Uwishunu.com

Saxophonist and composer Dan Peterson has been living with his song cycle “Five Simple Worlds… And Ways Of Getting There” for several years; some of the material goes as far back as 2001. I can’t imagine what it must be like to live with a still-evolving work of your own creation for so long, but I know I admire the devotion and lack of ego that it demonstrates.

The suite, which Peterson first performed in June of 2007 with an 8-piece band plus two vocalists and three guest soloists, consists of five pieces about loss and two that deal more with the recovery that follows loss. Peterson’s goal is eventually to perform “Five Simple Worlds…” with sets, costumes, and dancers, but for now he’s focusing on a CD release of the material sometime in the spring and this week’s Tritone performance. Wednesday night Peterson will perform parts of the suite with just a trio, consisting of himself on reeds, Mike Taylor on bass, and Doug Hirlinger on drums.

The performance is part of this month’s installment of Avant Ascension, a monthly series co-presented the third Wednesday of every month at Tritone by Peterson and trombonist Larry Toft, both of whom are members of Bobby Zankel’s Warriors of the Wonderful Sound and a variety of other local bands. The goal of the series is to provide a forum for local ensembles that are, in Toft’s words, “pushing the envelope of any style of avant-garde music.”

Performing after Peterson’s trio is Here Vibe, a new band led by trumpeter Patrick Hughes. The sextet also includes Toft on trombone, Tim Wendel on guitar, and Hughes’s Melody Gardot bandmates, Bryan Rogers, Ken Pendergast and Chuck Staab, on tenor sax, bass, and drums respectively. Following Here Vibe there will be an open jam session.

Avant Ascension: Dan Peterson’s “Five Simple Worlds” and Patrick Hughes’s Here Vibe
Wednesday, February 18, 9:30 p.m., $5

Tritone
1508 South St, Philadelphia, PA
www.tritonebar.com

Pattern is Movement, Performing @ Johnny Brenda’s on Saturday

Jazz and more… Where I’ll be and where you should be…

TUESDAY 2/17/09
Chromatic Mysteries (featuring Marshall Allen), Racketshop
Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave.
Chromatic Mysteries is a new project featuring Sun Ra Arkestra maestro Marshall Allen, saxophonist/flutist/poet/Philly icon Elliott Levin, guitarist and Bardo Pond cofounder Michael Gibbons, percussionist Scott Verrastro (a frequent collaborator of Levin’s), and guitarist Edward J.Ricart (of the PRV Trio and Kohoutec). Racketshop, led by trombonist Dan Blacksberg and guitarist Nick Millevoi, is a project that pays tribute to the late “Ëœ80s and early “Ëœ90s music of guitarist Joe Morris.
9 p.m., $10

WEDNESDAY 2/18/09
An amazing night of live music in Philly:

Mostly Other People Do The Killing
Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St.
8 p.m., $10 ($5 for students)

Ben Schachter’s re:Trio
TIME, 1315 Sansom St.
9 p.m., FREE

Drake, Dice Raw, MJ Project
Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St.
9 p.m., $10

Avant Ascension: Dan Peterson’s 5 Simple Worlds Trio, Patrick Hughes’s Here Vibe
Tritone, 1508 South St.
Look for a preview of this event on Uwishunu soon.
9:30 p.m., $5

THURSDAY 2/19/09
Ingrid Laubrock / Mary Halvorson / Tom Rainey
The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St.
More information at arsnovaworkshop.com.
8 p.m., FREE

FRIDAY 2/20/09
Sonic Liberation Front, Cicadian Rhythms
Sonic Liberation Front plays ecstasy-inducing Afro-Cuban avant-garde jazz. This show is presented by Sherman Community Arts.
Green Line Cafe, 45th & Locust
7 p.m., $5

SATURDAY 2/21/09
Papertrigger, Pattern Is Movement, Whales And Cops
Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave.
9 p.m., $10

SUNDAY 2/28/09
Sci Fi Philly: White Rocket, Pull, Improvisers For The Abolition Of Wayne Newton
Gojjo Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar, 4540 Baltimore Ave.
This weekly musician-run jazz & experimental music series never disappoints.
9 p.m., $5

Lucky Old Souls is my weekly web radio show”¦ 2 hours of jazz, blues, pop standards, early rock & roll, soul, and more, plus occasional guests from Philly’s music scene. I don’t get too hung up on genre distinctions on the show, and my music picks reflect the same spirit. Listen live every Tuesday from 2-4 P.M. on gtownradio.com, or visit myspace.com/luckyoldsouls for free downloads of past shows.

