Musicians have to have strong opinions about the best ways to connect with an audience, but few put their money where their mouth is like Philly trombonist Ernest Stuart. Most notably, bemoaning the lack of a jazz festival in the city after the stalwart West Oak Lane Jazz bit the dust in 2011, he produced his own, raising the funds for last year’s first annual Center City Jazz Festival via Kickstarter. But he takes a similar approach to his own music: Feeling that jazz has become too far removed from its populist, dance-hall roots, he folds elements of modern soul, funk and R&B into his sound and leads raucous jam sessions on a regular basis at Time. At Art After 5, he’ll play tunes from his debut CD, Solitary Walker, welcome his protégé, singer Chri-ssie Loftus, and premiere new material inspired by sounds he’s heard traveling the world with Bhangra party band Red Baraat (themselves in town Jan. 26). 

Fri., Jan. 18, 5 p.m., free with museum admission of $23.50, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Ben Franklin Pkwy, 215-763-8100, phila-museum.org.