Jazz will take over Conshohocken on the weekend of September 20-22, with six performances in multiple venues in downtown Conshohocken. The performances are part of the county-wide Montco Jazz Festival.
The performances in Conshohocken kick off with King Jazz, featuring Conshohocken-resident Cindy King, at Daniel’s on Thursday, September 19th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Next up is the Victor North Quartet playing the music of John Coltrane at The Cigar Republic on Friday, September 20th, from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Alaska native Victor North moved to Philadelphia to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Coltrane, who himself moved to Philadelphia to start his music career.
North has been a staple of the Philadelphia jazz scene for more than 25 years. North was a member of Joey DeFrancesco’s “Philly Trio“ and continues that legacy with former fellow members under the moniker Bacon, Lettuce & North. He has performed or recorded with Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band, Elio Villafranca, Charles Fambrough, John Swana, Terell Stafford, Mickey Roker, Duane Eubanks, among others. In 2019, North performed at New York City’s famed Blue Note Jazz Club as a new member of the Odean Pope’s Saxophone Choir.
North also teaches saxophone, and his former students include Immanuel Wilkins, whose album Omega was named the No. 1 Jazz Album of 2020 by The New York Times, Yesseh Furha-Ali of the Philly-based band Snacktime, and Hiruy Tirfe, who has recorded under his name and performed with artists such as Patti LaBelle and The Roots.
The full schedule can be found here. The events in Conshohocken are outlined below:
Thursday, September 19 | 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
King Jazz featuring vocalist Cindy King
Daniel’s Restaurant and Bar
No cover
Friday, September 20 | 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Victor North Quartet plays the music of John Coltrane
Victor North (saxophone), Neil Podgurski (piano), Sam Harris (bass),
and Kyle Andrews (drums)
The Cigar Republic
$15 Cover
Sunday, September 22 | 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Jazz Guitarist Dan Hanrahan
Southern Cross Kitchen
No cover
Sunday, September 22| 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Women in Jazz Party hosted by Key of She
Hotel West & Main
Key of She Jazz, an organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging girls in jazz, from middle school through college and beyond, hosts this free event celebrating female jazz artists. Festivities include:
Deborah Smith Quartet | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Trombonist Deborah Smith hails from Bridgeport, Connecticut. She has graced stages from Philadelphia to New York. Her versatility shines through her roles in ensembles like the Grace Fox Big Band, and her leadership of the Deborah Smith Septet and Deborah Smith Quartet. Recognized with the Billy Strayhorn Jazz Education Award in 2023, she remains dedicated to inspiring others through her boundless love for music.
The Olivia Hughart Group | 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Olivia Hughart is a jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, advocate, and a recent graduate from New York University, with a major in Jazz Studies with a minor in Public Policy and Management. She is the founder and artistic director of Key of She. Hughart is a member of the NYChillharmonic, the Grace Fox Big Band, and the Andrew Neu Big Band, has subbed for Triad Brass, New Heights Brass Band and DIVA Jazz Orchestra. Hughart is a Presser Scholar, 2023 JEN Mary Jo Papich Women in Jazz Scholarship winner, 2020 Bruce Montgomery Foundation Springboard Grant Winner, and 2020 Pennsylvania Project Stream Grant winner.
Swing Dance Lesson | 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Chelsea Reed & the Fair Weather Band | 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Chelsea Reed is a jazz vocalist, arranger, composer, and bandleader living in Philadelphia.
With a penchant for 20th-century swing and blues music, Reed founded Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Band in October 2012. They have gone on to record four albums and tour around the world playing for swing and blues dancers. They’ve shared the stage and recorded with trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, who is featured on their 2017 release Spreadin’ Rhythm Around. Their most recent album, Carolina Lullaby (2020), showcases original songs steeped in jazz, blues, and folk traditions where Reed’s vocals and swing musicality shine. Reed currently teaches jazz history and performance at Temple University.
Photo: Victor North