If you walked past Love Park on February 8th, you might have been witness to an interesting scene. A dozen or so couples stopped what they were doing, and simply started making out in the park. Some were kissing by themselves, others with their puppies. But everyone was feeling the love.

So what was going on?

Local Philadelphia filmmaker Ted Passon, shot this excellent video for GPTMC’s ‘LOVE’ campaign. Filming took a few hours, and the finished product looks absolutely fantastic. Great job, Ted! We’ll have a fun Q&A with Ted up on here shortly.

Curious about that catchy song in the video? Sure you are. You can thank Anna Biller, a talented composer / writer / film director from LA, for that. The song in the LOVE video, also entitled LOVE, was written for her first feature film, Viva, in which she also plays the title role. Thanks for the song, Anna!

Check out the video and be sure to visit the websites of the talented artists who made it happen.

LOVE Video on Viddler
www.viddler.com/explore/gophiladotcom/videos/76/

Anna Biller
www.lifeofastor.com

Ted Passon
www.tedpasson.com

LOVE on GoPhila
www.gophila.com/love

Love Park
15th and JFK, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Two dishes at Table 31; Photos courtesy Table 31

More great deals coming at you “” the latest from Table 31, the excellent steakhouse in the brand new Comcast Center.

They’re offering ‘Luxury for Less’ prix fixe options for both lunch and dinner:

A 3-course lunch for $24, Monday through Friday.

And a 3-course dinner for $35, Monday through Saturday from 5-7 pm.

Sounds delicious.

CLICK HERE for more info on the official Table 31 website.

Sugar Mom’s might be Old City’s best kept secret. The large, retro-y, super-hip, dive bar, tucked away in the basement of 225 Church Street (just a half block north of Market), can be hard to find if you don’t know where you’re going, but once inside, it’s a venerable oasis of beer, food, entertainment and good times.

Inside, retro arcade games line the walls, from Pac Man and pinball to Bobby Hull hockey and golf. There’s also a pool table, large screen TV, piano (painted with flames), and bumper cars (for sitting only”¦unfortunately), as well as tons of couches and bar stools, mostly covered with graffiti from eager, drunk bar-goers.

Free crayons and small toys (spinning tops, hopping frogs, fortune fish) are littered about, and vintage art work lines the walls. Walking into Moms for the first time is not unlike walking into a 1970′s carnival”¦only without the screaming children and sketchy carnies.

The beer list consistently impresses (Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale”¦mmm) and the prices are decent. In addition, Mom’s runs a special almost every day of the week, from Pierogie Wednesdays (50 cent pierogies, $2 Buds) to $1 PBR Sundays. Noon to 4 on weekdays, sandwiches are half-priced”¦making Mom’s a great place to grab a midday meal.

Like its sister bar, Tattooed Mom, all food is served with a giant basket of condiments, including your regular old ketchup and mustard, plus Grey Poupon, A1, 2 kinds of hot sauce, and vinegar. It’s the kind of kitschy gesture that keeps me coming back for more “” sugar has never tasted so sweet.

Sugar Mom’s
225 Church Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-8219
www.myspace.com/sugarmoms

Old City’s Arden Theatre is bringing back its 2004 smash-hit musical A Year with Frog and Toad which is based on the friendship between a grumpy toad and a cheerful frog in Arnold Lobel’s children’s books. It’s an Arden Children’s Theatre production, but, like most of their shows, by no means is it just for the kids.

The 2004 production garnered tons of award nominations, and the Arden is bringing back its original Barrymore-winning stars, Jeff Coon and Ben Dibble. The revival runs March 4th “” April 19th.

Every performance includes a post-show Q & A session with the cast, and all kids receive a free commemorative show poster and are invited to meet the cast in the lobby after each performance. The Arden also runs other fun things for kids, including backstage tours. Check out their official website at www.ardentheatre.org.

Arden Theatre Company
40 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 922-8900
www.ardentheatre.org

Valentine’s Day. It’s tomorrow, people! If you don’t have a gift ready for this Hallmark holiday, the Kimmel Center and Academy of Music have got you covered with a ridiculous Valentine’s Day sale.

Head on over to the Kimmel Center’s official website and enter the promotion code “SWEETHEART” when purchasing tickets, to score 50% off select shows at the Kimmel and Academy. 50%! You can also take advantage of this deal by calling or picking up tickets right at the Kimmel Center box office.

There are a LOT of shows included in the deal, including Stephen Sondheim: A Life in Theatre (Feb 21st), Mariza (Mar 1st), Hilary Hahn in Concert (Mar 4th), Happy Days: A New Musical (Mar 24th – 29th), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (April 7th – 12th), and more!

