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Post by Garrett Smith

On Wednesday, September 17th, I was invited to check out Jack Furlong and His Quartet at Chris’ Jazz Café. Chris’ manages to feel secluded from its surrounding blocks, even though it sits smack in the middle of Samson between Broad and 15th. The whole place is dimly lit except for the stage and the candle on each table. The tables are set in a way that you can see the performers no matter where you are on the floor, and the servers are about as sweet as you could ask for (they deserve nice tips). Chris’ also has a small, classy bar with some great beers on tap. I had something called Oktoberfest, which was a little hoppy for my tastes, but I enjoyed it. I can definitely recommend the Victory Whirlwind Wit, which they didn’t have on tap, but was damn tasty. I didn’t try any of the food, but I noticed that their breaded shrimp was humongous and juicy. It took all I had not to order a plate the minute it was set down.

Jack Furlong, a Baritone Saxophonist, was a classic entertainer. His dry wit and laid back demeanor made for what felt like a relaxing evening with a friend. Accompanied by Sean Gough on keys, Pat Kelley on the Upright Bass, and John O’Keefe laying down some pretty mean beats, Jack and his Quartet played through a variety of songs and styles, mixing standard jazz tunes with some interesting originals. It made for a truly modern set, getting a Miles Davis tune followed by a song inspired by The Colbert Report. Jack plays his sax with style, allowing the full baritone sound to sit just right between Kelley and Gough.

Check out Chris’ website for a full schedule of events, as they have great jazz groups coming in almost every night of the week for cheap cover. This is the perfect place for a relaxing night out with some friends or a significant other.

Chris Jazz Cafe
1421 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 568-3131
www.chrisjazzcafe.com