In partnership with Councilman Curtis Jones Jr., Jazz Bridge presents free concerts in parks throughout Philadelphia’s 4th District.
Join us Wednesday, August 5 for Kendrah Butler Waters and her band at
Gorgas Park
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Free Admission!
About Kendrah:
Dr. Kendrah Butler-Waters is a Philadelphiabased pianist, violinist, vocalist, composer, and educator whose work transcends genre and expectation. A 2025 PEW Fellow, ButlerWaters blends jazz, classical, and gospel influences, she crafts a sound uniquely her own—one rooted in both technical mastery and emotional depth. A multiinstrumentalist with an academic foundation in political science and sociology from Temple University, a master’s degree in elementary education from Drexel University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Immaculata University, Butler-Waters brings a rare combination of intellectual rigor and artistic brilliance to every performance. As a 2015–2016 Jazz Resident at the Kimmel Center, she captivated audiences and has since performed at Cape May and Lancaster Avenue Jazz festivals and collaborated with poet laureates Yolanda Wisher and Trapeta Mayson for ConsenSIS focused on Black female and femme poets and notable Philadelphia based artists. Her compositions have been featured across NPR, PBS, WHYY, WRTI and other platforms, as well as with Levar Burton Read’s Tour, further amplifying her voice in the jazz and arts landscape. Butler-Waters’ career is defined by ambitious projects that explore cultural memory and social justice. From composing powerful works that trace African American history, to tributes like her 2021 sacred jazz homage to Trudy Pitts, to composing works that honor famed visual artist Edward Loper, she consistently honors musical legacies while pushing creative boundaries. Her recent work includes scoring music for Ascendance, a permanent interactive sculpture commemorating West Philadelphia’s Black Bottom, and leading 88 Time, a Pew Grant-winning project uniting four pianists in advocacy-driven compositions written for 8 hands and 4 pianos. Having premiered in April 2025, 88 Time will continue to tour, showcasing Butler-Waters’ ability to merge artistry with purpose. With new works slated for 2026, she remains a visionary voice in music, composing with heart, intellect, and an unwavering commitment to storytelling through sound.