Chris Oatts Pretty Big Band and Special Guest Vocalist Chelsea Reed
Chris Oatts’ Pretty Big Band brings a ten-piece ensemble to Chris’ Jazz Cafe for a two-night engagement featuring special guest vocalist Chelsea Reed. The group combines the force of a big band with the improvisational energy of a smaller jazz ensemble, performing Oatts’ original compositions and arrangements.
Oatts is a Philadelphia-based saxophonist, composer, and educator known for a full, expressive sound and technically accomplished, soulful improvisation. His musical approach draws on hard-swinging jazz, intricate harmonies, and lyrical melodies while balancing tradition with contemporary ideas. He has performed and recorded with artists and groups including Seal, the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, Dick Oatts, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Temptations, and Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Band.
When: Friday, November 27, 2026, and Saturday, November 28, 2026
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. each night
Venue: Chris’ Jazz Cafe
Lineup: Chris Oatts Pretty Big Band with special guest vocalist Chelsea Reed
Run time: The listed performance blocks run approximately two hours, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: General admission with à la carte menu pricing is $30 on Friday and $35 on Saturday. Dinner-and-show packages cost $105 on Friday and $110 on Saturday and include a three-course dinner. VIP dinner-and-show packages cost $125 on Friday and $130 on Saturday and include a three-course dinner plus stage-front seating.
Dining details: Beverages are not included. Checkout prices include taxes and fees, and a $15 server gratuity is added to dinner-and-show packages.
Artist background: Oatts studied with his uncle, alto saxophonist Dick Oatts, at Temple University. He comes from a multigenerational musical family: his father, Jim, performed with Stan Kenton and Machito and played in the jazz-rock band Chase, while his grandfather, Jack Oatts, helped establish Iowa’s first high school jazz band. Oatts continues to perform on his grandfather’s Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone.
Recordings: Oatts has released the albums *First Quintet* and *Personalities*. The latter includes quintet and nonet performances with Terell Stafford and other Philadelphia and New York musicians, combining jazz standards with original material.
Additional work: Oatts founded the LOVE Jazz Orchestra, which honors the tradition of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis while commissioning new works from Philadelphia composers. He also leads the South Philly Big Band, which has performed with Walt Weiskopf, Ignacio Berroa, and Gary Smulyan and released the *SPBBXMAS* EP.
Education: Oatts teaches at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. He has also taught at the University of the Arts and the Media Arts Council and co-founded the Philadelphia Saxophone Guild.
Streaming: The venue invites audiences to watch live through the Chris’ Jazz Cafe YouTube channel.