Bert Harris and Laurent Bass
Sassafras Bar
Philadelphia
48 S 2nd St.
Sept. 14, 2026
Housed in a building that was built in the late 1800s, Sassafras is the kind of bar that was once central to the lifeblood of jazz. Intimate and welcoming, the former longshoremen hangout turned Old City staple is the perfect environment for an evening of live jazz. With its large, street-facing windows opened to welcome a crisp September breeze, the atmosphere in Sassafras was laidback and chill. I don’t drink alcohol, so I ordered the Lavish Lady, a bright, lavender-inflected mocktail and waited for the band to set up.
Tonight’s music was provided by bassist Bert Harris and Laurent Bass on tenor saxophone, clarinet and percussion. In addition to playing with forward-thinking Philly jazz legends like Byard Lancaster, Khan Jamal and Elliot Levin, Harris is a member of the electrifying funk band Philly Gumbo. Bass’ resume is equally impressive, having played with Laurent Bass Jazz Collective, Mélange Jazz Collective, and The Rio Rhythm Project. As the after-work crowd chatted quietly, the duo warmed up and Harris’ bass resonated beautifully throughout the small bar space.
I didn’t recognize the first piece but it was a gem, guided by a subtle Latin groove percussion and Harris’ richly melodic approach to bass. Bass’ lovely and understated sax solo highlighted his rich tone and emotive style. While there were a handful of tunes that I didn’t recognize, the duo’s gorgeous, stripped down take on Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” was another high point in the set. Although I could only stay for the first set, Bass and Harris’ proved that classic jazz sounds fresh and invigorated when it’s presented in the right environment.
