April is Philly Jazz Month. Here are 10 shows that celebrate the city’s rich jazz history

For the last 25 years, April has been known as Jazz Appreciation Month, a 30-day celebration of the America-born art form. A city as rich in musical history as Philadelphia is perfectly capable of honoring that heritage, but it likes to do things in its own way.

So as of 2025, around here, April is referred to as Philly Jazz Month, thanks to a partnership between Mid Atlantic Arts, Creative Philadelphia, WRTI, and Jazz Philadelphia.

Throughout the month, a series of events, programs, educational activities, and of course concerts, will help draw attention to the history of jazz in the city and promote opportunities for the current generation of musicians and artists.

Below are some highlights of this year’s calendar.

April 4, East Passyunk Ave.

On any given night, East Passyunk Avenue offers an array of dining and shopping options, so why not kick off the month with a musical buffet along that promenade? Throughout the afternoon, 10 local restaurants, bars, and shops will play host to free live music, including sets by Drew Nugent & The Midnight Society, Chris Oatts & The Ellingtones, Oliver Mayman, John Swana, and others.

The event is sponsored by swing dance organization Rittenhop, so expect music that harkens back to jazz’s 1920s roots and brush up on your Lindy Hop moves.

Noon-5 p.m., Free, rittenhop.org.

April 10, 17, and 24. SOOK Vinyl & Vintage, 7169 Germantown Ave.

Black-owned Mount Airy record shop SOOK Vinyl & Vintage invites visitors to brush up on the city’s jazz legacy. It’s hosting a series of vinyl listening parties featuring classics by hometown heroes including McCoy Tyner, Lee Morgan, Stanley Turrentine, and more. Revisit some forgotten favorites or make new discoveries while digging in the crates alongside fellow aficionados and newcomers.

7-8:30 p.m., Free, instagram.com

April 12, Mother Bethel AME, 419 S. Sixth St.

The music of the church has played a significant role in shaping the sound of jazz, and countless musicians continue to get their start playing for Sunday services. Vocalist V. Shayne Frederick brings that influence full circle. He fronts a stellar local band — including pianist Aaron Graves, bassist Nimrod Speaks, drummer Khary Abdul-Shaheed, and saxophonist Nasir Dickerson — to the oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church in the country. The service will be presided over by fourth generation minister the Rev. Carolyn C. Cavaness, the first female pastor in Mother Bethel’s nearly 240-year history.

3 p.m., $10.87, tickpick.com

April 16, Solar Myth, 1131 S. Broad St.

Those interested in the ways that jazz has continued to evolve in the 21st century need look no further than Anthony Tidd’s groundbreaking ensemble Quite Sane. Tidd arrived in Philly 30 years ago from his native London via his diverse work with The Roots and saxophonist Steve Coleman. Those two career paths converged in Quite Sane, which wove together influences of jazz, hip hop, and funk in innovative ways on its 2002 debut, The Child of Troubled Times. Tidd will celebrate the release of his long-anticipated follow-up, To Kill a Child of Troubled Times, in this performance hosted by Ars Nova Workshop, who enlisted him as “Chief Creative Catalyst.”

8 p.m., $37.08, dice.fm

April 19, The Rail Park, 1300 block of Noble Street

Most Philly Jazz Month events rightfully focus on the jazz, but this performance places equal emphasis on Philly itself. Saxophonist Mervin Toussaint will play a sunset concert at the Rail Park, set against the backdrop of the city itself, radiant in the golden hues of magic hour.

4 p.m., Free, therailpark.org

April 19, Sexton Sideshow at Old Swede’s Church, 927 S. Water St.

Two members of Philly’s emerging generation of jazz musicians pool their resources to celebrate the release of their respective new albums, showcasing the diversity of the modern scene. Guitarist and vocalist Ben O’Neill, who has earned his stripes doing sideman work with local heroes like Jill Scott and John Legend, launches his Unexpected Flock at the helm of his trio. Bassist Shane Adam Aaserud, a UArts alum, presents the music from his latest, the intriguingly titled Music for an Apparition of One’s Self.

6 p.m., Free with registration, old-swedes.org

» READ MORE: What is so Philly about the Philly sound in jazz?

Jazz has often been referred to as “America’s classical music” and the lines between those genres have often been blurred. This show features a new chamber jazz quartet featuring violinist Diane Monroe, vibraphonist Tony Miceli, cellist Tom Kraines, and bassist Nimrod Speaks, at a school known for its crucial contributions to Philly’s jazz and classical legacies. An open jam session will follow the concert.

5 p.m., Free, tonymiceli.com

April 22, Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.

Longtime local presenter Leo Gadson of the Producer’s Guild presents this meeting of music and dance at Dilworth Park. A band featuring drummer G. Calvin Weston, a veteran of Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time and countless other bands and collaborations, will engage with dancers from Urban Movement Arts.

5 p.m., Free, eventbrite.com

April 26, Forman Arts Initiative, 2201 N. American St.

Taking its title from the opening address included with John Coltrane’s landmark A Love Supreme, Anyabwile Love’s play imagines the spiritual awakening that the legendary saxophonist (and onetime Philadelphian) underwent in the process of creating his magnum opus. Forman Arts Initiative will host a live reading of the work in progress.

2 p.m., Free with reservation, eventbrite.com

April 26, Bob & Barbara’s Lounge, 1509 South St.

For all of the wide-ranging spectrum of styles that have emanated from the city over the decades, perhaps nothing says Philly jazz quite like the organ trio. Time was, nearly every corner bar boasted a Hammond B-3, which became the proving grounds for everyone from Jimmy Smith to Joey DeFrancesco. Bob & Barbara’s will play host to some of today’s practitioners to honor that storied history.

4 p.m., 21+, Free, facebook.com

More details and the full calendar of events are at www.phillyjazzmonth.com.