West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival - June 18-20

A Jazzman’s Guide

By Special Guest Insider Warren Oree

Jazz is a big house with many rooms. You’ve got swing, traditional, blues, be- bop, modern, contemporary and avant-garde. Over the course of three days and nights on three outdoor stages, you can explore jazz in all its forms at a one-of-a-kind festival, only in Philly.

On Friday afternoon, you’ll hear the trumpets and trombones of the official festival kick-off—a New Orleans-style Mardi Gras parade. The party continues on the main stage later with Nawlins’ real-deal Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Philly’s own Breakwater Reunion Band. At the same time, urban soul will heat up the tent at Relish Restaurant, in the Urban Jazz Suite featuring Jeff Bradshaw , Jaguar Wright and Carol Riddick at 6:30 pm and Kindred the Family Soul at 9:30 pm. Stick around for late night reveling with Lucky Thompson at Brownies Bar, located just across the street.

Power up Saturday morning with breakfast jazz at Cornbread and Coffee café and get ready for a full day and night of jamming with the acclaimed Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Odean Pope’s Saxophone Choir and new young female jazz bass sensation, Esperanza Spalding.

Walk to stage two and experience the Landham Brothers, Oliver Lake, Joanna Gardner and up-and-coming artists Dahi Divine and Immanuel Wilkins. And let’s not forget the Relish Tent where you can ride the “Starship” of jazz and r&b legend Norman Connors.

Every year, the festival debuts a world premier work and this year the Freedom Jazz Orchestra will feature sixteen of Philly’s strongest musicians, led by me, composer and bassist Warren Oree.  Also on the main stage will be Philly cats, saxophonist Sonny Fortune and Joey DeFrancesco, accompanied by David Sanborn.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Sunday delivers more music. Urban Words Unplugged unites spoken word with a live jazz band; the Blues Messengers represent the downtown sound, and Julian Pressley’s releases fiery melodies on the alto sax. It’s back to Relish for Deacon Pitman’s harmonica and homegrown gospel with his Just Us Gospel group.

Bringing it home on Sunday night is world-renowned singer Al Jarreau and the George Duke Trio on the main stage!

Did I mention all the acts on the main stage and stage two are FREE and there is FREE parking and FREE shuttles? And we’ve got a festival tips guide just for you, to make your experience even more out of sight.

Oh, yes, the house of jazz will be packed for the weekend and we’re waiting on you to join us for the fun. For a complete listing and more information, visit the festival’s main page.

Y’all be cool,

Warren