You can get all the details and check out the other shows available on the Kimmel’s website. Act fast, this deal is only good until midnight February 14th!

Kimmel Center
300 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 670-2323
www.kimmelcenter.org

Academy of Music
240 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 893-1935
www.academyofmusic.org

Are you looking for something non-mushy and lovey-dovey to do on Valentine’s Day? Here are some fun alternatives to candlelit dinners and romantic strolls! All events are for the over 21 crowd.

Philadelphyinz at Medusa
I, Alexis Lerro, will be hosting this fun night of dancing with DJs Apt One and Skinny Friedman. It’s free, there are drinks specials and the music is always upbeat and danceable. Swing by to see me in my “Space Cupid” outfit!
Medusa Lounge, 27 S. 21st St, 10pm-2am, Free.

High School Confidential at The Barbary
Steven Bloodbath and Jhn Rdn return with this high school themed night of awkward teen romance. The music should be fun and frisky, with some old favorites tossed in!
The Barbary, Delaware and Frankford Aves, 10pm-2am, Free-$5.

Valentine’s Day at Vesuvio
Myles of MomTried.com will be creating a floor-wide installation of her edgy art in Vesuvio’s second level. The night will include a kissing booth, spin the bottle and “Prom Photos” taken by Philthy.us. DJ SiYoung of Plastic Little is spinning and there’s free beer!
Vesuvio, 8th and Fitzwater, 10pm-2am, Free.

Post by Adam Dembowitz

The Philadelphia Wings, Philly’s indoor lacrosse team, welcome the rival Boston Blazers to the Wachovia Center tonight at 8 PM. Tickets (www.wingslax.com) are available for tonight’s game for as little as $10.

The Wings (2-4) can tie the Blazers (3-3) for third place in the East Division with a win tonight. Mat Giles, the team’s preeminent scorer with 27 points, will lead the charge as the Wings try to continue the exceptional play they began last Friday with a victory over the previously undefeated, division-leading Buffalo Bandits. Philadelphia fans are a big reason why the Wings have won more titles than any other team in the history of professional indoor lacrosse, so go show your support for the six-time champs!

In partnership with the American Heart Association, the Wings are hosting “Go Red for Women Night” for tonight’s game against the Blazers. Wings players will be wearing their red jerseys, and the team welcomes all fans to wear red to support the effort to “Go Red for Women.” The Wings will raise awareness for heart disease and strokes among women by making public address announcements, giving tips on heart health, and distributing information at booths throughout the concourse area. Head over to the Wachovia Center for some fast-paced, heart-pounding action, and enjoy the game!

Wachovia Center
3601 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 336-3600

Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

Has your lover been especially good this year? Or perhaps you just want to sweep a new interest off their feet? Show them the city’s most sought after view from the 19th floor of the Park Hyatt during a special Valentine’s dinner at XIX.

A Chef Marc Plessis’ special prix fix Romance Menu ensures that you can concentrate on your date instead of dinner decisions. This limited-time menu features Kumomoto Oysters with apple mignonette and white sturgeon caviar; Hand-Dived Scallops with cauliflower, caper-raisin relish, quail egg and roasted chicken jus; Black Sea Bass with spiced honey, butternut squash, Brussels sprout leaves and speck; Bison Tenderloin with sunchoke, mustard greens, pine nuts and wild mushroom ragout; and Chocolate-Almond Macaroon Heart with bing cherry compote and coffee ice cream. Or you could just skip the main course and dine entirely on aphrodisiacs “” XIX features Philadelphia’s largest selection of raw oysters, presented around a dramatic circular bar.

The Valentine’s menu is available only on February 13th and 14th, but the romance doesn’t end after Valentines day. XIX’s dinners for two – a $45 Roasted Blue Foot Chicken for Two is a half blue foot chicken, roasted and served with delicata squash, wild mushrooms, and Yukon Gold potatoes OR a $55 Seafood Clay Pot for Two with prawns, scallops, mussels, red snapper and lobster in a coconut-lemongrass broth with bamboo shoots, baby shitake mushrooms and jasmine rice “” will warm you throughout the winter.

Seasonal desserts showcase delectably rich ingredients like Valhrona Chocolate Souffle with Grand Marnier ice cream, Pistacio Nougat Parfait with warm brandy-cherry compote, and Chocolate Pate with salted caramel and toasted marshmallow.

For more information about XIX, or for a reservation, contact the restaurant directly.

XIX
Park Hyatt at the Bellevue
200 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 790-1919
www.nineteenrestaurant.com