top of page

Search Results

196 results found with an empty search

  • Ensemble Novo | Philly Jazz Scene

    Ensemble Novo Behn Gillece • Ryan McNeely • Tom Moon • Nick Krolak • Claudio de Pujadas Ensemble Novo celebrates the windswept melodies and easygoing dance rhythms of Brazil. The Philadelphia-based five-piece explores samba, bossa nova and contemporary Brazilian styles through the lens of improvisation, creating a warm, spacious, inviting sound. The musicians balance crisp group execution with spirited solo explorations -- the focus is on the vibes and moods you'd hear on Rio's beaches or in some sleek hidden Sao Paulo cocktail lounge. Come fly with us to a faraway place..... ARTIST WEBSITE BACK TO ARTISTS Not an artist member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • Jonathan Whitney | Philly Jazz Scene

    Jonathan Whitney Drummer • Composer Jonathan W. Whitney is a father, husband, son, artivist, jazz drummer, and composer. He uses his music to search for spaces to find understanding. His works often address the many facets of life lived by a Black person residing in America. Commissions include Cooch’s Bridge | The Family, collaborations with the choreographer Ashley S.K. Davis to craft music for her dance works Divided We Fall (2019) and Ode (owed) to Black Women (2022), When The Two Shall Meet (2019) a large scale work written for the combined ensemble of the modern baroque ensemble Melomanie and the Whitney Project, as well as a separate work, Bedtime (2019), written for Melomanie. He has been a featured artist with the Wilmington Children’s Chorus, the University of Delaware Orchestra, and Melomanie, to name a few. Artists he has performed with include Vernon James, Donald Byrd, Kevin Kirkwood, Lili Añel, Jea Street, Jr., Mike Boone, John Swana, Nadjah Nicole, V. Shayne Fredrick, Maya Belardo, The Chantelles, Tony Smith, and The Bearded Ladies. His debut album, Life's Dimensions (2020), can be found on all platforms. He was a 2020 Delaware Established Artist Fellowship recipient for jazz composition. Jonathan is the artist-in-residence at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew. He has his undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of Delaware and a Master's in Music in Jazz Studies from the University of the Arts. Jonathan grew up in Newark, Delaware, and his father – a former professional drummer with an organ repair business – was his earliest musical influence. Whitney began his musical life by spending hours creating songs on his family's organ and playing drumset along with reel-to-reel recordings of his father's top-40 band. He took piano lessons from age nine through eleven, his only private lessons before beginning formal music studies as an undergraduate. There, his mentor, Vernon James, exposed him to the essence of being a jazz artist, including the importance of composing. Upon graduating, Jonathan became active in the Philadelphia music scene. This period was filled with creative explorations into many genres of music. He then returned to academia, receiving a master's degree in Jazz Studies, during which he focused on composition, drumset, and hand percussion. Now, his music merges jazz idioms with classical forms; the written music acts as a skeleton, allowing the full character to be revealed in performance. His compositions are crafted around melody, pushed by harmony, prodded by counter melody, but led by texture. Whether writing a new commission for a string ensemble or collaborating with a choreographer on a new dance suite, performing with his ensemble, The Whitney Project, or supporting another artist's work, Jonathan looks for spaces to create moments of connection between the music and the audience. ARTIST WEBSITE BACK TO ARTISTS Not an artist member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • Heyman | Philly Jazz Scene

    Heyman Michael Hudson-Casavova • Mike Lorenz • Matt Scarano • Sandy Eldred Formed in 2023, Heyman is a quartet led by saxophonist Michael Hudson-Casanova that explores a vast sonic territory of improvised music. Heyman draws influence from jazz sources in the bop, cool, free, and modal realms, especially Paul Motian’s bands, the Tristano school, and George Garzone’s “The Fringe.” The ensemble’s rhythm section featuring Mike Lorenz on guitar, Matt Scarano on drums, and Sandy Eldred on bass has had a relationship spanning over a decade, making this relatively new band sound like one that has been playing together for much longer. All members of the ensemble are present in the greater Philadelphia music scene. Hudson-Casanova’s compositions are “complex and nuanced, inventive and accessible” (Haryr Attarian, All About Jazz). His influences range from Lee Konitz to Michael Brecker to Tim Berne, and he has studied saxophone with altoists Dick Oatts and David Binney. Heyman released their self-titled debut album on the Each and Only label in June, 2024. Their Midwest album release tour spanned over 1,000 miles throughout Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, performing at renowned venues like Cliff Bell’s, the Alluvion, and Merrimans’ Playhouse. The band plans to record their second album in the spring of 2025. ARTIST WEBSITE BACK TO ARTISTS Not an artist member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • Mervin Toussaint | Philly Jazz Scene

