Highmark Mann Programming VP Toby Blumenthal taps into the past, present, and future for Ears We Trust

In this week’s Ears We Trust, we asked Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts Vice President of Programming and Chief Innovation Officer Toby Blumenthal to share what he’s been listening to lately.

Here are the songs stuck in his ears recently and what he has to say about them:

With the Highmark Mann’s golden 50th anniversary constantly on my mind this summer, I find myself growing increasingly nostalgic as I revisit many of the artists who have graced our stages over the past five decades.

At the same time, I often think about Freddie Mann’s vision when the venue opened in 1976 and his desire to introduce new artists (primarily classical musicians) to Philadelphia audiences. That tradition remains at the heart of my work and one of the great privileges of each concert season: curating the past, present, and future at the most magical venue in the region.

With that in mind, I present the past, present, and future of my recent listening.

Jerry Garcia Band — “Might As Well”

On Aug. 7, 1984, the Jerry Garcia Band took the Mann stage for a memorable performance that included “Cats Under the Stars,” “Dear Prudence,” “I Second That Emotion,” and an encore of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You).” While that concert has never received an official release, I selected the 1976 recording of “Might As Well” — also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — from the Record Store Day release of Reflections (50th Anniversary Edition).

Nearly 42 years to the day after Garcia’s Mann appearance, we are thrilled to keep his spirit alive on Aug. 28 with an all-star cast of musicians joining the Philly Pops to celebrate the music and legacy of Jerry Garcia.

Polo & Pan — “Summer Is Almost Over”

Released in 2025 and touring this summer — including a stop at the TD Pavilion opening for Empire of the Sun — Polo & Pan are an exceptional French electronic duo known for their dreamy, globe-trotting sound. Their music effortlessly blends French house, disco, tropicalia, psychedelia, and world music influences, reminding me of the early-2000s records from Air, Zero 7, and Thievery Corporation.

“Summer Is Almost Over” is one of the standout tracks from their album 22:22. It perfectly captures the bittersweet feeling of watching summer slip away — a sensation that feels particularly familiar as another Mann season races toward its conclusion. Yet rather than sounding melancholy, the song feels nostalgic and euphoric at the same time. I have yet to see Polo & Pan live, making this one of the performances I’m most looking forward to this summer.

Sparklmami — “no te vayas”

I stumbled across Sparklmami just a few weeks ago and was immediately captivated by her debut album. One of the most exciting new artists to emerge from Chicago’s creative scene, Sparklmami is a multidisciplinary artist of Mexican and Indian heritage whose background spans visual art, performance, and makeup before returning to music.

That artistic perspective is evident throughout, which feels less like a collection of songs and more like stepping into a fully realized world. The album’s opening track, “no te vayas” (“don’t go”), serves as a warm and inviting entry point. Blending jazz, funk, disco, Brazilian influences, and Latin soul, the song is groove-driven, playful, dreamy, and deeply celebratory. It manages to be sophisticated without ever feeling academic, and it has quickly become one of my favorite discoveries of the year.