Katie Kornely, a College senior, studies art history in Houston Hall most evenings. But last Monday, her concentration was thrown when the study space and creperie turned into a live jazz lounge.
A Philadelphia jazz favorite, Ben Schachter's Trio of Many, performed in the Class of 1970 Bistro as the second installment in this year's Philadelphia Jazz Legacy Series.
Thirty-five students and Philadelphia residents attended what organizers are hoping will become an intimate and informal setting for local jazz talent.
Several people ate crepes at tables in the back of the room while others wrote in notebooks, all the while enjoying the live entertainment.
Trio of Many is known for incorporating different styles and influences into their music.
"They're such an interesting group," said College and Engineering freshman Charlie Forster, who found out about the a concert a few hours before it took place. "They're very experimental. They do a lot of free jazz."
The group recently released a self-titled album and performs on the first and third Monday of each month at St. Jack's on 3rd and Chestnut streets.
The members are affiliated with Temple University and University of the Arts, but were all eager to expand into the Penn community.
"We like to play everywhere, especially at college campuses where they are apt to be curious about different approaches to music," said Schachter, who plays saxophone. "We like to get out of our little hovels, our dungeons."
Jazz enthusiasts from all over the area attended the free concert. Half of the audience was unaffiliated with Penn.
"I believe the goal of the University should be to educate the students about the world we live in, and I think that many times our best teachers are the people right around us," said Andrew Zitcer of the Office of Student Life, the umbrella organization for the series. "As much as we feel we have to teach them, I believe they have at least as much to teach us."
In planning events such as the one last week, Zitcer is trying to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for Houston Hall.
"Let's do things in the student union that are open, informal, organic and suggested by the students," he said.
The next event in the Jazz Legacy Series will take place in the Hall of Flags on Nov. 12.
