Whole Notes

News and thoughts about jazz in Philadelphia

Upcoming Events

Our online publication Whole Notes includes our Hometown Heroes program of ongoing artist profiles, news, thoughts, community events, and stories, as well as features from our Philadelphia Jazz History Timeline.

JAZZ SHOWS

see who’s playing

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Workshops, festivals, residency deadlines, awards, conferences, education programs, master classes, book readings, movie screenings, fundraisers, and more

see what’s happening

Features

Celebrate BILLY HART 2023 Living Legacy Jazz Awardee

Award Ceremony & Dessert “Bubbles and Bites” Reception – November 2, 2023

Help us Celebrate BILLY HART 2023 Living Legacy Jazz Awardee!

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Jazz Road Tours: Now Accepting Applications

The new application cycle of Jazz Road Tours is now open. This artist-centric grant program puts funds directly in the hands of jazz artists across the US to connect with audiences around the country.

Open to jazz artists nationwide, this program offers grants of up to $15,000 to support touring your work. Applications are due September 19, 2023, with additional deadlines occurring regularly through 2026.

Read More

News

Jazz Road Tours: Now Accepting Applications

The new application cycle of Jazz Road Tours is now open. This artist-centric grant program puts funds directly in the hands of jazz artists across the US to connect with audiences around the country.

Open to jazz artists nationwide, this program offers grants of up to $15,000 to support touring your work. Applications are due September 19, 2023, with additional deadlines occurring regularly through 2026.

Read More

Celebrations of the Life and Music of Joey DeFrancesco

“Honoring Joey DeFrancesco: A Celebration of Life & Music”

“Honoring Joey DeFrancesco: A Celebration of Life & Music” will be held April 1 at The Philadelphia Clef Club and April 9 at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. 

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Jazz Road Tours & Creative Residencies Webinar

Informational webinar by South Arts

Join the Jazz Road team on February 2 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. ET for a webinar about Jazz Road Tours and Creative Residencies, our vision for these grantmaking programs, and best practices on assembling an application. Register today!

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The Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra

New program division of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute

The Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra (PYJO), a new program division of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute under the direction of Justin Faulkner, creates a unique opportunity for students to explore the origins of the American contribution to the sonic history of the world.

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Stories

Celebrate BILLY HART 2023 Living Legacy Jazz Awardee

Award Ceremony & Dessert “Bubbles and Bites” Reception – November 2, 2023

Help us Celebrate BILLY HART 2023 Living Legacy Jazz Awardee!

Read More

Spotlight on: Hiruy Tirfe

CORE Cooperative

“Philadelphia means everything to me. I would love to see this city back on the map. My hope for Philadelphia as a jazz city is to bring back the value of our music, musicians, artists and lovers of the arts.”

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Spotlight on: Lora Sherrodd

CORE Cooperative

“Jazz music is an art form that stems from a place of oppression and the oppression of women is a subject that is rarely discussed within the genre. My hope is that writing this music will spark conversation about the current situation of women so that we can begin to create spaces for women in music.” 

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Spotlight On: Geraldine Oliver

CORE Cooperative

“Continuing my mission as a healer, I see using this music to help people heal. Heal their minds, hearts and spirits. Jazz is the healing force—my mantra.”

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Spotlight on: Kenny Rosario-Pugh

CORE Cooperative

“I love playing Jazz and the unique freedom improv gives me. I also want to be an important part of helping the Jazz scene in Philly to grow.”

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Events

The Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra

New program division of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute

The Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra (PYJO), a new program division of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute under the direction of Justin Faulkner, creates a unique opportunity for students to explore the origins of the American contribution to the sonic history of the world.

Read More

July Jazz Event Round-up

Concerts & festivals you wont want to miss

Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Arts Festival, Hawthorne Park present Mid-Summer Jazz Fest, and Ledisi Sings Nina at the Mann Center.

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Two Philadelphia debuts at Ars Nova Workshop

Adam O’Farrill’s Stranger Days on May 6 and “Of Shadow and Substance” on May 8

Stranger Days is the acclaimed, adventurous quartet led by a third-generation member of one of jazz’s most innovative family trees and Of Shadow and Substance” is a newly commissioned work by sound artist Lea Bertucci, with an opening set by bassist Luke Stewart.

