Chris’ All-Star Quintet
Chris’ All-Star Quintet
Joe Block has ascended to be one of the premier pianists, composers, and bandleaders working in music today. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Block began his musical journey playing classical piano at 2. In middle school, he began regularly studying at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts and the Kimmel Center’s Creative Music Program while soaking in the city’s rich jazz scene. Block now resides in New York City and is a graduate of the Columbia-Juilliard dual-degree program (BA '21 and MM ‘22) where he studied with Geoffrey Keezer, Marc Cary, Ted Rosenthal, and Frank Kimbrough.
Block captures the most special moments and feelings of humanity through his music and compositions. He has played with musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Leslie Odom Jr. and at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theater, and the Village Vanguard. He has been nationally recognized as a YoungArts Foundation Finalist, a Jazz at Lincoln Center J. Douglas White Award winner, and has played on Orrin Evans’ Grammy-nominated album, “The Intangible Between”.
Hailed by Jazz at Lincoln Center as one of "jazz's most promising young composers", Block is a regular arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He also writes for the Wynton Marsalis Septet, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Grace Kelly, Kenny Overton, and the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia. In April 2023, he served as the musical director and pianist for Internationally Ellington, a Jazz at Lincoln center concert celebrating Duke’s international repertoire featuring drummer Herlin Riley.
In the summer of 2023, he performed at the Village Vanguard with the Kurt Rosenwinkel Quintet and at the Marciac Jazz Festival with the Wynton Marsalis Septet. Most recently, he was named a finalist in the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition.
Block is the co-founder and leader of the Philadelphia Ambassador Big Band as well as the Joe Block Quintet, where he regularly performs his original compositions. He has taught over 30 students, carrying forward the rich culture of mentorship he was surrounded with.
Joe Block is a Steinway Artist.
Peter Bernstein
Peter Bernstein
Joe Block
Aidan McKeon
Alex Claffy
Joe Farnsworth
General Admission ~ $35 Includes a la carte menu
Dinner & Show ~ $105 Includes 3-course dinner
VIP Dinner & Show ~ $125 Includes dinner above and upgraded stage-front seating
(Beverages not included)
Dinner & Show fees include server gratuities.
Streaming on our YouTube channel: @ChrisJazzCafePhilly
Joe Block has ascended to be one of the premier pianists, composers, and bandleaders working in music today. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Block began his musical journey playing classical piano at 2. In middle school, he began regularly studying at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts and the Kimmel Center’s Creative Music Program while soaking in the city’s rich jazz scene. Block now resides in New York City and is a graduate of the Columbia-Juilliard dual-degree program (BA '21 and MM ‘22) where he studied with Geoffrey Keezer, Marc Cary, Ted Rosenthal, and Frank Kimbrough.
Block captures the most special moments and feelings of humanity through his music and compositions. He has played with musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Leslie Odom Jr. and at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theater, and the Village Vanguard. He has been nationally recognized as a YoungArts Foundation Finalist, a Jazz at Lincoln Center J. Douglas White Award winner, and has played on Orrin Evans’ Grammy-nominated album, “The Intangible Between”.
Hailed by Jazz at Lincoln Center as one of "jazz's most promising young composers", Block is a regular arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He also writes for the Wynton Marsalis Septet, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Grace Kelly, Kenny Overton, and the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia. In April 2023, he served as the musical director and pianist for Internationally Ellington, a Jazz at Lincoln center concert celebrating Duke’s international repertoire featuring drummer Herlin Riley.
In the summer of 2023, he performed at the Village Vanguard with the Kurt Rosenwinkel Quintet and at the Marciac Jazz Festival with the Wynton Marsalis Septet. Most recently, he was named a finalist in the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition.
Block is the co-founder and leader of the Philadelphia Ambassador Big Band as well as the Joe Block Quintet, where he regularly performs his original compositions. He has taught over 30 students, carrying forward the rich culture of mentorship he was surrounded with.
Joe Block is a Steinway Artist.
Peter Bernstein