Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/building-today-for-tomorrow/x/267428
Pain Relief Beyond Belief
http://www.komehsaessentials.com/
PITTSBURGH JAZZ
From Blakey to Brown, Como to Costa, Eckstine to Eldridge, Galbraith to Garner, Harris to Hines, Horne to Hyman, Jamal to Jefferson, Kelly to Klook; Mancini to Marmarosa, May to Mitchell, Negri to Nestico, Parlan to Ponder, Reed to Ruther, Strayhorn to Sullivan, Turk to Turrentine, Wade to Williams… the forthcoming publication Treasury of Pittsburgh Jazz Connections by Dr. Nelson Harrison and Dr. Ralph Proctor, Jr. will document the legacy of one of the world’s greatest jazz capitals.
Do you want to know who Dizzy Gillespie idolized? Did you ever wonder who inspired Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey? Who was the pianist that mentored Monk, Bud Powell, Tad Dameron, Elmo Hope, Sarah Vaughan and Mel Torme? Who was Art Tatum’s idol and Nat Cole’s mentor? What musical quartet pioneered the concept adopted later by the Modern Jazz Quartet? Were you ever curious to know who taught saxophone to Stanley Turrentine or who taught piano to Ahmad Jamal? What community music school trained Robert McFerrin, Sr. for his history-making debut with the Metropolitan Opera? What virtually unknown pianist was a significant influence on young John Coltrane, Shirley Scott, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Timmons and Ray Bryant when he moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh in the 1940s? Would you be surprised to know that Erroll Garner attended classes at the Julliard School of Music in New York and was at the top of his class in writing and arranging proficiency?
Some answers can be gleaned from the postings on the Pittsburgh Jazz Network.
For almost 100 years the Pittsburgh region has been a metacenter of jazz originality that is second to no other in the history of jazz. One of the best kept secrets in jazz folklore, the Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy has heretofore remained mythical. We have dubbed it “the greatest story never told” since it has not been represented in writing before now in such a way as to be accessible to anyone seeking to know more about it. When it was happening, little did we know how priceless the memories would become when the times were gone.
Today jazz is still king in Pittsburgh, with events, performances and activities happening all the time. The Pittsburgh Jazz Network is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the places, artists and fans that carry on the legacy of Pittsburgh's jazz heritage.
WELCOME!
Groups
Badge
Duke Ellington is first African-American and the first musician to solo on U.S. circulating coin
MARY LOU WILLIAMS
INTERVIEW
John Simms Dies
JOHN SIMMS, died on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in Paris. A son of east Baltimore, John Simms created his life at 14 years old as composer, lyricist, multie style guitarist and most notably an old school Soul singer. John's last period saw him singing solo in bars and clubs in Paris and Europe, very popular to fans young and old. I recall one veteran guitarist playing along side John, exclaim, "I don't have anything to add that he doesn't do all by himself".
Winner of the "Best Pop song recorded in France", 1988, praised in Billboard magazine, playing Carnegie Hall, John worked with many well known American and French artists as a leader, band member and session man. He wrote scores used in French music shows, sung by chart topping vocalists.
Born into a 14 child family full of gospel and soul artists, John played with kin, especially older brother Arthur, in Baltimore, New York and Paris where he lived for 22 years. John launched 2 albums, My Acoustic Soul, his last record, released in 2005. It's firey and full of back beat, nuanced with Simms' irrepressible melancholy. www.john-simms-myacousticsoul.com
His public and fellow musicians most appreciated this multie talented performer for his electrified voice and guitar mastery, often improving Sam Cook, Otis Redding and Hank Williams songs into ear ringing, dance gyrating riffs from pop to classical to hard rocking crescendo closings. John brought the house down night after night in bars and clubs!
I met John in 1998. We soon forged a close friendship, hanging out at his recording studio apartment in Le Chapelle "little Africa" quartier of Paris. He and I co-arranged a few of my poems into music. I value our recorded sessions as milestones in my artistic efforts. A virtuoso, John played every style I asked of him; Spanish and flamenco, blues, samba and bossa nova.
John will be cremated at Pere Lachaise cemetery, Paris, on Monday, Sept. 29, at 9 a.m.
I'm gonna read a poem-in-memory to John. Nobody's come forward to sing and play guitar, 'cause that would be a hard act to do - in the shadow of our now -
Paris legendary guitar playin singin rockin roller!
On behalf of your many artist admirers and lively fans in Paris,
R.I.P. : John Simms. Soul Man.
Moe Seager
© 2024 Created by Dr. Nelson Harrison.
Powered by
