PHILADELPHIA, PA. (Top40 Charts/ Delaware River Waterfront) An evening summer breeze off the river, the cool sounds of smooth jazz in the air - a perfect way to spend a hot summer night. At 7:30 p.m. on Friday nights in August, the Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Concert series takes to the RiverStage on the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street. This season's intriguing lineup of award winning Smooth Jazz artists will delight music lovers. This FREE concert series is sponsored by WDAS-FM, along with CW Philly 57 and CBS 3.
The Toronto based group Four 80 East brings their "acid jazz" sound to Penn's Landing on Friday, August 5. Brought together by producers Rob DeBoer and Tony Grace, Four 80 East's unique sound combines R&B, jazz, and soul music. Their music is filled with club-inspired beats, exotic rhythms, and soulful melodies - a sound at the forefront of the Nu-Jazz movement.
The Sax Pack, consisting of signature sax players Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole, and Kim Waters, arrive on Friday, August 12th. The talented trio combines their life-long love of music with their passion for performance. The well-known saxophonists are excited to create a show that blends their individual styles and diverse backgrounds for a fresh approach to jazz expression. Their performances feature original music of The Sax Pack as well as individual artist hits that will be sure to get fans out of their seats!
On Friday, August 19th, Pittsburgh native Carolyn Perteete will take the stage as part of the Smooth Jazz Series. Carolyn has become well known in the Pittsburgh jazz scene, performing with jazz greats such as Roger Humphries and Dwayne Dolphin. Currently, she is a member of the Sean Jones Sextet and can be heard on Sean's album "The Search Within," released in March 2009.
Vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Raul Midon will perform his dazzling percussion moves on Friday, August 19th. Blind since infancy, the New Mexican native of Argentinean descent combines a variety of different musical styles and elements on his newest album, "Synthesis," which was released in the spring of 2010.
The Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Series culminates on Friday, August 26th with acclaimed guitarist Kevin Eubanks. The Philadelphia native and former music director of the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" began a new chapter last year when he released his first album with Mack Avenue, "Zen Food." The songs on the album captured the evolution of both Eubanks and his band.
WDAS FM, CBS 3, and the CW Philly are proud media partners for this series. Their on-air personalities will introduce performers and provide promotional giveaways. CBS 3 (KYW-TV) and The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) are part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation. WDAS FM is part of Clear Channel Worldwide, the largest independent radio group with six stations in Philadelphia - WDAS FM, Power 99 FM (WUSL), Q-102 (WIOQ), My106.1 (WISX), Rumba (WUBA-AM), and Radio 1045 (WRFF).
Public Programming at Penn's Landing would not be possible without the continued support of corporate partners such as PECO, Wells Fargo, Verizon, Pennsylvania Lottery, Coca-Cola Refreshments - Philadelphia, and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, all of whom are committed to serving the Greater Philadelphia community.
The 2011 Summer Program of Free Events at Penn's Landing is funded and produced by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC). All events produced by DRWC are FREE to the public on the new RiverStage on the Great Plaza, the heart of Penn's Landing, Philadelphia's premier Delaware River waterfront entertainment destination. The DRWC is a nonprofit corporation created in January 2009 exclusively for the benefit of the City of Philadelphia and its citizens. The fundamental purpose of DRWC is to design, develop and manage the central Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia. DRWC intends to transform the waterfront into a vibrant destination location for recreational, cultural, and commercial activities for the residents and visitors of Philadelphia.
For more information and event details, please call (215) 922-2FUN or visit www.delawareriverevents.com. This website is a virtual resource for the waterfront which can help visitors plan to easily park, play and stay all day at Penn's Landing.
