Philadelphia, PA (December 12, 2018; updated January 10,2019) — The Philly POPS presents JAZZED! The Philly POPS BIG Band with Terell Stafford, a swinging program honoring Philadelphia’s unique contributions to the history of jazz, January 18–20 at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. This performance is a part of The Philly POPS 40th Anniversary Season, which celebrates artists and music with connections to Philadelphia and the POPS.
Internationally-acclaimed and Philly-based trumpeter Terell Stafford joins three-time Grammy-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, University of the Arts graduate Alita Moses and The Philly POPS BIG Band, under the direction of Matt Gallagher, for a program exploring jazz music of the ‘40s and ‘50s, with a special emphasis on artists who made their mark on jazz in Philadelphia, such as John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, Grover Washington Jr. and Dizzy Gillespie.
The program includes “Cottontail,” “Oh Lady Be Good” and “God Bless The Child”—tunes which would have been familiar at Philadelphia’s storied jazz clubs, like Showboat, Bijou and Pep’s Musical Bar. During the performance, Dee Dee Bridgewater will perform songs by Billie Holiday and Alita Moses will perform songs by Jill Scott.
During Saturday’s show, world-renowned bassist and CAPA graduate Christian McBride will join The Philly POPS BIG Band for a performance of Thelonious Monk’s classic tune, “Blue Monk.” This new arrangement of “Blue Monk” will feature three bassists—inspired by Christian McBride’s signature performance with Ray Brown and John Clayton.
JAZZED! bears special significance in the POPS 40th Anniversary Season, because of its connection to The Philly POPS’ POPS in Schools program, which gives supplemental music education to students in the School District of Philadelphia.
Through POPS in Schools, the POPS provides performance opportunities for students in the School District of Philadelphia. The pre-concert entertainment for each show will be provided by student jazz ensembles from the School District of Philadelphia—all POPS in Schools participants. The POPS also provides co-op positions with its administration to POPS in Schools students.
Terell Stafford is the director of the All-City Jazz Orchestra (an audition-only honor band) as a part of the School District’s All-City Jazz Festival, presented by The Philly POPS through POPS in Schools. Stafford currently serves as Temple University’s Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies. Matt Gallagher is currently principal trumpet for the POPS, an associate professor at University of the Arts and the director of University of the Art’s “Z” Big Band, which is also affiliated with POPS in Schools.
All guests are welcome to arrive 90 minutes prior to each concert for free pre-concert entertainment, including a conversation led by CBS Radio Philadelphia’s RJ McKay music in the Plaza in the Kimmel Center lobby.
Tickets: $35–$160