2023 Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Jazz Award Winner, April Varner & Pianist Tim Brey's Quintet
2023 Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Jazz Award Winner, April Varner & Pianist Tim Brey's Quintet
Vocalist April Varner was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. She began her studies as a classical vocalist and pianist at age 8 and 6, respectively. No stranger to the stage, April began performing and competing at age 5, displaying vocal, musical theatre, drama and piano talents at the local, regional, national and international levels. Influenced by musical artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Eva Cassidy, and Esperanza Spalding, April has a passion for an array of genres ranging from standards from The Great American Songbook, Broadway classics, folk, R&B, funk, Brazilian jazz and sacred music. Upon earning her bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies (Voice) from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in the spring of 2020, at the young age of 25, April has already performed/studied with an array of renowned artists. These include Darmon Meader, Sachal Vasandani, Tierney Sutton, Walter Smith III, Dave Stryker, John Raymond, Kurt Elling, Sunny Wilkinson, Kate McGarry, Dr. Jeremy Fox, Sylvia McNair, Michael Feinstein, Benny Benack III, Theo Bleckmann, Ted Rosenthal, Jean Baylor, Rogerio Boccato, and Damien Sneed. April currently resides in New York City, where she is actively arranging, composing, and sitting in/performing at various jazz clubs around Manhattan. This has included Mezzrow, the Django, 55 Bar, Dizzy’s Coca-Coca Club and more. She is excited to be making her Birdland Theater debut in late September. Most recently, April graduated in May of 2022 with her Master’s degree in Jazz Voice from the Manhattan School of Music. She also just released her debut EP, entitled “Hummingbird”, available on all streaming services.
Vocalist April Varner with pianist Tim Brey and his quintet
Dinner & Show ~ $85 Includes 3-course Chef Tasting menu
VIP Dinner & Show ~ $105 Includes above Chef Tasting and upgraded stage-front seating
General Admission ~ $30 includes a la carte menu
Streaming on our YouTube channel: @ChrisJazzCafePhilly
Vocalist April Varner was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. She began her studies as a classical vocalist and pianist at age 8 and 6, respectively. No stranger to the stage, April began performing and competing at age 5, displaying vocal, musical theatre, drama and piano talents at the local, regional, national and international levels. Influenced by musical artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Eva Cassidy, and Esperanza Spalding, April has a passion for an array of genres ranging from standards from The Great American Songbook, Broadway classics, folk, R&B, funk, Brazilian jazz and sacred music. Upon earning her bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies (Voice) from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in the spring of 2020, at the young age of 25, April has already performed/studied with an array of renowned artists. These include Darmon Meader, Sachal Vasandani, Tierney Sutton, Walter Smith III, Dave Stryker, John Raymond, Kurt Elling, Sunny Wilkinson, Kate McGarry, Dr. Jeremy Fox, Sylvia McNair, Michael Feinstein, Benny Benack III, Theo Bleckmann, Ted Rosenthal, Jean Baylor, Rogerio Boccato, and Damien Sneed. April currently resides in New York City, where she is actively arranging, composing, and sitting in/performing at various jazz clubs around Manhattan. This has included Mezzrow, the Django, 55 Bar, Dizzy’s Coca-Coca Club and more. She is excited to be making her Birdland Theater debut in late September. Most recently, April graduated in May of 2022 with her Master’s degree in Jazz Voice from the Manhattan School of Music. She also just released her debut EP, entitled “Hummingbird”, available on all streaming services.
Seating InfoView Seating Chart
Premier Tables:
The best seats in the house positioned directly in front of the performance stage (marked dark blue on the seating map).
Standard Tables:
Clear and unobstructed views of stage (marked purple on the seating map). A few tables have a partially obstructed view (marked light blue on the seating map).
Cocktail & Bar Area:
Seating at high-top tables and at the bar area available on a first come, first seated basis (marked green on the seating map). Tables may be shared for sold out shows. Two TV monitors with live video feed of the performance are conveniently located above the bar and cocktail areas.
- All ticket prices are per person.
- Dinner menu available in all sections.
- Your ticket is also your dining reservation.
- Every ticket gets a seat in area purchased and tables are reserved based on the date when you made your reservation.
- We will do our best to ensure that your entire group sits together, please let us know in the order notes if there are multiple ticket orders in your group.
- For any special needs or accommodation requests, please call us at 215-568-3131.
- Tickets are the same price whether purchased in person, over the phone or online.
- No refunds, professional cameras or outside food and drink.
- There is a limited amount of seating available for performances, if the show is sold out online, contact us at 215-568-3131 for seating availability.
Festival Seating:
Festival seating is our general admission ticket. The entire venue or a portion of the venue may be designated for festival admission. These tickets will guarantee you a seat for the show and you are free to sit anywhere in the venue based on a "first come, first seated" basis. This should also allow for larger groups to sit together.
- All ticket prices are per person.
- Dinner menu available in all sections.
- Your ticket is also your dining reservation.
- For any special needs or accommodation requests, please call us at 215-568-3131.
- Tickets are the same price whether purchased in person, over the phone or online.
- No refunds, professional cameras or outside food and drink.
- There is a limited amount of seating available for performances, if the show is sold out online, contact us at 215-568-3131 for seating availability.