Chris’ All-Star Quintet

12/28/2024 9:30 PM
Other Showtimes

Chris’ All-Star Quintet

with Peter Bernstein

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

Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time he has participated in numerous recordings and performances with musicians from all generations. As a leader, Peter has released nine albums and a DVD. As a sideman Peter has appeared in groups led by Sonny Rollins, Bobby Hutcherson, George Coleman, Lou Donaldson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Fathead Newman, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Diana Krall, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Cobb and many more. Current projects include his album, Monk, with Doug Weiss and Bill Stewart, a recently released solo record, Solo Guitar – Live at Smalls, and the highly acclaimed organ trio with organist Larry Goldings and drummer Bill Stewart

Peter Bernstein
Joe Block
Aidan McKeon
Alex Claffy
Joe Dyson

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


Seating Info
View 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.