Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Swanky night out with Jazz It Up Philly

Jazz It Up Philly partners Charlie Bartlett, Thomas Camarda, and Tony Kauffman aim to nurture Philadelphia jazz and blues talents. Photo by: Jason Melcher

Jonathan Takiff, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2015, 11:59 PM
Take posh Center City restaurants and bars in need of off-night juicing. Mix with energetic promoters aiming to nurture Philly jazz and blues talents. Shake well and serve. What do you get?

"A throwback to the supper-club era of the '50s and '60s that's been great for business, that brings in a well-dressed and surprisingly broad cross section of people who hang in all night," Volvér general manager Robert Delarosa said. "It's a really swanky deal."

"The best floating jazz show in Philly," said Thomas Camarda, one of the partners - along with Charlie Bartlett and Tony Kauffman - in a movable spread of music they call Jazz It Up Philly.

This week, the promoters are touching down twice, first on Tuesday night with a multi-course feast of music and food at Prime Rib, 1701 Locust St., engaging the talents of almost two dozen singers, keyboardists, guitarists, and bands topped by the ultracool Jost Project. With hip singer Paul Jost, the group takes pop and rock classics on merry, impressionistic rides.

Then on Thursday, Jazz It Up will be back at Bar Volvér, front room of the Jose Garces venture inside the Kimmel Center, for Blue Thursday. Laura Cheadle and the Family Blues Band - 2014 Tri-State Indie Music Awards' Blues Band of the Year - is the big draw, working up a celebration of the late B.B. King.
"There's nothing else in town like it," said Becca Fischer, a "just turned" 29-year-old real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach and a Center City lifer who popped in for Jazz It Up (topped by resident music director/keyboardist Tim Brey's group), cocktails, and nibbles at Bar Volvér on May 14.

And Tuesday night, she'll be "dragging, willingly, my parents, their friends, and some of my friends" to the Prime Rib show, she said. "This is the only thing that could make me excited about the Memorial Day weekend ending. The settings for the shows are much nicer than your average jazz cafe.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20150526_Swanky_night_out_with_Jazz_It_Up_Philly.html#MyGJLcRbELLObFwF.99

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