KUVO’s Kaleidoscope of Sound takes you to Philadelphia All Day!

With each turn, the kaleidoscope transforms us with a variety of sounds! We thank you for joining us on a journey to Philadephia. Behind the scenes here at KUVO JAZZ, on the air, online, and in the community, the music is possible and powerful because of your support!

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Philadelphia has a strong history with the legacy of jazz and is home to many great jazz legends. Musicians like Lee Morgan, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, The Heath Brothers, Kenny Barron, Stan Getz, Shirley Scott, Charles Fambrough, John Blake Jr. and his son drummer Johnathan Blake, Jaleel Shaw, the Brecker Brothers and Christian McBride among many others were all raised in the City of Philadelphia (“The City of Brotherly Love.”) Grover Washington Jr., a Buffalo, NY native considered Philadelphia his second hometown

Famous popular clubs and venues past and present include Peps, The Showboat, The Uptown Theater, Jewel’s, Grendel’s Lair, The Painted Bride Art Center Morgan’s, Zanzibar Blue, the Philadelphia Clef Club for the Performing Arts, South and Chris’ Jazz Cafe.

Philly has a strong soul and organ jazz tradition with popular performers like Shirley Scott, Jimmy Smith, Trudi Pitts, Charles Earland, Joey DeFrancesco, and Jimmy McGriff.

John Coltrane moved to Philadelphia in 1943 with his family and “Cousin Mary” Alexander. They were very close, like siblings. The home in North Philadelphia was placed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1985. It was later declared a National Historic Landmark on January 20, 1999, and concurrently placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission dedicated a marker honoring John Coltrane in front of the house on July 17, 1990

In 1984 Mary Alexander co-founded the “John W. Coltrane Cultural Society” (JWCCS) to promote jazz and the legacy of John Coltrane. The Society established a John W. Coltrane Center adjacent to the John Coltrane House circa 1998 when Alexander was still living in the house. The JWCCS offered children’s workshops led by professional jazz artists throughout the Philadelphia School District, Philadelphia Housing Authority, and other youth groups. An annual Summer Backyard Concert Series was held in the backyard of the Coltrane House and an annual Birthday Tribute/Celebration Concert at a large venue. A community garden on 33rd Street included a jazz mural created by neighborhood youth. A mural was also created by students at Strawberry Mansion High School, in the school. “Cousin Mary,” who was raised with Coltrane in High Point North Carolina, also conducted a lecture series on his life and music.

Many musicians have made pilgrimages to the Coltrane House, there, including British jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine who cites Coltrane was a major influence.

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Photo sources: South Jazz Club; The John Coltrane House