Philadelphia - John Chacona writes

Friday Night Lights: Two Saxophonists Debut New Directions

Published 27 October, 2026 By John Chacona

“I play energy, not notes,” Nathan-Paul declares on his press site, and if you’ve ever heard him play, you know it’s true. With interests as a broadcaster, musician, label owner and composer. Stephen Philip Harvey seems to be energy embodied. So catching up with these two protean creators reveals only a single frame in the epic film of their careers.

But this week is a rich moment to do so as both bring new projects to northeast Ohio on Friday, Harvey at BOP STOP and Nathan-Paul at BLU Jazz+.

Meet Virginia MacDonald, A Fresh New Voice On Clarinet

Published 14 July, 2026 By John Chacona

Though clarinetist Virginia MacDonald released her debut recording In Search Of… (Cellar Music Group) only a few weeks ago, the jazz community has been quick to take notice—and well they should. It’s an assured effort shot through with ample personality, high wire virtuosity and a shrewd compositional sensibility, a delight from start to finish.

But don’t take my word for it. You can hear it for yourself Saturday when MacDonald makes her BOP STOP debut as a leader in support of the new release.

One Night In The Midwest: Stein/Smith/Shead Meet The Moment

Published 26 May, 2026 By John Chacona

The improvising trio of bass clarinetist Jason Stein, double bassist Damon Smith and drummer Adam Shead released a three-CD set last Friday of recordings from a December tour recorded at venues in Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Indiana, St. Louis and Bloomington, Illinois entitled Five Nights in the Midwest (Irritable Mystic Records). Sharp-eyed readers might notice the absence of a Midwestern city close to our hearts. But fear not. The trio rolls into Waterloo Arts Sunday for a New Ghosts concert that comes at the two-third point of an 18-concert tour.

Nathan-Paul’s Age of Aquarius Dawns At Edwin’s

Published 27 January, 2026 By John Chacona

Nathan-Paul Davis at RCB&J — Nathan-Paul Davis at Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival

Nathan-Paul Davis makes this statement at the top of his Linktree page:

"I play energy, not notes!" Nathan-Paul calls his music SOUND MEDICINE.

Anyone who has heard Davis play will recognize that he is simply stating facts. No cap. No flex. The energy in a typical Nathan-Paul performance could power a dozen AI server farms for a month.

Thursday night finds the saxophonist in an unusual setting: playing a birthday gig, in this case, his own. The setting, Edwin’s Leadership & Restaurant Institute, is at once familiar, but different.

Comments closed

O-verjoyed! Orrin Evans Blows Out 50 Candles at BOP STOP

Published 25 March, 2025 By John Chacona

When you’re Orrin Evans, Grammy-nominated pianist, composer, bandleader, label executive, teacher, husband and dad, there’s only one thing that can slow you down, as I found out when I asked him how much time he had for our phone interview: tires. “I’m literally sitting here waiting for my tires,” he told me as air wrenches shuddered in the background. “So I got at least 30 to 40 minutes.” It wasn’t enough, such is the man’s skill as a raconteur.

Evans will turn 50 on Friday, and new tires notwithstanding, he’s not coasting into middle age. He’s doing what he loves most: making music, on a tour he calls “50 Shades of O” that motors into BOP STOP Wednesday night.