The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, located on South Broad Street, is set to celebrate its 60th anniversary next year and is undergoing a significant transformation.
Founded in the 1960s as a social club for the Black musicians’ union, which faced segregation from other unions, the Clef Club has a rich history.
Notable figures such as Count Basie, Dinah Washington, John Coltrane, and many others were members of the Musicians’ Protective Union of Local 274 and frequent visitors to the Clef Club.
Board president Kenneth Scott emphasizes the importance of the club as a safe space for artists and a learning ground for emerging talents.
Today, the Clef Club is embarking on a $4.5 million renovation aimed at enhancing its educational facilities, establishing a state-of-the-art recording studio, and revitalizing its educational programs.
Oscar Payne, the club’s managing director, explains that around $2 million comes courtesy of the William Penn Foundation, with additional support stemming from local and state funding as well as contributions from various foundations.
Since its move to Broad and Fitzwater streets in 1995, the club has served as a nurturing environment for numerous renowned Philadelphia jazz musicians, including Grammy winner Joey DeFrancesco and Roots co-founder Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.
The Clef Club’s longstanding education program, initiated by the legendary Lovett Hines in 1985, has been instrumental in shaping the careers of many artists.
Hines has recently departed to lead a different music education initiative, but the Clef Club aims to continue his legacy despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shifts.
The Clef Club’s influence on Philadelphia’s vibrant jazz community remains strong.
Frank Machos, vice president and director of the Mann Center Institute for Creative Arts and Community Impact, lauds the club’s role in fostering intergenerational sharing of jazz education, a model replicated by other organizations, including the Mann Center’s All-City Orchestra Summer Academy.
The close-knit Philadelphia jazz scene is bolstered by partnerships such as that of the Clef Club and the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), where many successful musicians honed their crafts alongside their peers.
In May, the Clef Club hosted around 35 CAPA students for a senior vocal recital, underscoring its commitment to youth engagement.
Among current initiatives is the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz Summer Camp, where students are learning and developing their jazz skills.
Paul Eaton, a CAPA alumnus and now a music program director at Girard College, emphasizes the importance of the Clef Club as a supportive environment for young musicians.
Eaton noted that several students from Girard College are participating in the summer camp, benefiting from the club’s legacy of mentorship and collaboration.
Eaton remarked on the necessity of providing a safe haven for aspiring musicians to find inspiration and guidance, especially in a genre that thrives on creativity and improvisation.
One of Eaton’s students, Nyire Davis-Brown, 16, shared his enthusiasm about the learning he has experienced in the camp.
Davis-Brown noted the skills he has acquired regarding chord progressions and improvisation, appreciating the collaborative learning environment.
Among the summer program instructors is Saunders Sermons II, a trombonist and vocalist with experience performing alongside R&B legends.
Sermons focuses on helping young musicians cultivate their unique artistic identities while incorporating historical knowledge into their learning.
The Clef Club’s MasterClass sessions engage seasoned musicians as teaching artists, offering insights into various aspects of music that students might otherwise miss out on.
Payne underscores the broader educational benefits of involvement in the arts, highlighting how skills learned through music, such as teamwork and critical thinking, prepare students for life beyond the Clef Club.
The transformative power of arts education has long been documented, with studies indicating that participation in music and arts programs correlates to improved academic performance.
A study conducted from 2002 to 2012 by researchers at George Mason University and the University of California found that students engaged in art-related classes demonstrated higher grades in math and reading compared to their peers who did not participate in such programs.
The Clef Club’s commitment extends beyond music education into various skill areas, including time management and technical aspects of music production.
With renovations underway, students will gain hands-on experience with modern equipment prevalent in the music industry today.
Payne emphasized the connection between jazz music and other artistic realms, stating that jazz plays a vital role in influencing theater, cinema, and even commercial music.
He aims for the educational programs at the Clef Club to equip students not only to play music but also to understand the entire ecosystem of music creation, promotion, and recording.
As it approaches its 60th anniversary, the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts is poised to continue its legacy of nurturing future generations of musicians and contributing to the rich artistic tapestry of Philadelphia.
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