2023 Ella Fitzgerald International Award Winner, April Varner and Her Album Release Celebration, "April by April Varner"
2023 Ella Fitzgerald International Award Winner, April Varner and Her Album Release Celebration, "April by April Varner"
Award Winning NYC-based jazz vocalist and composer, April Varner, has often been described as a “direct, authentic singer…”, demonstrating “vocal dynamism… authentic jazz phrasing…electrifying numbers…” and possessing a “profound command of deep scat and vocalese…” (Marilyn Lester, The New York City Jazz Record).
Recognizable by her curly red hair and voice of an “old soul”, April brings her listeners to another place- one long ago when the giants of jazz were still gracing the stage. Amassing several viral videos on her social media of her challenging solo transcriptions, cleverly crafted vocaleses and acapella renditions of the Great American Songbook, April’s voice can fit itself into a myriad of different molds.
Recently in the month of April, she has reached many musical milestones- she had two successfully sold out shows at Birdland Jazz Club and Mezzrow Jazz Club!
At the age of 27, April has immersed herself deeply into the jazz tradition and has performed/studied with a multitude of legendary artists and jazz luminaries such as Tierney Sutton, Russell Malone, Sachal Vasandani, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling, and others. April graduated in May of 2022 with her Master’s degree in Jazz Voice Performance from the Manhattan School of Music under the guidance of 2-time Grammy© nominated vocalist and teacher Theo Bleckmann. She was awarded the 2023 Winner of the International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition and most recently received a 2024 Honorable Mention Award in the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Competition. The release of her debut full-length album, entitled “April by April Varner”, will be on June 28th, 2024 on Cellar Live Record Label. This genre-busting collection of all April-titled songs was produced by Grammy-Award winning drummer, producer and educator, Ulysses Owens Jr.
Luther Allison, Piano
Stanley Ruvinov, Bass
Ahmad Johnson, Drums
General Admission ~ $30 includes a la carte menu
Dinner & Show ~ $85 Includes 3-course dinner
VIP Dinner & Show ~ $105 Includes dinner above and upgraded stage-front seating
(Beverages not included)
Dinner & Show fees include server gratuities.
Streaming on our YouTube channel: @ChrisJazzCafePhilly
Award Winning NYC-based jazz vocalist and composer, April Varner, has often been described as a “direct, authentic singer…”, demonstrating “vocal dynamism… authentic jazz phrasing…electrifying numbers…” and possessing a “profound command of deep scat and vocalese…” (Marilyn Lester, The New York City Jazz Record).
Recognizable by her curly red hair and voice of an “old soul”, April brings her listeners to another place- one long ago when the giants of jazz were still gracing the stage. Amassing several viral videos on her social media of her challenging solo transcriptions, cleverly crafted vocaleses and acapella renditions of the Great American Songbook, April’s voice can fit itself into a myriad of different molds.
Recently in the month of April, she has reached many musical milestones- she had two successfully sold out shows at Birdland Jazz Club and Mezzrow Jazz Club!
At the age of 27, April has immersed herself deeply into the jazz tradition and has performed/studied with a multitude of legendary artists and jazz luminaries such as Tierney Sutton, Russell Malone, Sachal Vasandani, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling, and others. April graduated in May of 2022 with her Master’s degree in Jazz Voice Performance from the Manhattan School of Music under the guidance of 2-time Grammy© nominated vocalist and teacher Theo Bleckmann. She was awarded the 2023 Winner of the International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition and most recently received a 2024 Honorable Mention Award in the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Competition. The release of her debut full-length album, entitled “April by April Varner”, will be on June 28th, 2024 on Cellar Live Record Label. This genre-busting collection of all April-titled songs was produced by Grammy-Award winning drummer, producer and educator, Ulysses Owens Jr.
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.