February 13, 2025

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Pieces of Dream jazzing things up at The Birchmere | Arts & Entertainment

Pieces of Dream jazzing things up at The Birchmere | Arts & Entertainment

The group will play songs from its four decades in the music world 

With over 40 years of experience, Pieces of a Dream has crafted an impressive legacy of innovation and diversity, which has kept them vibrant and true to themselves in the ever-evolving jazz landscape. 

Renowned as a “tough act to follow” by the legendary Count Basie, the ensemble features founding members keyboardist James Lloyd and drummer Curtis Harmon, alongside longtime collaborators Anthony Watson, Jr. on saxophone and David Dyson on bass. Together, they deliver their signature catchy riffs, infectious grooves, and captivating vocals at every performance.

Pieces of a Dream will take the stage at the Birchmere on Dec. 21 for an unforgettable evening of jazz, fusing elements of jazz, funk, ballads, and everything in between.

“We’ll do a mix of some of the newer things we’ve done and definitely some of the older things that go back as far as 1982,” Lloyd said. “It’s a very energy-filled show with a lot of excitement. It’s smooth jazz, but it ain’t all smooth when we do it. I like to call it a ‘stage party.’”

The group is no stranger to The Birchmere, playing there dozens of times.

“Everything about the place is great—the crowd and the sound, and they treat us like family,” Lloyd said. “It seems like every time we are there, magic happens.” 

Originating from Philadelphia’s music scene in 1976, the band derived its name from a cover of a popular Stanley Turrentine tune. 

“We were in junior high school and part of our school’s jazz band,” Harmon said. “We broke off of the jazz band to do a talent show, and we only came in third place. But we stayed together and listened to a lot of jazz greats and learned a lot. My father, who was a musician, had us going around and playing during intermission on his gigs, and people started to want to hear more from us.” 

Playing songs from the likes of Earth Wind and Fire, the Commodores, and other more contemporary artists, the group quickly gained popularity in Philadelphia, earning a spot as the house band for the local television show “City Lights.” This opportunity caught the eye of the late Grover Washington, Jr., who even joined them on stage at the Bijou for a rendition of “Mr. Magic.”

Shortly thereafter, Pieces of a Dream toured alongside Washington, performing in his rhythm section and opening for him at select shows. In 1981, the band signed with Elektra Records and released three acclaimed jazz albums in quick succession: “Pieces of a Dream,” “We Are One” and “Imagine This.”

The group continued to record, and a new album is slated for 2025.

“We inspire each other,” Harmon said. “The new-age recording where we don’t have to all be together in a studio opened up a whole new thought process for us. If someone has an idea, they will send it around, and it’s kind of fun. It’s a lot more fun than just plugging away in a studio. You can walk away and come back to it.” 

Watson is the youngest and newest band member at 43 and was introduced to Pieces of Dream music at an early age by his father.

“When you get a chance to hit with Curtis and James and all they have accomplished, I was quick to take that opportunity,” he said. “These guys are like my brothers. They’ve never treated me as the ‘young guy’ or the rookie.”

Throughout Pieces of Dream’s illustrious career, the band has toured globally, sold over 1 million albums, and achieved numerous hits on both Smooth Jazz and R&B radio. 

“We love what we do, and we love each other,” Lloyd said. “People still want to hear us. Our audience, our fans, and radio personalities keep us relevant, and we love that. We’re closing in on 50 years, and we’re not planning on stopping anytime soon.” 

The Birchmere show starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information or tickets, visit www.birchmere.com. 

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