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| Gerald Veasley |
Philadelphia
is proud to welcome SOUTH: Kitchen, Jazz, Bar to the expansive list of top-tier
night life establishments in the dynamic neighborhoods in Center City
Philadelphia with a top of the line venue and restaurant at 600 N. Broad
Street. Pioneering restaurateurs and jazz aficionados Robert and Benjamin
Bynum, who have brought such fine venues as Warmdaddy's, Relish, Paris Bistro,
and the late Zanzibar Blue to the City of Brotherly Love, are reaching out yet
again with a beautiful three-room establishment featuring a top of the line
jazz room, an inviting kitchen, and a contemporary bar and lounge.
"We
need to support our great heritage as an important jazz city and provide unique
opportunities for these artists to perform here," says Robert Bynum on why
SOUTH will be a major destination for jazz artists touring in support of new
releases. "We want to be a welcoming option for those national artists
who've always come through Philadelphia, as well as an attractive choices for
the artists who have not made Philadelphia one of their stops in the
past."
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| Orrin Evans |
Their
location on Broad Street didn't happen by accident--this area was the last home
of Zanzibar Blue and is currently experiencing a major reemergence as a dining
and housing destination. "Broad Street has always been at the heart of the
jazz scene in Philadelphia going back many, many years," explains Bynum.
"Not only is it in the center of our great city, but also at the heart of
its jazz core."
SOUTH is not
focused solely on national artists, however. "We feel a special kinship
with the born and bred Philadelphia artists and want them to see SOUTH as their
home," says Bynum. "We want them to know how much we respect their
rich musical heritage and feel like SOUTH is their home while at home." In
the interest of keeping Philadelphia's roots strong in the new venue, two local
staples, pianist Orrin Evans and bassist Gerald Veasley, have been given weekly
residencies with local bands featuring national artists.
Every
Wednesday, Orrin Evans will host What's Happening Wednesday, a series aimed at
presenting national artists in Philadelphia who may be falling just under the
radar. "My goal is to present artists with their full ensembles doing what
they do," explains the pianist. "This is about bringing artists from
all over that are making music that I believe should be presented to the
people." Evans has a curatorial history, having done similar residencies
at Philly's own Blue Moon and the former Zanzibar Blue. He has also hosted jam
sessions at World Café Live and currently hosts a weekly residency with his
rotating cast in the Captain Black Big Band at New York City's Smoke Jazz &
Supper Club.
On Thursday
nights, Gerald Veasley will perform with celebrated contemporary jazz artists
in a program called Unscripted Jazz Series. Veasley, a faculty member at the
University of the Arts who just wrapped up another year of his Bass BootCamp,
plans to give these artists an opportunity to stretch out from their typical performances.
" The series will give these outstanding artists an opportunity to stretch
out and express themselves in front of an appreciative audience," explains
Veasley. "These will be exciting nights of breaking outside of the box,
hence the title Unscripted. "
The 75-seat
jazz room will offer superior sound with a clear sightline of the stage from
all seats. SOUTH will present live music Tuesday through Sunday evenings,
featuring a Tuesday night local jam session, and an emphasis on local and
national artists on Friday through Sunday.
The Bynum
brothers personally selected Lafayette, LA native Chef Paul Martin to serve
vibrant Southern cuisine in the restaurant inspired by the sophisticated
Southern destinations, Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. The
bar and lounge will also feature Southern snacks and shared plates, as well as
a comprehensive list of 50 American whiskeys; 10 beers on tap, including custom
offerings from Maryland's Evolution brewing; and barrel-aged and
bottle-conditioned cocktails, and infused spirits.
Orrin Evans
Presents What's Happening Wednesday
October 21
// Chris Oatts
October 28
// Marc Cary
November 4
// Joe Farnsworth & Harold Mabern
November 11
// M'Balia
November 28
// Chris Oates
November 25
// Jeremy Pelt
December 2
// Buster Williams & Rene Rosnes
December 9
// Sarah Charles
Gerald
Veasley Presents Unscripted Jazz Series
October 15
// Alex Bugnon "A Night in Tunisia"
October 22
// Karen Briggs "Soulchestral Groove"
October 29
// Carol Riddick "Swings the Classics"
November 5
// Marion Meadows "Take the SoulTrane"
November 12
// Kirk Whalum "Autumn Serenade"
November 19
// James Lloyd "Returns to Jazz Roots"
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