The Eighth Annual West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival, June 17 to 19, 2011, takes place on two stages on Ogontz Avenue. Among the featured acts are Chaka Khan, Chrisette Michele, Men of Soul, Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, Kenny Gates, Sherry Butler, Georgie Bonds, Philadelphia Freedom Jazz Orchestra, Bootsie Barnes, Monkadelphia, David Joel, Christian McBride and Inside Straight. Free shuttle service to the festival site is available at Park and Ride locations in select locations around Philadelphia. Complimentary parking is available at many locations. Consult the West Oak Lane website for details (see Resources).
PIFA, the Philadelphia International Festival of The Arts 2011, runs from April 7 to May 1, and features Parisian jazz pianist Martial Solal , Scott Joplin's Treemonisha, Rick Benjamin's Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, Django Night (featuring the music of jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt), Hot Club of Philadelphia - PNC Grow Up Great, Jazz at Lincoln Center With Wynton Marsalis and Cole Porter Night. For more information on PIFA, see Resources.
The 21st annual Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest takes place in Reading, Pennsylvania, a 60-minute drive from Philly, and runs March 25 to April 3, 2011. This year's fest features Al Jarreau and the George Duke Trio, Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and Jeff Golub, Joey Defrancesco with his trio, Dave Brubeck with his quartet, bassists Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten, and guitarists Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola, Howard Alden and Gene Bertoncini. Get tickets at Ticketmaster or the Sovereign Center Box Office (Seventh and Penn Streets, Reading). (See Resources.)
The Instant Composers Pool Orchestra, presented by Ars Nova Workshop, performs at Christ Church Neighborhood House (20 North American St.), for three nights, April 1 to 3, 2011. Instant Composers Pool Orchestra is a collective of Dutch composers and improvisers who have performed together for more than 40 years. Musicians include Michael Moore, alto saxophone and clarinet; Tobias Delius, tenor saxophone and clarinet; Ab Baars, tenor saxophone and clarinet; Thomas Heberer, trumpet; Wolter Wierbos, trombone; Misha Mengelberg, piano; Mary Oliver, violin; Tristan Honsinger, cello; Ernst Glerum, bass; and Han Bennink, drums. Ticket information is available at the Ars Nova website (see Resources).