WELCOME

"Jerry Weldon is one of today's leading proponents of Soul Jazz who represents the 'bar-walkin', hard-blowing, tenor legends in our contemporary American Jazz scene." ~Gary Walker, WBGO Radio

Veteran tenor sax man Jerry Weldon joined the legendary Lionel Hampton Orchestra in 1981 and has worked with dozens of jazz luminaries over the past three plus decades. In 1990, Jerry joined Harry Connick Jr.'s newly formed big band and Jerry was seen daily as part of the “house band” on HARRY, Connick’s daytime variety show which aired from 2016-2018. Jerry can also regularly be found gigging, both as a leader and a sideman, at clubs in the New York area...and beyond.  

"A thoughtful soloist whose subtle swing has plenty of fiber." 
~Ira Gitler, The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz.


"...one of the strongest tenormen on the scene today."
~ MVD Entertainment Group


 "When it comes to tenor saxophone sounds, Jerry Weldon has one of the biggest, and warmest, around."
~ The Star Ledger

Upcoming Events

JUNE 2023

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Previous events

Please join Jazz Bridge in supporting our fundraiser for the Monnette Sudler Fund benefitting women musicians on Sunday June 4 from 1-4 pm. Concert starts at 2 pm with the Jerry Weldon Organ Band featuring Jerry on saxophones, Lucas Brown on organ and Byron Landham on drums. Cliveden of the National Trust, located at 6401 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia Pa 19144, is a historic estate in the heart of Germantown and the carriage intimately seats 80 patrons. Tickets for this fundraiser are $30 in advance ($35 at the door.) They can be purchased online at https://www.jazzbridge.org/product/fundraiser Street parking is nearby and free. Entrance is on Cliveden Street near Morton Street. There will also be light refreshments. Monnette Sudler grew up in the rich musical neighborhood of Germantown in Philadelphia and learned folk songs at her uncle's feet before falling in love with jazz. She went to the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston to study guitar and composition (later receiving her degree at Temple University), and quickly made her move into professional playing when she joined the group The Sounds of Liberation in the 1970s, which had two prominent Philly musicians in the mix—reedman Byard Lancaster and vibraphonist Khan Jamal. The Monnette Sudler Fund was set up after Sudler received a lung transplant in 2014 and this fund assists women Jazz and Blues musicians in crisis or greater need. Over the years Monnette, herself, has helped raise money to keep the fund going and Jazz Bridge has been able assist upwards of 30 women through difficult times including helping pay for instrument repair, dental, utility assistance, rental assistance and more. $30

Veteran tenor sax man Jerry Weldon joined the legendary Lionel Hampton Orchestra in 1981 and has worked with dozens of jazz luminaries over the past four-plus decades. In 1990, Weldon joined Harry Connick Jr.’s newly formed big band, and he was seen every day in the house band on Harry, Connick’s daytime variety show, which aired from 2016 to 2018.

Born in Louisiana and raised in New Mexico, saxophonist Doug Lawrence spent more than 25 years making a name for himself in New York City. He has appeared in virtually every major concert hall and performance venue in the world and has performed for six presidents and royalty from around the world. For the last 25-plus years, Lawrence has been the featured tenor saxophone soloist with the legendary, Grammy-winning Count Basie Orchestra.

World-class organist Dan Trudell has been a staple of the Chicago jazz scene for more than 30 years. He has won DownBeat’s Rising Star award, and the iconic jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco chose him to be the additional organist in the Tenor Madness Band, which also featured Lawrence and Weldon. He has performed with Aretha Franklin, Bernard Purdie, and Kenny Burrell, among others.

Born, raised, and still living in Dallas, Texas, Andrew Griffith graduated from the famed Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and attended North Texas University, where he played in the One O’Clock Lab Band. Griffith is a sought-after drummer who has performed and recorded with Joey DeFrancesco, Jack McDuff, Wynton Marsalis, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and many others.

$38.50–$44.50

One of the most magical moments EVER at Parker Jazz Club was when Joey Defrancesco brought his dear friends (and Tenor Titans) Doug Lawrence and Jerry Weldon alongside Dan Trudell (organ) and Andrew Griffith (drums). After Joey's untimely death, the rest of the band continues to play to honor his spirit, mastery, and love of the music. Join us for an emotional (and SWINGING) night honoring one of the finest musicians to ever play organ/trumpet/saxophone!

The show is available via livestream, generously sponsored by local nonprofit Texas Jazz Society. https://www.parkerjazzclub.com/livestream Online donations are welcome—all proceeds benefit Texas Jazz Society’s mission to keep jazz alive and thriving in Texas.

Emmet Cohen Trio with Special Guests Bruce Harris & Jerry Weldon

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Birdland, 315 W. 44th Street, New York, NY

Emmet Cohen – piano

Philip Norris – bass

Kyle Poole – drums

Multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen is one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music and the related arts. Leader of the Emmet Cohen Trio and creator of the Masters Legacy Series, he is an internationally acclaimed jazz artist, a dedicated educator, the winner of the 2019 American Pianists Awards, and a finalist in the 2011 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition. Cohen headlines regularly at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Village Vanguard, and Birdland, and has appeared at the Newport, Monterey, and North Sea jazz festivals. His artistry has taken him to venues and festivals in over 30 countries. Cohen’s entrepreneurial energies led to his developing “Live From Emmet’s Place,” a live-streamed “Harlem rent party” that unites a worldwide audience via tens of millions of internet views. Cohen has released over ten albums as leader and has performed or recorded with Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Cobb, George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Houston Person, Christian McBride, and Kurt Elling.

Emmet Cohen Trio with Special Guests Bruce Harris & Jerry Weldon

 —  —

Birdland, 315 W. 44th Street, New York, NY

Multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen is one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music and the related arts. Leader of the Emmet Cohen Trio and creator of the Masters Legacy Series, he is an internationally acclaimed jazz artist, a dedicated educator, the winner of the 2019 American Pianists Awards, and a finalist in the 2011 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition. Cohen headlines regularly at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Village Vanguard, and Birdland, and has appeared at the Newport, Monterey, and North Sea jazz festivals. His artistry has taken him to venues and festivals in over 30 countries. Cohen’s entrepreneurial energies led to his developing “Live From Emmet’s Place,” a live-streamed “Harlem rent party” that unites a worldwide audience via tens of millions of internet views. Cohen has released over ten albums as leader and has performed or recorded with Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Cobb, George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Houston Person, Christian McBride, and Kurt Elling