Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS
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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.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ed Skirtich on
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Hi Annie,
I feel your pain.
I was stunned too when I led a band called Jazz Company and tried to book gigs.
I really tried hard when I wrote about my background.
I wrote in bio. that I won the Sudler Trophy (equivalent to winning College Football's Heisman Trophy), and recieved a music degree from West Virginia University, and that I performed with Roy Hargrove, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, and some members of Maynard Ferguson's band (Sean Jones didn't arrive on the Pittsburgh scene yet) and Dizzy Gillespie's band.
It seemed to be that nobody cared about my bio.
I felt very dsiappointed.
You are so brave for speaking out about this issue.
Also, I played at several jazz jam sessions at a local club and I applied there and the lady didn't know that I was playing at the club- She asked me "Where do you play?"
I'm glad you're speaking up about this issue because back in the late 1980's - early 1990's getting gigs was based on- "Who are you?" "Can you play?" and now it's "What's your profession?" "Can you bring in a crowd?" "Do you have a following?"
It's time to wake up Pittsburgh Jazz Scene- And Hire Musicians Like Anne Annie Friedland And Ed Skirtich because we dedicated our lives to becoming professional musicians.
It's time for venues and the music market in Pittsburgh to hire professional musicians because that's what they do. The venue is responsible for bringing the crowd.
I hope and pray that gigs will come your way Annie!
Don't give up!
Keep Swinging!
Ed Skirtich
Trumpet Player
Artistic Director/Jazz Workshop, Inc.
ejskirtich@comcast.net
(412) 422-4149 (H)
(412) 841-8046 (C)
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Permalink Reply by Anne Annie Friedland on
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I am glad somome stepped up to the plate. I just heardBarbra Sreisand in concert. wow alL I can say is any genre of music, any musician should appreciate her. Talent like that comes along once a century. All these "divas" that are told they can sing should step back and really listen. Some would be looking for day jobs and there woulld be gigs open for truly talented people to have. I have been on injured reserve.. I almost broke my leg agaoin and was rushed to the hospital with a suspected blood clot. I am ok, but still cannot walk too well. I am kinda house-bound and have done alot of re-assessment about everything.
One thing is for certain...I do not, and never did kiss anyones ........ You don't wany me in your club etc, it's your loss.l
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You are very brave for agreeing with me/. it's refreshing to see m a positive comment instead of an "invitation" to some gig or gigs by one person who ensures he gets a piece of everyrhing, good or bad, or a comment about a comment I made about someone else! I just finished watching a Barbra Streisand live concert...WOW. I asked my mom whoi could play her in a movie about her, and there is nobody. Altho I don't do the same stuff she does and I am not as talented as she is, I hear her...unlike many of these "Diva's" who don't hear anything, even their own singing (I have backed up many) or are soo caought up in what others tell them that they don't bother to listen...If some of them did..there would be alot more employees at Macy's and alot more gigs out there for the truly talented./,
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