On Oct. 19, the first-ever all-jazz induction to the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame, presented by the Philadelphia Music Alliance, will take place along the Avenue of the Arts, with the additions of Joey DeFrancesco, Benny Golson, Christian McBride, Jaco Pastorius and Bob Perkins.
The Class of 2016 joins such Philadelphia jazz greats as John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Stan Getz, Stanley Clarke, Gerry Mulligan and Grover Washington Jr., among others, along the Music Walk of Fame.
During afternoon ceremonies along the Avenue of the Arts, the new honorees, along with founding artistic director of the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Anthony Checchia, whose induction was announced in March, will see their newly-installed bronze plaques unveiled. The plaque unveilings will be followed by an evening reception and short performances by Joey DeFrancesco and the University of the Arts ‘Z’ Big Band.
On Oct. 20, an all-star concert will pay tribute to the late bassist Jaco Pastorius at the Bridgeport Ribhouse in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania.
“The Alliance is very excited to be able to specifically honor jazz this year as an extension of Philadelphia’s essential ties to this unique American art form’s rich legacy,” said PMA Board chairman Alan Rubens, in a press release. “It’s important to be reminded of the global impact and influence that Philadelphia has continued to bring to the jazz world, since the Roaring ’20s. Jazz doesn’t always get its due these days, even though it’s current as ever. Jazz is today, and it’s very much got a thriving pulse in our great city.”
For more information, visit pmawalk.org.
