Sparks are flying this week: find them on the bandstand with saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, or Cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto, or singer Tyreek Dole. Or look to the Exit Zero Jazz Festival down the shore. Just don't try to say there's not enough reason to get out there! And remember, you can get this guide in your inbox every week; sign up here.
Spotlight: Lakecia Benjamin — Thursday, Perelman Theater
A few weeks ago, Lakecia Benjamin had the honor of celebrating John Coltrane’s centennial at the Hollywood Bowl, for a crowd 14,000 strong. For Benjamin, an alto saxophonist with a brisk and biting style, it was the latest manifestation of a larger project: she has been steadfast in her veneration of “the Coltranes,” meaning not only John but also his wife Alice. The convergence of searching fire and earnest supplication in her music is partly a result of their shared legacy.
But as she has proven on a series of assertive albums, most recently the guest-laden extravaganza We Dream, Benjamin isn’t looking to retrace anyone’s outline. She has a fondness for slashing her way through polyrhythmic thickets, while ratcheting up the fervor; she also makes space for spoken-word exhortations in a hip-hop cadence. The album makes terrific use of its guest roster, including trumpeters Terence Blanchard and Sean Jones; it also includes Philly’s own Bilal, who could conceivably show up to lend his vocals to this Penn Live Arts show.
Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m., Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 South Broad Street, $63-$95; tickets and information.
Joe Block Quintet — Tuesday, Cellar Dog
There is Always Hope, the spirited new album by Philadelphia-born-and-raised pianist Joe Block, says something about his musical ambition, and maybe also his personal temperament. A suite-like assortment of original pieces, it reveals a thoughtful composer-bandleader who knows how to work with tension and release. He brings this music to Cellar Dog for a special engagement featuring Noah Halpern on trumpet, Chris Lewis on saxophone, Sam Harris on bass, and Miguel Russell on drums.
Oct. 20 at 8 p.m., Cellar Dog, 258 South 15th Street, $20; tickets and information.
Exit Zero Jazz Festival — Thursday through Oct. 25
The fall edition of this biannual Cape May fest is as jam-packed as ever. Thursday brings a special opening-night concert with singer Kurt Elling with pianist Orrin Evans, performing in the “Wildflowers” duo format that Elling has made into a signature series. Then the cup runneth over, with offerings like saxophonist Kenny Garrett (Friday), bassist Marcus Miller (Saturday), and an 85th birthday celebration for Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés (Sunday). And those are just a few highlights out of dozens of festival sets; see the official website for more intel.
Oct. 22-25, various times and venues, Cape May, NJ, ticket prices vary, festival passes available; more information.
Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet — Friday, Solar Myth
The agile, adaptable Cuban drummer and composer Dafnis Prieto can be heard on a splashy new album: Fifteen, featuring a trio with multireedist Henry Threadgill and pianist Vijay Iyer. He sounds thoroughly inspired throughout that session, but it’s just as rewarding to hear him in a more conventional setting — like his Sí o Sí Quartet, an Afro-Cuban jazz outfit with Peter Apfelbaum on saxophone, Martin Bejerano on piano, and Ricky Rodríguez on electric bass.
Oct. 23 at 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street, $35; tickets and information.
Tyreek McDole — Saturday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
Tyreek McDole sings in a dark-hued baritone that can either knock you back or pull you in, depending on his intention at a given moment. He’s a jazz vocalist of powerful magnetism, and while he tried to do a little of everything on his debut album, released last year, his focus deepens on CHROMA. The album, due out on Nov. 6, was produced by trumpeter Theo Croker, and it finds McDole muscling into more of an acoustic R&B space, though he still finds room to pay homage to Miles Davis and Nina Simone.
Oct. 24 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $35, with dinner packages; tickets and information.
