Jazz Bridge Neighborhood Concerts Presents The Kendrah Butler-waters Group at Cheltenham Center for the Arts

Pianist Dave Posmontier hosts “Jazz @ The Center” First Wednesday Neighborhood Concerts Series at the Cheltenham Center for the Arts, 439 Ashbourne Road, Cheltenham, PA, 19012. Showtime is 7:30-9:00 pm. Tickets: $15 in advance ($20 at the door). Students $5 and children under 12 FREE!

Pianist, composer, violinist and vocalist Kendrah E. Butler-Waters grew up in a household surrounded by jazz, Motown, classical, and gospel classics. Raised by a single mother in the outskirts of Philadelphia, Kendrah’s mother Charlotte Butler would purchase her first Fisher Price keyboard not knowing that Kendrah would listen to the music her mother would play on records and imitate what she heard by playing it on her little keyboard. Her mother was encouraged to start Kendrah on piano lessons....

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Pianist Dave Posmontier hosts “Jazz @ The Center” First Wednesday Neighborhood Concerts Series at the Cheltenham Center for the Arts, 439 Ashbourne Road, Cheltenham, PA, 19012. Showtime is 7:30-9:00 pm. Tickets: $15 in advance ($20 at the door). Students $5 and children under 12 FREE!

Pianist, composer, violinist and vocalist Kendrah E. Butler-Waters grew up in a household surrounded by jazz, Motown, classical, and gospel classics. Raised by a single mother in the outskirts of Philadelphia, Kendrah’s mother Charlotte Butler would purchase her first Fisher Price keyboard not knowing that Kendrah would listen to the music her mother would play on records and imitate what she heard by playing it on her little keyboard. Her mother was encouraged to start Kendrah on piano lessons.

After purchasing Kendrah a used baby grand piano from a Temple graduate student, Kendrah would begin her classical studies with her teacher, Charles Pettaway at the Settlement Music School. She studied with world renowned pianist Charles Pettaway for 11 rigorous years. Simultaneously, Kendrah would begin her jazz studies at the Mount Airy Cultural Center, founded by saxophonist Anthony “Tony” Williams.

At Mount Airy, Kendrah received the Philadelphia Jazz grooming on the piano from jazz greats like Don Wilson and Kenny Gates. Kendrah’s serious and rigorous study of both classical and jazz piano afforded her a Roam and Haas scholarship at Settlement Music School for 5 years to study with the late Philadelphia legendary pianist Eddie Green (pianist for Billy Paul, Tyrone Brown, and many others). Kendrah’s love of jazz and her faith would go to shape her musical identity.

This event is sponsored by the Melrose Park Neighbors Association.

Jazz Bridge, an award-winning nonprofit dedicated to assisting Greater Philadelphia Metro area jazz and blues musicians and vocalists in times of crisis, sponsors these neighborhood concerts throughout the region to keep the sound of Philadelphia alive.

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