John Morrison’s Philly Top 5: Jazz excursions and late summer celebrations

When I was a kid, summer felt way longer. I can’t quite articulate it, but your perception of time changes as you get older. The same 24 hours you experienced as a kid feel short as life congeals into a swiftly-moving mass of weeks, months, and years. Despite this, summer remains a special time of year for me. I hated school and resented the systems of authority and hierarchy that it relied on, so summer always felt like a welcome respite. As an adult, summer is less of a full-on break from structure and responsibility, as it’s an opportunity to take my work and personal life a bit easier. DJing at a friend’s block party in Cobbs Creek, hanging by the pool with my family, and chilling at the record store, summer 2025 has been chill and inspiring, despite the fact that it’s all happened against the backdrop of American fascism. So, as we close the door on another summer, here are a handful of highlights that have made August sweet and special.

Black Music City 2025 Showcase at Rec Philly

Every year, the Black Music City program awards grants to Black artists to produce creative works that celebrate Philadelphia’s Black music heritage. On August 15th, REC Philly hosted the annual Black Music City Showcase, and it was a lovely night of music, live performances, and fellowship with the city’s music and arts community. DuiJi Mshinda of Vinyl Tap 215, DJ Lil Dave, and Rashied Amon of Sook Vinyl brought records, Carla Gamble performed her uplifting house single “We Rise,” and a great time was had by all. As always, the Black Music City showcase did a great job of highlighting the richness and power of Philadelphia’s music scene.

Eugene Wilde – “Gotta Get You Home Tonight”

While hanging at the Black Music City showcase, I made sure to flip through some of the Sook Vinyl selections. One record that I had to grab was a clean 12” single of Eugene Wilde’s “Gotta Get You Home Tonight”. Released in 1984 on Philly World Records, “Gotta Get You Home Tonight” is a smooth R&B classic. Mixed by the legendary Philly production duo, Nick Martinelli and David Todd, this is an all-time jam and a great addition to any DJ set.

The Magic Mushrooms – “It’s A Happening”

I recently got booked to play an all-vinyl gig at The Trestle Inn, so I’ve opted to put together a set of psychedelic rock and garage records to spin. In the process of getting ready for this gig, I’ve been pulling out some gems to play. Philly band The Magic Mushrooms were early psychedelic rock pioneers, and their 1966 single “It’s A Happening” is a stunner. With its trippy, echoed-out vocals, tape effects, and distorted guitars, the song was ahead of its time, prefiguring the psychedelic sound that would become all the rage a year later.

Northern Liberties – Self-Dissolving Abandoned Universe

I saw Philly-based post-punk band Northern Liberties play live a bunch back in the 2000s, so it was a pleasant treat to give their latest album a spin. Released in 2023, Self-Dissolving Abandoned Universe is a furious beast of a record that’s as weird as it is relentless. “The Plot Thickens” is a hardcore tune with synths, propulsive drumming, and the screamy vocal refrain “EVIL CLOWN CLOUD” while  “Ghosts of Ghosts” swings between a haunting atmosphere and headbanging riffs.

Untethered – Grasping for the Moon

Untethered is the Philly jazz ensemble consisting of trumpeter Paul Giess, Grant Calvin Weston on drums, Lee Clarke on guitar and synths, and Timothy Ragsdale on bass. Their latest album, Grasping for the Moon, was recorded live at The Black Squirrel Club back in March, and it’s a gorgeous, inventive work of improvisational music. Songs like “A Selfie with the Moon on water” and “Ey, The Moon Got Rizz” straddle the line between Bitches Brew and Jack Johnson-era Miles, highlighting the band’s skill at putting a contemporary spin on the sound of ‘70s fusion. “Late Night Group Chat at Treetop Social” takes the band’s sound further with its chaotic whirlwind of electronics and rhythms. It’s lovely to hear that something so free and forward-thinking was presented to an appreciative audience at an independent venue here in the city.