Kimmel Center Hosts Monthly SITTIN’ IN JAM SESSION Series
MARCH 7, 2012
All Star Band Line-Up performed with bassist Anthony Tidd (right) at the launch of Sittin' In, Feb. 22
Local Artists and Student Musicians Invited to Jam On Stage with World Renown Musicians
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts launches Sittin’ In Jam Sessions, a new monthly installment of free Wednesday night programming part of the Free at the Kimmel offerings. Sittin’ In is curated by acclaimed jazz bassist and Director of the Kimmel Center's Creative Music Program, Anthony Tidd, who invites renowned house bands to host a night of classic jam sessions on the Commonwealth Plaza stage from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Philly's hottest musicians revisit the classic jam session on the Plaza Stage with an eclectic mix of cross-genre grooves that meet horns, vinyl, and vocals. Sittin’ In begins with Philly’s hottest young DJ, DJ Phsh spinning to warm up the crowd. Then, the house band, selected by the host of the night, takes the stage to perform a short set, with the second set opening up to showcase selected talent from near and far, chosen by the host of the night, to jam with the house band.
The next Sittin’ In jam session takes place on Wednesday, March 28 at 8 p.m. with native Columbian jazz artist and Temple University Esther Boyer College of Music alumnus Luke Carlos O’Reilly as host of the night, with sets by resident DJ, DJ Phsh. O’Reilly has performed with jazz notables such as Curtis Fuller, Nicolas Payton, and Bobby Watson, and released his debut album Living In The Now (February 2011) showcasing a combination of jazz, Latin and soul music. On April 25, DJ Phsh opens the jam session with Orin Evans & Captain Black Big Band. May 30 Sittin’ In showcases Philadelphia’s trombonist extraordinaire Jeff Bradshaw.
Cash bar available at PECO and Annex bars.
Below is a list of confirmed artists for upcoming Sittin’ In Jam Sessions. Visit www.kimmelcenter.org/free for updated artist information.
Sittin’ In Jam Session
Live from the Plaza Stage:
Luke Carlos O’Reilly
Wednesday, March 28, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Colombian native Luke Carlos O’Reilly was born with a passion for music, specifically jazz, an affinity that has elevated him as one of few consistently in-demand jazz pianists in the Philadelphia area. Luke received his bachelor’s degree in Jazz Piano Performance from Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music. After spending time on the road with such jazz greats as Curtis Fuller, Dave Valentin, Red Halloway, Slide Hampton, Nicolas Payton, Bobby Watson, and, Billy Paul, Luke released his debut album Living In The Now in February 2011. Living In The Now expresses O’Reilly’s love for jazz, Latin and soul music, as well as spoken word poetry. He is accompanied on the album by several extremely talented and promising young Philadelphia musicians.
Sittin’ In Jam Session
Live from the Plaza Stage:
Orin Evans & Captain Black Big Band with DJ Phsh
Wednesday, April 25, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Orrin Evans has been recognized as one of the most distinctive and inventive pianist of his generation. As pianist, composer, bandleader, teacher, producer and arranger, The New York Times described Evans as "...a poised artist with an impressive template of ideas at his command," a quality that has undoubtedly assisted in keeping Orrin at the forefront of the music scene. A native of Philadelphia, the city afforded Orrin the opportunity to study informally with the likes of Trudy Pitts, Shirley Scott, Mickey Roker, Bobby Durham, Edgar Bateman, Sid Simmons, and formally with William Whitaker, Jack Carr, and Charles Pettaway. Evans latest release is titled Freedom, (Posi-Tone, 2011) and is an interpretive exploration of the music of his Philadelphia friends and mentors. Orrin's Captain Black Big Band, whose self-titled record, released in 2011 on Posi-Tone, performs frequently throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
DJ Phsh is one of Philadelphia’s foremost disc-jockeys and Central High School alum. His fresh style and impressively eclectic set has spawned a huge following in the region. DJ Phsh plays regular gigs at the hippest venues and events making his Superdope party circuit a cornerstone of the Philadelphia creative scene.
Sittin’ In Jam Session
Live from the Plaza Stage:
Jeff Bradshaw
Wednesday, May 30, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Jeff Bradshaw hails from North Philadelphia where brass bands are the main attractions. The prodigal musician got an early start with the snare drum and sousaphone, but it is his personifying instrumentation of the trombone that has separated him as one of the industry’s brightest horn players. Bradshaw has recorded with Eryka Badu, Jill Scott, Floetry, Darius Rucker, Musiq, The Roots, Earth Wind & Fire, and Michael Jackson, to mention only a few. His debut album on Hidden Beach Records, Bone Deep, features the soulful voices of Philly 360 Creative Ambassador Carol Riddick, Glen Lewis, Ndambi, Bilal, and Jill Scott.
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Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the University of the Arts Merriam Theater. Kimmel Center, Inc.’s mission is to operate a world class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience which includes providing arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity of programming. The 2011/2012 season is sponsored by Citi. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.
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