V. Shayne Frederick Trio
Cellar Dog
258 S 15th St.
Philadelphia
Sept. 16, 2026
To put it simply, a jazz standard is a well-known composition that is part of a repertoire that jazz musicians use to practice, improvise on at jam sessions and connect with audiences. A standard is not only part of a well-traveled songbook; it is a tool for communication. Whether it happens through the introduction of new melodic licks, rhythms, phrasings or harmonic innovations, standards have long been a launching pad for creative breakthroughs in jazz. On Wednesday night, virtuoso jazz pianist V. Shayne Frederick brought his trio to the Cellar Dog in Center City to prove just how much juice can still be squeezed out of these old tunes.
As the band prepared for their first set, a playlist of familiar R&B classics like Stevie Wonder’s “Too High,” Diana Ross “I’m Coming Out,” and The Blackbyrds’ “Rock Creek Park” blared over the house sound system. With Nimrod Speaks on bass and Donovan Pope on drums, Frederick and the band opened with a sprightly, uptempo version of Chick Corea’s “Crystal Silence.” Frederick’s solo practically danced in and out of the song’s melody and chords while Pope’s funky and nimble drumming melded perfectly with Speaks’ big, beautiful tone and masterful control on bass. Next, the band tackled “How Deep Is The Ocean,” putting a swinging, blues-dipped spin on Irving Berlin’s classic devotional love song.
From there, the trio played a lovely take on Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer’s “I’m Old Fashioned,” a classic that’s been recorded by everyone from Ella Fitzgerald and Chet Baker to John Coltrane. Frederick’s vocal range also shined on a latin-tinged version of Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed.” Singing with a relaxed phrasing style that found him delivering each line behind the beat, Frederick approached the tune with a relaxed and confident feel while Pope and Speaks performed with an inspired command of the tune. Playing standards and popular tunes is still an effective way for jazz musicians to expand on the music’s shared language. Tonight, V. Shayne Frederick proved this by injecting these well-worn songs, with some fresh and innovative blood.
