Still Alive In Philly will be my trio’s second album, recorded across three live performances in May 2026 at Spring Garden Records. Following the release of our debut album and a national tour, we’re returning to the bandstand to capture the electricity of our live shows that push the jazz piano trio tradition to new frontiers.

Music, to me, is a celebration of life. Recording a performance while the audience is sharing the space with the musicians is the best way I know to capture that celebration. Live albums have long played a vital role in jazz history, and for a band whose music thrives on spontaneity and deep musical trust, documenting this moment feels essential.

But Still Alive In Philly is about more than making a great live record. It’s also an acknowledgment that survival itself is not guaranteed. As a cyclist in Philadelphia, I’ve had more than my share of close calls with cars, and several of my friends have lost loved ones to traffic violence.

When I’m on my bike, I feel like a kid again. It’s an efficient, joyful, and green way of moving around a city—something we should all be able to do safely. But in Philly, it’s simply not as safe as it could and should be. That’s why I’ve decided to use these concerts as a fundraising platform for Philly Bike Action, a nonprofit working to create bicycle infrastructure that is physically separated from automobile traffic.

Admission to the Still Alive In Philly live concerts at Spring Garden Records is free. Guests must reserve seats at the links below and are encouraged to support the project by donating via Venmo to @James_Fernando with “Still Alive In Philly” in the payment memo.