by Dominique V. Richardson
A time for trumpets and saxophones, trombones and drum solos.
Saturday, April 19th marks the return of The 3rd Annual Center City Jazz Festival in Philadelphia. Bringing forth the creativity and community of yesteryear, the festival continues to reawaken the jazz scene almost forgotten.
With a line up of brimming talent that includes; Time Warfield Jr., Steve Coleman and Five Elements, Joanna Pascale, Justin Faulkner, Thumbscrew, Tomas Fujiwara, Stacy Dillard, John Raymond, Giovana Robinson, Tivon Pennicott, Peter Gaudioso, Ronnie Burrage, Miss Ida Blue, Charles Washington, Rhenda Fearrington, Mike Kennedy & The Kimmel Center’s Creative Music Program for Jazz.
“This is my dream festival lineup,” says Center City Jazz Festival director and trombonist Ernest Stuart.
The six-hour festival will play house with the streets of Sansom and Chestnut as well as Chris’s Jazz Café, Fergie’s Pub, Milkboy Philadelphia and Time Restaurant.
So, if you feel like ‘Funkin It Up’ with those who swim in creativity or you are looking for local artists, bands and musicians who talk the talk and walk the walk, the Center City Jazz Fest is where you need to be as it is sure to be not only an adventure, but intrinsically diverse with music and social interaction.
The Center City Jazz Festival came to fruition with the help of 188 individuals who contributed $17,200 to a Kickstarter campaign in 2011 and is a recipient of grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Philadelphia Jazz Project.
“My goal is to create a scene that feels like it did years ago when jazz greats would come through Philly regularly, hanging and performing with local talent,” Stuart says. Expect artists to perform and socialize throughout the festival crawl with fellow musicians and audience members.
For tickets ($15 ADV|$20 ATD) and information visit www.ccjazzfest.com.
