Legendary Philadelphia jazz club celebrates 35th Anniversary with dinner & concert series

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — City sounds are drowned out inside a charming jazz club that’s tucked down a one-way street in Center City. Inside the legendary music joint, rhythmic tunes and blue notes vibrate the walls. On Friday night, Chris’ Jazz Cafe will tune up for its 35th anniversary with a lineup of veteran headlines and up-and-coming artists performing throughout September. The club is kicking off the month-long celebration with a dinner and show.

“We’re truly honored to be the longest continuously operating jazz venue in Philadelphia,” said Chef/Owner Mark DeNinno. “We hope area jazz lovers will come out and mark this milestone with us.”

DeNinno saved Chris’ Jazz Cafe 25 years ago when its previous owners felt they were losing money running the business. They offered for him to buy the club while he was executive chef.

“This was back in 2004,” DeNinno remembers. “At first I said no, but then I changed my mind and bought the club. We decided to make changes to the club and actually make it into a real jazz club.”

DeNinno said that he and the employees, some of whom had been working at the club since it opened in 1989, grabbed a bunch of sledgehammers and knocked down several walls throughout the venue. They added a stage for a band topped with neon lighting, removed the pinball machines and the pool tables in a corner of the club, and transformed a piece of Philadelphia’s soul into the vibrant, music cafe favored by jazz lovers around the world.

Chris’ Jazz Cafe live streams its shows for free and will do so during its 35th Anniversary jazz series. The music lineup in September is comprised of young talent and award-winning jazz veterans, including Trumpeter/Vocalist Benny Benack III & his sextet, featuring vocalist Kate Kortum, pianist Kevin Hays ’ 7 ^th Sense, bassist Jon Michel & his all-star quartet, pianist Joe Block ‘s Tribut, Kind of Blue , and vocalist Anaïs Reno ‘s all-star quintet.

In addition, during the month of September, DeNinno said he will cook some of the most beloved dishes from the last three decades at the club including, pan-seared diver scallops with sweet English pea purée and elderberry coulis, Bang Bang Mussels in pernod mussels jus, duck terrine with pistachios, sour cherries, and orange zest, and blood orange and tarragon crème brûlée.

Dinner & Show packages (including the 3-course chef tasting menu), VIP, and General Admission tickets are on sale now for all shows. All tickets are premium seating. Free streaming is also available on Chris’ YouTube channel: @ChrisJazzCafePhilly .

Aside from its anniversary series, jazz lovers can enjoy live jazz Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information or to make reservations, call 215.568.3131 or visit Chris Jazz Cafe .

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