By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Lisa Chavous
There are a lot of “First Friday” events, a variety of “Second Saturday” events and even a few “Third Thursday” events around the area each month.
For years, Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) has had a jazz-based show every Thursday called “Jazz at Jamey’s.”
“Starting January 1, we switched from ‘Jazz Jams’ to a monthly series with four or five themed shows each Thursday,” said Jamie Reilly, owner and manager of Jamey’s House of Music.
This month’s “Third Thursday” falls on March 20 and that means it’s Lisa Chavous’ turn.
“I have my own show one night a month – every Thursday,” said Chavous, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from her home in Delaware County.
“This month is Women’s History Month so this will be a special show.”
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987.
“A couple months ago, I thought about it after a jazz performance – that I’d do a special show as a tribute to Women’s History Month,” said Chavous.
Chavous is one of the most respected jazz, rock and blues singers in the Philadelphia music scene.
“I’ve been playing a lot in the tri-state area,” said Chavous. “My music covers a lot of genres including Motown, jazz, blues, funk, hip-hop, soul – mostly soul.
“I’m calling my show this week ‘Ladies Rock the Blues.’
“It will be a tribute to great women artists including Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Koko Taylor, Ruth Brown, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Tina Turner.
“I’ll also be doing covers of other great blues artists such as Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley. And I’ve puy together a groip of women to play this music.”
The line-up of acts that Chavous has assembled for this week’s show includes Val Ray, Lynn Riley, Sister Blue and Deb Callahan.
“Lynn Riley is a great sax player,” said Chavous. “She’s a really good jazz player from the Tri-State area. I’ve hired her many times. Val Ray is a singer and production manager from this area.
“Nanette Blue, who is also known as Sister Blue, is from Montgomery County. She’s a singer, guitar player and drummer but she’ll just be singing and playing guitar at the show.
“Deb Callahan has one of the best blues bands in the Tri-State area. This will be the first time I’ve played together with her. We’ve crossed paths a lot but never talked. We’ll be playing some of her originals.”
Callahan has been playing the blues at area venues for more than two decades.
“I’m from the Boston area and I’ve been in Philly for over 20 years,” said Callahan. “I moved here to go to grad school at Penn.”
After graduation from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Work, Callahan stayed in the area and still works as a social worker in the city.”
“I got a master’s degree in social work,” said Callahan. “I do youth counseling. My music is definitely influenced by my work as a social worker.”
Callahan’s debut LP was “If Blues Had Wings” and she followed with “The Blue Pearl” in 2005, “Grace and Grit” in 2008 and “Tell It Like It Is’ in 2010. Her most recent album, which was released in 2023, is “Backbone.”
Chavous will be backed by her powerhouse band.
“I have my regular rhythm section – Charles Beasley on bass and Tony Day on drums and percussion,” said Chavous. “I’ll also have Richard Budesa on Hammond (a Hammond B3 organ).
Chavous is a Delaware County girl all the way.
She grew up in Sharon Hill and graduated from Darby Township High School. She studied for a career in nursing at a hospital in Delaware County. Now, Chavous is a resident of Lansdowne and could easily walk to Friday’s gig if she so desires.
Chavous is making a return visit to Jamey’s House of Music – the venue where she had a CD release party for her most recent album, “Breaking Down the Walls.”
“The CD is dedicated to my late husband Michael Hayes,” said Chavous, during a phone interview from her Delco home. “He died of cancer in 2014.”
Chavous has been singing her whole life.
“I started performing and singing in church when I was really young,” said Chavous. “The, my mom and dad managed me. Eventually, I got calls from agents. So, I started putting bands together – Lisa Chavous and Friends.
“My first band was a jazz band. We played a lot of jazz clubs including the Blue Note in New York. I was on the jazz side for a while. We were really blessed with being able to book shows at country clubs in Delco.
Chavous is frequently compared to Tina Turner, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Ruth Brown, and Irma Thomas, who along with Billie Holiday and Mahalia Jackson are among her primary musical influences.
Chavous has performed with jazz greats Byard Lancaster, Odean Pope, Trudy Pitts, Pat Martino, Jimmy McGriff and Bootsie Barnes, and is regularly backed by former members of Patti LaBelle’s band, as well as by Don Evans, former guitarist for Billy Joel.
Chavous is getting closer to releasing a new album.
“I’ve been back in the studio finishing my fifth CD,” said Chavous.
“I have some great music we’ve written over the last few years. We’ve been recording it at Morningstar Studio (Glenn Barratt’s highly acclaimed studio in East Norriton.
Video link for Lisa Chavous – https://youtu.be/3N0iG_x7u44.
The show at Jamey’s on Thursday will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
Ken Clark
Fans of the distinctive sound of the Hammond B3 are being offered a double treat at Jamey’s this week.
In addition to Richard Budesa’s performance in Chavous’ band on Thursday, there will be a lot of Hammond B3 music emanating from the stage on March 23 when Jamey’s presents Firecracker.
