Philadelphia saxophonist Bobby Zankel and his ensemble, the Wonderful Sound 7, will headline an Historic Germantown concert Aug. 10, performing selections from their 2023 album "A Change of Destiny." The album explores a little-known chapter of Philadelphia history.

The free concert, made possible by a Fairmount Park microgrant, will also feature Delaware-born multi-instrumentalist Paul Woznicki. Woznicki will present a 30-minute original performance showcasing his eclectic style, which ranges from jazz to psychedelic tones, funk and experimental beats.

Following their individual sets, Zankel, Woznicki and Germantown's Jim Dragoni will come together for a trio performance of original music.

This event is part of the "Music Alive" series, running from May to October 2024. The series traces the evolution of American roots music, blues and jazz from the 1920s through the turn of the century.

Zankel's ensemble performance focuses on the lives of people enslaved by George Washington at his Philadelphia residence. The composition was inspired by the 2007 discovery of a hidden passageway used by nine enslaved individuals at the president's house, challenging common perceptions of the first president and highlighting the complexities of early American history.

"Philadelphia was a 'free city' at the time. You had to set your slaves free after three months in the city," Zankel explained in a recent interview with All About Jazz magazine. "And he would get around that by bringing them to his farm in Virginia and then after two months bring them back to Philadelphia! That was very devious!"

Zankel's work aims to humanize the enslaved individuals. "They were real people with real names, hence my piece 'Naming Names,'" he said. The piece includes a section where vocalist Ruth Naomi Floyd intones the names of "our nation's nine founding mothers and fathers whose forced labor made the President's House functional."

A fixture in Philadelphia's jazz scene since 1975, Zankel's five-decade career includes collaborations with modern jazz luminaries such as Cecil Taylor, Muhal Richard Abrams and Steve Coleman. Locally, he studied with John Coltrane's former teacher, Dennis Sandole, and worked with bassist Jymie Merritt, whose innovative rhythmic approach greatly influenced Zankel's compositional style.

Zankel's Buddhist beliefs influence his approach to the subject matter. "I felt that this work should have a vision that can see something bright in the darkness," he said. The title "A Change of Destiny" reflects his philosophy that "in every present moment you have a chance to change your circumstances."

In 2001, Zankel founded Warriors of the Wonderful Sound, Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting new jazz and jazz education in Philadelphia. The 18-piece big band of the same name has performed works by renowned composers including Abrams, Julius Hemphill and Rudresh Mahanthappa. Beyond performing, Zankel has spent more than 30 years teaching music in Pennsylvania's state prisons.

Paul Woznicki, the concert's second featured guest, gained recognition in 1980 for his synth jazz/funk instrumental soundtrack for director Don Dohler's horror movie "Fiend." He released the soundtrack under the name "Woz."

Woznicki's music is characterized by its diverse approach, ranging "from schizophrenic drum machine dissonance to dreamy, soothing soundtracks." His background includes involvement in various dance projects, such as modern-tap-ballet-butoh-flamenco and belly dance. Woznicki's gypsy jazz band has also performed for belly dance shows.

This concert is part of Historic Germantown's ongoing efforts to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the area while providing accessible, high-quality music.

The "Music Alive" series takes place in the Historic Germantown courtyard at 5501 Germantown Ave. The performance starts at 3 p.m.

For more information about this and other events in the series, visit historicgermantownpa.org.