Center City Jazz Fest is back and better than ever

Local trombonist and curator Ernest Stuart once said, “playing in Philly means playing every type of music,” with a mix of genres “where scenes and sounds intersect.”

In that same spirit, as the man who created the Center City Jazz Festival in 2012, and books its shows across five clubs on Sansom, Chestnut and Chancellor streets, Stuart must merge diverse musicians and their tones under one groove — that of the jazz continuum.

Back from a hiatus during the pandemic, the Center City Jazz Festival finally returns for its ninth year on Saturday, April 22, from 1 to 7:30 p.m., with showcases at Fergie’s Pub (1214 Sansom), Leda’s (124 Chestnut), Chris Jazz Café (1421 Sansom), Franky Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor) and Time Restaurant (1315 Sansom).

“Through the festival, I’ve been given a rare opportunity to work within the nonprofit sector, interact, and want to learn how to become a better advocate, not just for jazz, but the broader scope of all the arts,” Stuart said regarding the Center City Jazz Fest. “I want to be a resource.”

The Center City Jazz Fest provides stages for locally loved names such as Victor North, Anthony Tidd, Joanna Pascale, and James Santangelo, as well as out of towners such as Pasquale Grasso, Dezron Douglas, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Jeannine Brooks and Louis Fouche, a saxophonist with CBS’ ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’.

Jazz Philadelphia’s president and bassist Gerald Veasley is delighted that the Center City Jazz Festival is back in action.

“I’m excited that it’s here again after a three-year hiatus,” said Veasley. “Ernest Stuart has done a fantastic job with the lineup, which features enormously talented homegrown musicians such as Kendrah Butler Waters and Nazir Ebo alongside jazz legends George Cables and Dezron Douglas.

“The 20 bands assembled for the ninth annual event represent a diverse group of forward-thinking artists,” he added. “And, I’m equally excited that this year’s CCJF will be a bridge to a bigger festival in 2024, presented by Jazz Philadelphia and WRTI 90.1, The Philadelphia Jazz Festival.”

That is certainly some future forward thinking, let alone synergy between musicians and organizations.

“I look forward to developing all of my many, many musical ideas,” said Stuart. “While I get my wonderful education in the nonprofit sector, I’m trying to figure out how to be useful, both civically and musically for Philadelphia.”

“The Center City Jazz Festival has already set the stage with great artists, venues, and audiences,” adds Veasley. “All that’s wonderful about CCJF propels us toward 2024’s Philadelphia Jazz Festival. This is the evolution of one great festival into a citywide celebration of this music. Philadelphia is a world-class city and deserves a not-to-be-missed, must-see jazz festival.”

For more information on the Center City Jazz Fest and a full schedule, visit ccjazzfest.com