In the current Philadelphia Weekly:
Tom Lawton
Fri., Dec. 11, 9pm. $10. Moonstone Arts Center, 110 S. 13th St. 215.735.9600 www.moonstoneartscenter.org
Courtesy of the Lucky Old Souls series and an American Composers Forum grant, pianist Tom Lawton will give the first public performance of “Seven Vignettes from Broad and Lombard,” a trio suite featuring bassist Josh Machiz and drummer Alex Maio. Lawton spent time at the Philadelphia Senior Center, talking to elderly residents about the meaning of music — an open-ended subject that led the composer to think in ways he wouldn’t have expected. Fans of Bobby Zankel’s Warriors of the Wonderful Sound know about Lawton’s solidity at the keyboard. The trio setting should provide a fuller view. Also on the bill: Classical Revolution, a string quartet playing Bach and Astor Piazzolla. — David R. Adler
Orrin Evans Big Band
Tue., Dec. 15, 8pm. $12. Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. 215.568.3131 www.chrisjazzcafe.com
Pianist Orrin Evans is a de facto ambassador for the Philadelphia jazz scene and a kind of community leader at home. He co-leads Tar Baby and Luvpark; boasts sideman credits with Ralph Peterson, Dave Douglas, Mark Helias, Mos Def, the Mingus Big Band and many more; and adds a multimedia twist to his own gigs by recruiting tap dancers, poets and other performers to his cause. He’s brought all that to bear in forming the Captain Black Big Band, now in the midst of a weekly run through December. Evans’ hard-swinging currents and rhythmic disturbances can make the band sound like an advancing army. — David R. Adler
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