We've Got The Jazz!

So I got some good news this weekend while boarding a train, north of the border, heading for Toronto. My photo essay "Stenton Avenue Reprise" received a national award, 1st place in photography from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. The story is about acclaimed jazz pianist Orrin Evans and his open mic jam sessions at Reuben's Marc. His dedication helped change a corner dive with occasional shootings into a destination for jazz musicians across the city. The editors at City Paper joked about the jazz bar being down the street from me (and whose to blame 'em since nobody ever covers anything happening on the corner of Stenton Avenue and Mt. Pleasant street), but I knew what Orrin was doing every Wednesday night was important for this city. While a nice pat on the back never hurts, the story is about art and how important it is for artists to give back. So while you're here, click on the photograph above and take 5 to think about jazz and how it has shaped the musical landscape here in Philly.

On June 25th Orrin is moving the jam session upstairs. Come listen.