring his brother, Kevin Whalum, on vocals.
Sept. 30 at 8 p.m., TD Pavilion at Highmark Mann, 5201 Parkside Avenue, $60; tickets and information.
The New Philly Sound — Friday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
You may be familiar with The New Philly Sound because of their recent Philly Made Artist feature at WRTI. A pet project of The Heart of Jazz, this is a combo full of promising young Philadelphia-area players united by common purpose; among them, here as in a recent studio visit, are the trumpeter Ace Yuji Williams and saxophonist Aidan McKeon.
Oct. 2 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $25, with dinner packages; tickets and information.
Jeremy Pelt Quintet — Saturday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
If the title of the latest album by trumpeter Jeremy Pelt reads like part of a manifesto, that’s hardly an accident. Our Community Will Not Be Erased reflects the firm conviction that Pelt has stood behind, both as an artist and an oral historian. (“Manifesto” is actually the title of a track on the album) Drawing from the album, Pelt leads a quintet with Misha Mendelenko on guitar, Jalen Baker on vibraphone, Leighton Harrell on bass and Jared Spears on drums.
Oct. 3 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $30, with dinner packages; tickets and information.