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Timeline

“I don’t care much about music. What I like is sounds.” Dizzy Gillespie

Instagram

Ayyyye! 🔥🔥🔥
#Repost @wrtimusic
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Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! It goes without saying that we were beyond excited about the opportunity of hosting a session with the celebrated Cuban-vocalist Xiomara Laugart.  Accompanied on piano by her musically gifted son Axel Tosca raised the anticipation even more. Their comfort and chemistry while performing together consumed and captivated the small studio audience gathered in the intimate spacing of our performance studio. We’re happy to share this encore presentation of a very special performance filmed at WRTI. The full performance lives on our YouTube channel via the link in our bio.
🔥🔥🔥 @dr.tyshawnsorey_official #Repost @penngazette
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Our Sep|Oct 2023 issue has just been posted online! View the entire magazine at the link in bio. 👀
https://thepenngazette.com/sepoct-2023/
🔥#Repost @wrtimusic
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Trumpeter @csmusic1 and Vertical Current offer this melodically soothing summer delight titled “You Ought To Know”. Here’s a VERY capable ensemble in a performance that shines a light on gifted guitarist @flanafi. Filling out the band is @bdmdrums (drums), @funkybass56 (bass), @waltthisway__ (percussion), @thekeydoctor (keys), @jordanodamiani (guitar), @koreyriker (tenor saxophone), and @goodytraxxx (trombone). Watch the full performance via the link in our bio.
#Repost @midatlanticarts 
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Congratulations to the 2023 Living Legacy Jazz Award Presented by PECO honoree, drummer and educator Billy Hart! Mr. Hart has performed, toured, and recorded with some of the most influential jazz musicians in history and still plays regularly with his band the Billy Hart Quartet.  You can join us as we celebrate Mr. Hart on November 2, 2023, at Kimmel Cultural Campus in Philadelphia. Save the date and see you there! More info can be found at the link in our bio 🔗

📸Billy Hart. Photograph credit: Desmond White. 

Image description: A black and white image of Billy Hart sitting behind a drum kit. He holds two sticks in his right hand and rests his cheek on his knuckles.
🔥🔥🔥
#Repost @herbiehancock
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No gravity, no time, no fear.🎷 Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity is here August 25 only on @primevide o
#Repost @visitvalleyforge
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✨ Start spreading the news! Arts Montco Week and Jazz Fest is BACK and better than ever ✨ 

This year, we’re celebrating the incredible voices of Women in Jazz 🎷💃🏻 🎭 with performances and events all across the county, starting September 20th!

This celebration of the arts is one you ABSOLUTELY do NOT want to miss 🎟️ Check it out at artsmontcoweek.com #MakeItMontco
Brilliant artist and 2020 Jazz Philadelphia Summit Speaker, Brandee Younger stating facts as the world celebrates 50 years of Hip-Hop.

🎶🎵 #Repost @nprmusic 
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@harpista talks about the intersection of jazz and hip-hop as we celebrate hip-hop’s 50th birthday 🎂🎶⁠
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🔗 Tap the link in our bio to watch Brandee Younger’s Tiny Desk Concert.

Producers: @naturallyserene_ • Alanté Serene/NPR, @salutethemusic • Ashley Pointer/NPR
#hiphop #npr #harp #intersection #bridgingthegap #jazz #2023 #brandnewlife
#Repost @southartsorg
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Jazz artists, we have just opened the next application cycle for Jazz Road Tours! These grants, available to artists ntionwide, offer up to $15,000 to take your work on the road. New this cycle: we have rebuilt and streamlined the application process based on feedback from previous applicants.

Applications for this cycle close September 19, 2023, with additional deadlines occurring regularly through 2026.

Learn more and apply today through the link in our bio.

Video credit: Winter 2023 Jazz Road Artists Edward Simon @edwardsimon.music  and the Edward Simon Group.

#jazzroad @itsnotaxylophone @ericruckermusic