The Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts prides itself on a thriving music education program for children and teens in the region.
Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts is ranked highly as a must visit venue that offers America’s original art form jazz on a regular basis. Founded in 1966 by James Adams and members of an African American musicians union Local #274, membership included Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Sara Vaughn, Sonny Stitt, Art Blakey, Dinah Washington, Max Roach, Clifford Brown, Shirley Scott, “Phil
ly” Joe Jones, Tootie Heath, Jimmy Heath, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Grover Washington, Jr., and Nina Simone among others were in attendance. The Music Education Programs began in 1985 as the Clef Club members began to recognize a decline in new and available Philadelphia jazz talent. Member-driven outreach initially included local musicians who volunteered their time and energy to teach jazz to local youth who were interested. By 1988 the Clef Club received a seed grant that helped to establish the initial Jazz Education efforts. It moved to its present facility, a new four-story building on the Avenue of the Arts, in 1995. The Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts located at Broad and Fitzwater Streets, was the first new building in the city’s ambitious Avenue of the Arts development project. The new three-story building, houses a cabaret and performance space, archives, classrooms and rehearsal rooms. The William Penn Foundation was the first investor that made it possible for the Clef Club to be located on South Broad Street by providing operating and capital support. Over the years, the Clef Club was a Lila Wallace Readers Digest National Jazz Network Site and presented a spring and fall season of jazz performances, workshops and residencies. The Clef Club hosted several distinguished Artists-in-Residence during its history including Bassist Larry Ridley, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation “Living Legacy Awardee,” saxophonist Oliver Lake, saxophonist Makonde McIntyre and jazz hip-hop workshops, all through The Coltrane Project. Today, musicians such as Christian McBride, Joey Defrancisco, James Carter, George Burton, Sherry Wilson Butler, Monnette Sudler, Molyka Sanofa, Billy Paul, Bernard Purdie, Lou Cioci & Buddy Cifone, Larry McKenna, Brian Pasto, Ellen Gahnt, Tony Vicola, Michael Andrews and Roots of Music present concerts at the Clef Club. Today, the Clef Club is part of Berklee School of Music’s Berklee City Music Network, utilizing a proprietary curriculum called the Berklee PULSE music method that is centered around present day music styles, the instruments that youth tend to select, and the incorporation of essential theoretic, listening, improvisational and performance skills. It is through the education program and our performance ensemble and presenting program that we preserve the legacy and insure the future of this great American music. The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts mission is to celebrate and preserve the legacy of jazz through education and to support the evolving form through public programs. For more information, call 215-893-9912 (www.clefclubofjazz.org)
06/17/2026
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Meet Serenity Toney-Williams
Serenity, currently a student at Community College of Philadelphia, participates in the PCC Saturday Jazz Education Program. Serenity was recently awarded 2nd place at the National Association of Negro Musicians Eastern Competition. Her dedication and drive to master the bass clarinet are extremely impressive and serve as an inspiration to many students throughout the program. Congratulations Serenity
06/14/2026
Where Live Music Lives
06/12/2026
A huge congratulations to Pablo Batista Percussion on receiving his Philadelphia Walk of Fame Star! ⭐🎶
Join us this weekend at The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts to celebrate this amazing achievement with a live concert featuring Pablo Batista alongside members of Eddie Palmieri’s Band. Experience an unforgettable night of music, percussion, and Philadelphia jazz excellence.
LIVE LATIN JAZZ ON THE AVE *THIS* SATURDAY JUNE 13! - Electrifying Master Percussionist Pablo Batista at the Clef!
The PNC Arts Alive Jazz Cultural Voices Series presents master percussionist Pablo Batista and his Latin Jazz Ensemble at the Philadelphia Clef Club. With a 30-year international career performing with artists from Alicia Keys to Eddie Palmieri and guesting with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Batista is renowned for his versatility, musicianship, and Grammy-winning work across jazz, R&B, and gospel. A dedicated educator and cultural ambassador, he blends Latin, jazz, and Afro-Cuban traditions in a high-energy performance that celebrates rhythm, creativity, and community.
Secure your tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/pablo-batista
06/04/2026
*THIS SUNDAY*
PNC Arts Alive Jazz Cultural Voices Series and The Philadelphia Clef Club are proud to present an elegant afternoon of jazz with a very special Music Legends Matinee, a tribute to three of the most enduring voices in American music: Duke Ellington, Ray Charles and Nat King Cole as interpreted by Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble.
This performance honors the artistry and influence of these iconic performers through thoughtfully reimagined arrangements and soulful interpretation. Drawing from the rich traditions of jazz, soul, and R&B, the ensemble brings renewed depth and freshness to beloved classics while preserving the emotional power and timeless appeal of these legendary artists.
Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble offers audiences a graceful journey through the golden era of American song, blending nostalgia with musical sophistication. Perfect for jazz enthusiasts and newcomers alike, the concert celebrates the legacy of these trailblazing artists in an intimate and engaging setting.
Formed in 1979 by bassist Warren Oree, Arpeggio’s repertoire includes original and standard compositions ranging from soft, contemplative melodies to energetic, dancefloor-ready orchestrations.
The beloved house band of the Friday Night Jazz series at The Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill, PA, Arpeggio has also shared their creative energy at jazz festivals and concerts throughout the United States, Brazil, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean while releasing nine full-length albums throughout their storied career.
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of elegant big band jazz, soul, and timeless melodies on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts.
05/17/2026
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