Jazz by Night features diverse sounds from the Jazz world - Browse in our downtown shops - Enjoy a wide variety of the region's very best food. Below, are brief descriptions of the Artists with Links (where available) . . .

Best-known for his stint with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, bassist Charles Fambrough has led three very effective all-star dates for CTI Records that were filled with his stimulating originals. He originally studied classical piano but switched to bass when he was 13. In 1968, Fambrough began playing with local pit bands for musicals and after some freelancing in 1970, he joined Grover Washington, Jr.'s band, staying with the popular saxophonist up until 1974. Fambrough was with Airto (1975-1977), McCoy Tyner (1978-1980), and then Art Blakey (1980-1982). Since that time, he has freelanced in many different situations. Fambrough's sidemen on his CTI recordings have included Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Kenny Kirkland, Jerry Gonzalez, Steve Turre, Donald Harrison, Kenny Garrett, Abdullah Ibrahim, and Grover Washington, Jr.

Saxophonist Robert "Bootsie" Barnes has been proclaimed a Philadelphia treasure. His celebrity should rank along with TastyKakes and Philly Cheese Steaks. "Bootsie" began his musical career at age 6 on piano and switched to drums at 10. His grandmother gave him a saxophone at age 16 and he never looked back. In school, classmates included drummers Lex Humphries, Bill Cosby, Al "Tootie" Heath; bassist "Spanky" DeBreast; trumpeter Lee Morgan, and a host of Philadelphia giants who went on to help shape the maturing face of Jazz music. He was among Philadelphia's most called upon saxophonists. During the 60's and 70's he was playing with such legends as Don Patterson, Philly Joe Jones, and the late Al Grey. He has led touring ensembles for his childhood buddy, Bill Cosby, and made a guest appearance on television's The Cosby Show (playing himself).

Bootsie has also worked the entire "Organ Circuit" with Shirley Scott, Jimmy McGriff, Charles Earland, Jack McDuff, Poppa John & Joey DeFrancesco, and the undisputed champion of the organ, Jimmy Smith. Although Mister Barnes toured the U.S., Europe and Canada, he makes his home in Philadelphia. At home, the new "Young Lions" of Jazz regard him as their "Mentor Emeritus". He is also held in high esteem by his "elder statesmen of Jazz" in Philly and around the world. Now in his sixties, Mr. Barnes plays an average of 4 nights a week in the city where he was born, and where his fans are fiercely loyal. He also spends a great deal of time in the neighborhood school systems spreading the of hard practice and teamwork to youngsters via Jazz workshops. In conjunction with the John Coltrane Cultural Society and the Clef Club, he has brought summer workshops to Philadelphia Housing Projects community centers (such as Raymond Rosen, Blumberg and Martin Luther King), as well as to disadvantaged neighborhoods in Philadelphia and neighboring South Jersey.

Larry McKenna, tenor saxophonist and professional Jazz arranger, has performed as soloist with many Jazz greats such as Clark Terry, Jon Faddis, Buddy DeFranco, Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, Frank Tiberie, Warren Vache, Mickey Roker, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Peter Nero & the Philly Pops and many more. An instructor of Jazz theory, harmony, and saxophone at Philadelphia Community College, many of his private students are well known professional musicians in their own rights.

G Calvin Weston was born June 6, 1959 in Philadelphia, PA. He became interested in drums at the age of 6, when he (and his neighbors) discovered his talent for rhythm as he beat on every car on the block. He lived in North Philadelphia where he saw musicians like Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five and James Brown at the Uptown Theatre. Seeing his attention focused on the drummers, his Father bought him a small set. In high school Calvin learned to read music and played second snare in the drum ensemble. He co-founded the group Bad Influence which played in cabarets and clubs around Philadelphia.

Joe Baione, professional Jazz vibraphonist, educator, clinician and producer, sports an impressive resume soon to include a new recording produced by the legendary Todd Barkan. The CD features his sextet of diverse musicians hailing from Tokyo, Puerto Rico, Delaware, Cleveland, DC and NYC, who together bring an unexpected energy and excitement to all their performances.

Pianist and composer Eric Mintel was born on October 8, 1967. As early as age three he could be found sitting at the piano creating his own melodies. Music, especially classical and jazz, were always part of the Mintel household. In 1982 when his piano teacher was trying to teach Eric the basics, Eric was already playing compositions like Blue Rondo a la Turk, Take Five and other demanding pieces. In 1993 he formed the Eric Mintel Quartet. Additionally a composer of orchestral and choral music, Eric performs his composition "Millennium Suite" (for orchestra and Jazz quartet) with various symphonies throughout the country incorporating jazz and classical music. The quartet's choral concerts feature the rarely heard sacred choral music of Duke Ellington performed with various choirs throughout the country combining Jazz and choral music.

