News & Updates — Philly

"The Legendary Hasaan" Ibn Ali may be an obscure name in jazz but his notoriety in his local Philadelphia scene is not lost on the musicians of the time and place, not the least of which would be the Philly-reared saxophonists John Coltrane and Odean Pope, as well as fellow pianist McCoy Tyner. Max Roach, Clifford Brown, Henry Grimes, Miles Davis, JJ Johnson, Benny Golson have all played with him and Coltrane counted him as a big influence. To those that have heard him, his quick and unconventional rhythmic style and sense of harmony put him in a category with...

Soul-jazz organist Shirley Scott came out of the Philly scene to cut a ton of sides for Prestige, Moodsville, Impulse, Atlantic, Strata East, Muse, Cadet and more. Usually in either just an organ trio format or with an added horn (often her husband Stanley Turrentine), her records were a consistently grooving mix of bop, soul-jazz, gospel, standards, and pop & Motown covers, with the funk underneath and even some light Latin fare. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she first played trumpet and then piano before switching to organ when she filled in on a club gig, immediately loving the instrument....

I never personally knew Jack Rose (although several of my friends did), but I always dug his playing. It brings me back to my fondness for John Fahey and Robbie Basho. I used to listen to his noisy group Pelt back in the '90s as well. It was still a shock to hear of his passing in 2009 at just 38. There have been many tributes to him, rightfully so, and on his date of birth we'll share a few videos here too. His music mostly pulled from country blues, ragtime and Indian ragas. "A lot of people, when they...