Odean Pope Trio
Philadelphia based Tenor Saxophonist Odean Pope…composer, performer, educator, and arranger is not only a household name in Philadelphia but has enthralled audiences stretching from Australia to Japan where mere mention of his name inspires a certain reverence and awe among jazz aficionados.
In the 1960’s Pope was known as the post-Coltrane tenor terror after being selected by Coltrane to take his place in Jimmy Smith’s Group when he left to join Mile Davis. While playing with drummer Max Roach and the Roach Quartet, for over two decades, Pope has been credited with helping the drummer maintain a forward-leaning edge while other bop-birthed legends played it relatively safe.
Spanning his career, Pope is on the cusp of bop and free jazz, connecting the two with a singular approach that is both creative and accessible. Playing venues worldwide including New York’s famous Iridium Jazz Club and the Blue Note Pope perfected the techniques of circular breathing and multiphonics, allowing him to stretch his solo improvisations with smooth transitions form dazzling elevations to the throbbing, husky sounds for which he is so well known.
Pope has been quoted saying “I try to reflect on my life in terms of how blessed I was to be raised in Philadelphia and to have shared bandstands and concert halls and recording studios with some of the greatest musical minds this world has produced.” Pope recounts the roll call and including not only Roach and Coltrane, but trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Lee Morgan and tenor saxophonist Benny Golson too.
$25 admission
Buffet dinner: $20.95 (6:30 – 8:00)
