The Jazz Scene: Kenny G, Fresh Cut Orchestra, Latin jazz, and more

Saxophonist Kenny G, coming to the Keswick Theatre for an 8pm show on Thursday, December 10, is the biggest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era. He’s also one of the most controversial figures on the jazz scene, as many of the purists maintain that what he’s playing is not really jazz. Bottom line is that whatever you want to call it, Kenny G’s playing is pleasing and enjoyable. Ask the 75 million folks who’ve purchased his recordings.

Philadelphia’s innovative and critically acclaimed Fresh Cut Orchestra is led by trumpeter Josh Lawrence, bassist Jason Fraticelli, and drummer Anwar Marshall. The FCO will be playing a singular combination of straight-ahead jazz, contemporary classical, progressive rock, hip-hop, and modern electronica on Thursday, December 10 at 7 and 10pm at the Kimmel Center’s SEI Innovation Studio. The venerable Down Beat magazine was certainly on the mark when it described FCO as a “group flowing with chops!”

The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, led by trumpeter Terell Stafford, is one of our region’s newest big bands, and one of the strongest. Included in the JOP cast, performing on Saturday, December 19 with an 8pm show at the Kimmel Center, are saxophonists Dick Oatts, Chris Farr, and Tim Warfield; trumpeters Tony DeSantis and Mike Natale; and guest vocalists Joanna Pascale, Carla Cook, and Jean Baylor. This should be a powerfully swinging and entertaining evening.

“A swinging stylist who is simply a joy to hear,” said Jazz Times magazine of one of Philadelphia’s finest jazz singers, Mary Ellen Desmond. On Sunday, December 13 at 6pm, Desmond — along with the best of the area’s jazz soloists and accompanists —will present her 12th annual Comfort & Joy concert at the Church of Saint Luke and the Epiphany, 330 South 13th Street, Philadelphia. Comfort & Joy benefits the Saint Luke Hospitality Center, an outreach ministry of the church that offers services to those affected by AIDS/HIV. This year’s concert proceeds will also benefit the Fikelela AIDS Project in Cape Town, South Africa. Fikelela is a ministry that works to reduce new HIV infections and offers assistance to orphaned and abandoned children affected by AIDS/HIV. Desmond will be accompanied by pianist Tom Lawton, bassist Lee Smith, tenor saxophonist Larry McKenna, and drummer Dan Monaghan. Tickets are $20 ($10 for students). The afternoon before, Desmond will appear with a stellar lineup of area musicians and singers in “Frosty 3,” produced by the Philadelphia Jazz Project and WRTI Radio’s Michael J. Harrison. The concert takes place at Irvine Auditorium on the Penn campus and starts at 3pm.

Latin jazz fans, take note. Trombonist Papo Vázquez teams up with Argentinian-born folk jazz vocalist Sofía Rei for an Annenberg Center concert at 8pm on Saturday, December 5. Vázquez, an NEA Master and 2009 Grammy Award nominee, is known for his high-energy fusion of jazz, Latin, and Afro-Caribbean genres. Rei, who sings in Spanish, Portuguese, or English, is known for her inventive mix of South American folklore, jazz, global, and electronic sounds.

For more, here's Stacia Friedman's look at Philly's jazz performance renaissance.