Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Armand John “A.J.” Piron was born on August 16, 1888 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Octave Louis Piron and Marie Jeanne Zeringue. At home he spoke English and French patois, and grew up steps from Claiborne Avenue, which at that time was a bustling, tree-lined center of commerce and community life. His father, a shoemaker, was also a musician and music teacher and played in the Philharmonic Orchestra. He taught his sons Milford, Albert, and Armand how to play.
At the age of seven Piron had an accident that damaged one of his legs. For the next five years while he recovered, he devoted himself to practicing the violin. This could be the reason he didn’t join the numerous New Orleans marching bands popular at that time. Instead became a dance and concert band musician and at age twelve he made his musical debut by joining a band his father led that included some of his students and his brothers.
In 1903 A.J. began playing in the Bloom Philharmonic. In 1908 he played for the Peerless Orchestra. Then in 1913 he played in the large, legendary orchestra organized by John P. Robichaux for the Carnival ball of the Elves of Oberon. That same year he played at the Rose Bud Theater on Dryades Street, sometimes with Papa Celestin’s Tuxedo band. He also played in the Olympia Band with Sydney Bechet, Kid Ory, Louis Keppard, and Clarence Williams, among others.
After touring briefly with W.C. Handy in 1917, Piron started an orchestra which included Lorenzo Tio, Steve Lewis, John Lindsay, and Peter Bocage. The theme song of the orchestra was The Purple Rose of Cairo, written by Piron and Steve Lewis. In 1923, Piron took his band to New York City.
Violinist A.J. Piron, who led dance bands during the 1910s through the 1930s, died on February 17, 1943 in New Orleans.
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OKAN
Fusing Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, folk and global rhythms in songs about immigration, resistance and love, OKAN takes their name from the word for heart in their Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria. With vocals in Spanish, Yoruba and Spanglish, OKAN is led by the Cuban-born violinist and vocalist Elizabeth Rodriguez and percussionist and vocalist Magdelys Savigne, both Grammy and Latin-Grammy nominees.
Having performed and recorded with Bomba Estereo, Lido Pimienta, The Halifax Symphony Orchestra, Hilario Duran and Dayme Arocena, OKAN’s recent release Okantomi was awarded the 2024 Juno Award (the band’s second Juno recognition) and included in NPR Alt Latino, Le Monde, and CBC Music’s “Best of 2023” lists, garnering critical praise from Songlines UK, Billboard, Pop Matters and JAZZIZ.
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MARIA HOWELL | GIRLS IN GOWNS
Girls in Gowns is a unique musical initiative created by singer and actor Maria Howell. This collaborative project features female performers coming together to showcase their talents while dressed in elegant gowns. The concept blends various musical genres, highlighting the diverse capabilities of each performer. The inaugural performance of “Girls in Gowns” took place at a fundraising event over 10 years ago, for Students Without Mothers, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students, who have lost their mothers. Over time, the event has grown in popularity, becoming a highly anticipated occasion, wherever it’s presented. It not only celebrates musical artistry, but also raises funds for scholarships, continuing to support and empower deserving students in need.
For more information about the non-profit organization, visit www.studentswithoutmothers.org
The Girls: Maria Howell, Tracy Hamlin, Ronee Martin, Karen Briggs ~ violin
The Band: Noel Freidline ~ piano/keys | Zack Page ~ bass | Justin Varnes ~ drums
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NICOLE YARLING & MARTIN BEJERANO
Tribute to Prince.
The music of Prince is iconic and timeless. Latin Grammy-nominated pianist Martin Bejerano and renowned vocalist and violinist Nicole Yarling present a modern, funky jazz-fusion that reimagines Prince’s “golden period.”
After the concert is an open jam. Bring your instrument!
Students be sure to score one of the limited free student tickets!
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The Jazz Voyager
Hitting those friendly skies on British Airways back to the States is a fifteen hour fly time from Warsaw to Philly with a four hour layover at Heathrow, but it was fun seeing a new city, new venue and hearing Mr. Herring again up close and personal in a club setting. An old stomping ground, South Jazz Kitchen, is the destination that serves up elevated comfort food that combines America’s original music with Southern heritage cuisine.
Praised for its authentic, soulful, and orchestral sound, The String Queens (TSQ) is a dynamic group with violinist Kendall Isadore, Dawn Johnson on Viola, and cellist Élise Sharp. They create stimulating musical experiences that inspire diverse audiences to love, hope, feel, and imagine. This Jazz Voyager is anticipating the experience of a versatile repertoire and musical journey through time spanning from the Baroque era to the Jazz Age to today’s Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
Nestled in the Spring Garden neighborhood of the city, the venue is located at the intersection of Broad and Mt. Vernon, at 600 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130. For more info https://notoriousjazz.com/event/the-string-queens.
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