Firecracker is a new project based in Boston that features Ken Clark on the Hammond B3 organ and Jared Sims on the baritone sax.
The music celebrates the vintage funky organ sound popularized by greats such as Dr. Lonnie Smith, Groove Holmes, Lou Donaldson, and Wes Montgomery.
While the band pays homage to the great artists’ styles before them, they also play originals and arrangements that show off their unique individual voices.
“I’ve played with the sax player for 10 years in different bands,” said Clark, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Boston.
“This is the first time we’ve worked as our own band. I also have my own group – Ken Clark Organ Trio – and we’ve released six CDs. I’ve also toured with Michelle Wilson and done session work with One Dime Band.”
Ken Clark Organ Trio have been performing around New England and the eastern U.S. for the past 15 years. Guitarist Mike Mele, drummer Steve Chaggaris and Clark play shuffle boogaloo, build dynamic climaxes and sprinkle in jazz solos.
Clark is a Boston native who also has called Manchester, New Hampshire home.
“I spent two years studying at Berklee (College of Music) in Boston,” said Clark. “Then, I spent another two years studying with Charles Banacos (the late distinguished music educationalist Charles Banacos.”
Clark’s most recognizable gig came with a New York band – the Blues Project.
“I used to play with Melvin Sparks, Bernard Purdie and David “Fathead” Newman,” said Clark. “Then, I joined the Blues Project. I replaced Al Kooper in the Blues Project.”
Jared Sims is a musician and recording artist specializing in saxophone, woodwinds, jazz and funk music.
Sims, who has played music on four continents, has multiple solo albums and guest appearances on more than 60 albums.
He performs regularly under his own name and with several other groups. Jared has more than 30 different albums crossing several genres and his studio work has been featured American and Japanese television as well as several video games.
He performs regularly in Pittsburgh, New York City, Boston, and beyond and is currently the Director of Jazz at West Virginia University
Video link for Ken Clark — https://youtu.be/gYX40dlRrq4.
Video link from Jared Sims — https://youtu.be/sZqzTnPIvi4.
The show at Jamey’s on Saturday will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
Pay-per-view tickets are $15.
On Friday night, Jamey’s will host the Jeremy Edge Project.
Edge toured and recorded with the band Candlelight Red who performed 200 shows per year in all 48 contiguous states between 2010 and 2013.
Now, fronting his own band as lead guitarist and vocalist, the group has released a double album entitled “Saints and Souls Vol 1 and 2,” marking their second and third full–length releases on vinyl since 2020.
The show at Jamey’s on Friday will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
Pay-per-view tickets are $15
The Sunday Blues Brunch & Jam with the Philly Blues Kings is one of the longest running blues jams in the region, as well as the #1 original Sunday Blues Brunch and Jam.
This event features many of the top regional and national players every week and welcomes amateurs and weekend warriors to join on stage to celebrate the beautiful heritage of the blues.
The featured artist with PBK this Sunday will be Clarence Spady.
The open mic jam runs from 1-3 p.m. with the host band laying down a set from noon-1 p.m. to get things rolling and then supporting guest jammers as needed.
The host band Philly Blues Kings features Bluesman Dave Reiter on guitar, keys and vocals, Bill Marconi on drums and vocals, Rob Hamilton on harp and vocals, Frank McKitty on sax and Jamey Reilly on bass.
The Candlelight Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, 302- 475-2313, candlelighttheatredelaware.org) is presenting the first full weekend of its latest production, “Bright Star.”
“Bright Star” is a musical written and composed by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. It is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in 1945–46 with flashbacks to 1923. The musical is inspired by their Grammy-winning collaboration on the 2013 bluegrass album “Love Has Come for You” and, in turn, the folk tale of the “Iron Mountain Baby.”
“Bright Star” is billed as “an uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tightly in its grasp – as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.”
Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings (8 p.m.), Sunday afternoons (3 p.m.) and Wednesdays (11 a.m.)
Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $73.50 for adults and $35 for children (ages 4-12).
“Bright Star” will run through April 19.
One night each month, the Candlelight presents its monthly edition of “Candlelight Comedy Club.” This month, it will be March 20.
This month’s messengers of comedy will be Joey Callahan and Helene Angley.
Showtime on March 20 is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40.
On March 20, Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) is presenting Lauren Calve.
The show on March 22 will be Rust: Neil Young Tribute and the headliners on March 23 will be Alice Howe & Freebo.
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) will present Denise King’s
“Legendary Ladies of Song” on March 20, Brandywine Ballet on March 21 and 22 and “The Beat Goes On with Lisa McClowry as Cher” on March 23.
Elkton Music Hall (107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland, www.elktonmusichall.com) will host Low Cut Connie on March 20, Start Making Sense on March 21, PRS Eightlock on March 22 and Lifesigns on March 24.