    Mervin Toussaint Saxophonist • Composer • Educator Mervin Toussaint is an emerging saxophonist and composer making waves as both a performer and educator in the Philadelphia area. A Haitian American, Toussaint grew up in the Haitian church which provided an important incubator for his musical voice. Since moving to Philadelphia in 2016 Mervin has embraced the musical influences around him including Jazz, RnB, Neo-soul, and other contemporary styles into his own voice. He has presented his music as a leader in a wide array of venues and spaces, including South Jazz Kitchen, Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Paris Bistro, and the MAAS building. He has also performed as a soloist at a variety of churches, including the historical Tindley Temple United Methodist Church. As a side musician, Mervin actively collaborates with rappers, poets, and spoken word artists and incorporates those mediums into his original compositions; his five-song debut EP, Another Name for Everything reflects his diverse musical language creates a beautiful preamble to his first full-length release in the fall of 2022. As an educator, Mervin started teaching private lessons and working as a teacher at the University of the Arts summer program. His approach to teaching expanded when he became an intern at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing arts. There, he learned of the importance of community and culture in music education, teaching private lessons and working in afterschool programs in the city. Toussaint has moved on to work as a music teacher and administrator at Settlement Music School, where he serves as the Branch Coordinator of the Germantown branch. ARTIST WEBSITE BACK TO ARTISTS Not an artist member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • Fire Museum Presents | Philly Jazz Scene

    Fire Museum Presents Concert Series Fire Museum Presents curates low-cost and free all-ages musical performances in Philadelphia that range from traditional to experimental and local to global, including genres that defy boundaries. We partner with venues across the city, creating opportunities for our passionate audiences to meet artists in their own neighborhoods. Fire Museum Presents started our work of building relationships with artists and diverse audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area in January 2001 and over the years we have presented over 600 events, primarily live music performances but also dance, film screenings, video premieres and theater. We have occasionally presented and co-presented events in Mattancherry, Kerala, India. We hosted our first Philadelphia event in May 2007 and incorporated as a non-profit in June of 2023. VENUE WEBSITE BACK TO VENUES BACK TO STUDIOS Not a venue member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • Ukrainian League of Philadelphia | Philly Jazz Scene

    Ukrainian League of Philadelphia 800 N 23rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130 Established to preserve the cultural, spiritual, and national knowledge of its people, the Ukrainian League of Philadelphia is a social club that helps promote cultural, educational, artistic, and physical health groups among its members. By sponsoring social gatherings and entertainment, we are able to blend Ukrainian culture and tradition with community involvement. The Ukrainian League of Philadelphia proudly presents "Jazz Night at the Ukrainian League", a monthly event hosted by U.S.E. Trio. VENUE WEBSITE BACK TO VENUES BACK TO STUDIOS Not a venue member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • Matt Davis | Philly Jazz Scene

    Matt Davis Guitarist • Composer • Teacher • Songwriter Matt Davis is a prolific guitarist, teacher, and composer based in the Philadelphia region. He has received numerous awards for his work from ASCAP, the American Composers Forum, Chamber Music America and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, among others. Matt has taught music and guitar at a variety of universities for more than 20 years. Having earned degrees from Temple University and the Manhattan School of Music, he has performed across the United States and Mexico as well as in Europe and Asia under his own name and with many incredibly talented artists. He currently resides in Central New Jersey with his wife and two young sons, Owen and Benny. For more information, visit www.mattdavisguitar.com . ARTIST WEBSITE BACK TO ARTISTS Not an artist member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • Germantown Jazz Festival | Philly Jazz Scene

    The Germantown Jazz Festival April 24-26th 2026 • Various Historic Germantown Locations The Germantown Jazz Festival. April 24-26th in various historic Germantown locations. The Festival will showcase local Germantown Jazz musicians along with nationally acclaimed Jazz masters. Curated by Jazz Vocalist Khadijah Renee, the festival is expected to attract thousands of city residents, merchants and artisans. VENUE WEBSITE BACK TO VENUES BACK TO STUDIOS Not a venue member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • Mary Cross | Philly Jazz Scene