Since emerging onto Philadelphia's Jazz scene, Pascale has established herself as a compelling and skilled vocalist. "Joanna is a highly sophisticated singer," claims Philadelphia Metro. She has a working repertoire of over four hundred songs and has appeared and recorded with Jazz giants such as trumpeter and Director of Jazz Studies at Temple University, Terell Stafford, sax pyrotechnic and critic's rave, Tim Warfield, legendary drummer, Mickey Roker, piano virtuoso, Cyrus Chestnut and others. She performs three nights a week with her quintet at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia. In August 2006, she was selected for the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour roster. On top of a busy performing and recording schedule, the Temple alum is also a member of the vocal faculty at Temple University. She teaches private voice and ensemble lessons, as well as conducts performance practices and workshops.

Bassist Steve Green has performed on over 100 recordings. He has played his powerful spirit filled bass sound with such artists as Patti Labelle, Lou Rawls, Santana, Grover Washington Jr., Breakwater, The Tony Williams Lifetime, Phylis Hyman, Monnette Sudler, Donald Byrd, The Stylistics, Eddie Murphy, Gary Bartz, Jean Carn, The Change Of The Century Orchestra, Judy Mowit, Dexter Wansel, Jan Hammer, The Jones Girls, Jimmy Witherspoon, Tom Brown, Sun Ra, Teddy Pendergras, Kwame, Junior, Hubert Laws, Philly Joe Jones, Captain Sky and MFSB to name a few.

Stephanie Klein sings a wide range of classic Jazz from the American songbook. Tonight she will be accompanied by pianist, composer and professor of music, Joe Nocella, guitarist extraordinaire, Ron Nocella, and Master of Music bassist, Craig Thomas.

Bassist/composer Alan Lewine, recently relocated to Phladelphia. He first took up the string bass in 1978. Never formally trained on the instrument, Lewine learned primarily by playing. "Most of my early lessons were from pianists or guitarists who would yell at me when I played a wrong chord or drummers who threw sticks at me if I messed up the beat." Lewine considers bass great Milt "the Judge" Hinton, whom he first met in 1982, a mentor. Leroy Vinnegar was also a great inspiration when they frequently crossed paths around Portland, OR in the early 90s. He has received "green room" lessons from Ray Brown, Harvie Swartz, Major Holley and John Clayton as well. Lewine has worked with many of the great names in Jazz over the years, in all styles - from trad to big band, standards to bop, modal to free, with a little Blues, Bluegrass, Afro Pop, Salsa and other bass-playing experience to spice his background.

The Melton Brothers make the kind of music that gets you tappin, slappin, shakin and poppin from a pin-drop whisper to kickin take-your-breath-away grooves. Their style is a blend of groove swing, R&B, Country Blues and Roots Rock, and the show is a musical conversation delivering their own songs and stunning interpretations with rhythms and harmonies so tight these guys seem like one soul. Dale's unique organ style with Garth Hudson, Matthew Fisher and Booker T influences is the icing on this rhythmic cake.

Blues Brothers & A Sister have been on the scene for over 35 years. They started as a three-piece band: the late Mr. Leroy Christy, male vocalist, lead guitarist, a legend in his time; George St. John, Sr., bass guitarist; and Joseph St. John, lead vocalist and drummer.

What started as a casual conversation between two old musical friends, grew into the rekindling of their passion for playing music together. Then after a steady diet of once a week one on one meetings for musical experimentation and tea, it morphed into a four piece, cross generational combo of veteran musicians, with countless years of bands, gigs, touring and recording between them. With each member contributing his own style and experience to the project, the result is original acoustic instrumental music, featuring guitar, mandolin, bass and drums, fusing Jazz, Funk, Blues, Country, and an occasional Latin groove into a unique style of their own, Backwoods Pyrotechnics.

Eric Stein is an educator, entrepreneur and musician who plays alto and tenor sax. He has worked with several players in the Philadelphia-New York area including Lou Gagliardi, Dennis Szabo, Nick Alagna, Joel Kunreuther, who form the core pool of talent for his various bands, and others. He has studied privately with Joe Fortunato, Steve Giordano, Tony Miceli, and Larry McKenna and others. At workshops, he has studied with Don Braden, Gary Campbell and Greg Fishman.

When explaining Matt Richards' guitar style, the most often-mentioned word Jazz will be combined with Classical, Spanish, modern acoustic - in fact, each term describes a different aspect of Matts musical identity. Growing up in the culturally fertile cross-currents of the 1960s, Matts musical pathway begins with the mix of Folk, Rock and Psychedelic music that defined that decade. Eventually drawn into the electronic-laden Jazz-Rock of the 1970s, Matt began developing the technically advanced skill and musical abilities demanded by those styles. As his talent grew, Matt was drawn into straight-ahead Jazz, Classical and world music, playing acoustic guitars and a fretless guitar more frequently.