In October 2012, vocalist and composer Chelsea Reed invited a few friends over to play for some dancers in a South Philly living room. Since that fateful day, she's been singing and playing for audiences all over the world and adding band members along the way.

 

With four albums and a decade of touring under their belts, the Fair Weather Band continue to bring the soul of a dance to any show--whether at a jazz club, backroom blues bar, or festival stage. They have shared a bandstand with trumpeter Terell Stafford and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, who is featured on their 2017 release Spreadin’ Rhythm Around. Their 2020 release, Carolina Lullaby showcases original songs steeped in jazz, blues, and folk traditions where Reed’s soaring vocals and swing musicality shine. When not composing, the band loves exploring the roots of American music to uncover long forgotten songs.

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Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Band draw upon the intensity of powerhouse vocalists, the ingenuity of 20th century composers, and the energy of a full dance floor.

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Najwa Parkins is a Philadelphia-based vocalist, educator, and songwriter/composer. Her voice has often been described as smooth, smoky, and soulful— with a profound range of emotion. With a B.M. In Jazz Studies and Vocal Performance from Temple University, Najwa specializes in performing and teaching within the jazz idiom, but is a multi-disciplinary vocalist, seamlessly transitioning between many genres including blues, RnB, pop, and folk styles (and for those who still need this credential, yes, she has undergone many years—before, during, and after college—of classical training). Najwa has been praised for her lyrically and musically engaging compositions. True to the spirit of multi-potentiality, Najwa also has a background as a dancer and a competitive gymnast, and can also be seen performing in the Philadelphia area as an aerialist from time.

 

She leads several of her own bands to support the multi-dimensional nature of her vocal stylings and musical interests. Najwa also works as a vocalist with groups led by others, including the South Philly Big Band. She is also the featured vocalist on the 2013 release, New Celebration, by Phil Woods and the Festival Orchestra. As a recovering perfectionist, Najwa cannot tell you precisely when to expect releases of new music, but has several projects and recordings in the works that she aims to release in the near future. As an artist and performer, Najwa believes in the importance of connecting with audiences by telling stories through music. She draws on life experiences in writing her own music and lyrics as well as in her interpretation of the music and lyrics of others.