    Mary Cross Singer • Songwriter • Producer • Arranger • Bandleader • CEO • Founder Mary Cross is a seasoned jazz vocalist, songwriter, arranger, producer, and bandleader whose rich contralto voice and emotionally resonant style bring timeless jazz to life. A Camden, New Jersey native, Mary leads the Mary Cross Quartet and Quintet (MCQ)—sophisticated jazz ensembles offering polished interpretations of the American Songbook, classic jazz standards, soulful ballads, and select original works. Mary’s musical foundation began in the church choir at age 12 and evolved through advanced jazz training, including Gerald Veasley’s CORE 10-Week Jazz Artist Program, NY Hot Jazz Camp with Catherine Russell, and Matt Baker’s Jazz Scat Ultimate Vocalist course. Her performances are known for elegance, warmth, and deep audience connection. She has performed at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Celebrity Theatre at the Claridge, NY Gotham Jazz Festival, and premier venues such as Eddie V’s, Lederach Piano Bar, and 9Prime. As a self-producing artist and creative entrepreneur, Mary has presented multiple sold-out concerts and acclaimed tributes honoring legends including Phyllis Hyman, Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson, and Sarah Vaughan. Mary is the founder of Mary Cross Music Presents, encompassing MCQ Jazz, 2NspireU: A Phyllis Hyman Tribute, and Muzikworks, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to artist development and cultural advocacy. She is a two-time recipient of the NJPAC North2Shore Community Grant and has received a Commendation from Camden City Council for her impact in the arts and community. Whether performing as a quartet or quintet, Mary Cross and MCQ deliver refined, soulful, and memorable jazz experiences, tailored for festivals, listening rooms, fine dining, and winery settings. ARTIST WEBSITE BACK TO ARTISTS Not an artist member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • John Vanore | Philly Jazz Scene

    John Vanore Trumpeter • Composer • Producer Trumpeter, composer, educator, record producer – John Vanore has enjoyed a rich career for more than four decades. After college John joined the legendary Woody Herman band. Upon returning he became a maintstay in the trumpet sections for performers visiting Philadelphia including Tony Bennett, Michel LeGrand, Mel Torme, Louis Bellson, Peggy Lee and many others. In the 80’s John formed a uniquely instrumented big band. With a strong place in his heart for the power and energy that is part of the big band and the passion for improvising, the prospect of melding that concept into a new and innovative ensemble led to the development of a new 12 member large ensemble - Abstract Truth. Uniquely instrumented, including French horns. Being referred to as "the cult big band for big band junkies" by jazz critic Thomas Conrad, the group has forged a personality and following with its many recordings. ARTIST WEBSITE BACK TO ARTISTS Not an artist member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • Greg Snyder | Philly Jazz Scene

    Greg Snyder Musician • Composer • Educator Greg began studying classical guitar at the age of eleven. He used his ear to learn rock and blues from his favorite albums and fell in love with jazz guitar at the age of sixteen, while taking lessons from a Berklee graduate. Greg got his undergraduate degree in Jazz Performance at Temple University where he studied under Terell Stafford, Ben Schacter and Tom Giacabetti. Greg has performed in and around Philadelphia for twenty years. He toured with the second national tour of the musical The Color Purple and regularly plays at the Walnut Street Theater. He also performed in the Philly Pop’s ‘SWONDERFUL!’S GERSHWIN! And A PHILLY POPS CHRISTMAS which aired on 6ABC on Christmas morning, 2021. Jazz music is his passion, and he performs with some of Philadelphia’s greatest jazz musicians. Greg has played Philadelphia’s Center City Jazz Festival as a bandleader and has performed at the Clef Club. John Swana, jazz trumpet and EVI extraordinaire, states that "Greg Snyder is a modern jazz guitar virtuoso who plays with style and heart". You can regulary find Greg playing at Time, Heritage, Sassafras and other jazz venues and events in Philadelphia. Check Greg’s website www.gregsnydermusic.com for a list of upcoming performances. Greg has released two albums as a bandleader. The Greg Snyder Trio’s Unordinary People was released in 2018. The album made it to under One hundred and fifty on the Jazz Billboard charts and can be found on all streaming services. The album features Justin Leigh on drums and Jason Fraticelli on bass. Greg also released a duo album with Mark Allen titled We Don’t Take Requests. Greg is a faculty member at La Salle College High School, and he pours his love of music into La Salle’s highly esteemed music program. ARTIST WEBSITE BACK TO ARTISTS Not an artist member ? CLICK TO JOIN

  • Gypsy Modern | Philly Jazz Scene

    Gypsy Modern Zack Devine • Chris Pistorino • Julian Devine Gypsy Modern specialize in creating intimate, honest, unforgettable gypsy soul music that will leave you feeling reconnected and alive! ARTIST WEBSITE BACK TO ARTISTS Not an artist member ? CLICK TO JOIN

bottom of page