Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
PITTSBURGH JAZZ
Roger Humphries
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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Duke Ellington is first African-American and the first musician to solo on U.S. circulating coin
MARY LOU WILLIAMS
INTERVIEW
PITTSBURGH JAZZ CHANNEL - 24/7
QUOTATIONS
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There is a dearth of oral history available documenting the greatness of the Pittsburgh Jazz Tradition and Legacy.. Please feel free to add a quote of your own or words of wisdom or humor from a Pittsburgh artist that you may find of interest.
Website: http://pittsburghartistregistry.org/drjazz
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Members: 78
Latest Activity: Apr 21
Discussion Forum
Kenny Clarke's Life and Sessions
Started by Dr. Nelson Harrison. Last reply by Dr. Nelson Harrison Jun 23, 2009. 7 Replies 1 Like
ART BLAKEY RADIO INTERVIEW
Started by Dr. Nelson Harrison Jul 7, 2008. 0 Replies 1 Like
MARY LOU WILLIAMS IN HER OWN WORDS - INTERVIEW
Started by Dr. Nelson Harrison. Last reply by Dr. Nelson Harrison Jul 7, 2008. 1 Reply 1 Like
Comment Wall
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Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on July 21, 2011 at 5:36pm -
Jazz is a self-organizing algorithm of musical sound. ---Nelson Harrison
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Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on July 18, 2011 at 3:46am
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Musicians should never forget that we're blessed. We have a special gift that people can enjoy through us. We've had the good fortune to receive this and pass it along to others.
—Ed ThigpenMusicians should never forget that we're blessed. We have a special gift that people can enjoy through us. We've had the good fortune to receive this and pass it along to others.
—Ed Thigpen
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Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on July 18, 2011 at 3:45am
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Jazz Quote of the day-"It's more than beauty that I feel in music -that I think that musicians feel in music. What we know we feel we'd like to convey to the listener. We hope that this can be shared by all. I think, basically, that's about what it is we're trying to do. If you ask me that question, I might say this today and tomorrow something entirely different, because there are many things to do in music.
But over-all, I think the main thing a musician would like to do is to give a picture to the listener of the many wonderful things he knows and senses in the universe. That's what music is to me -it's just another way of saying this is a big, beautiful universe we live in, that's been given to us, and here's an example of just how magnificent and encompassing it is. That's what I would like to do, I think that's one of the greatest things you can do in life, and we try to do it in some way. The musician's way is through his music."
-John Coltrane
(When asked what he and Eric Dolphy were trying to achieve)
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Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on July 18, 2011 at 3:44am
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It's not exclusive, but inclusive, which is the whole spirit of jazz.
---Herbie Hancock
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Comment by Ricco J.L.Martello on October 9, 2010 at 12:13am -
Hey check out the story I wrote on Roy Ayers and Tom Brown
http://www.newpittsburghcourieronline.com/index.php?option=com_cont...
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Comment by Jim Farquar on April 22, 2010 at 3:29pm -
I always remember the great Bill Evans Quote " The best you can do is find your own niche and carve it"
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Comment by Joani Taylor on January 13, 2010 at 6:54am -
Just read the Mary Lou Williams Interview. I Loved it!
Thanks so much for posting.
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Comment by Devorah Segall on November 30, 2009 at 10:51pm -
"Get yourself a new broom and sweep the blues away"- Maxine Sullivan in one of my favorite albums of all time,"Great Songs from the Cotton Club by Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler-Maxine Sullivan"
she recorded this at the age of 73- sounds fantastic- totally swings-
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Comment by Francis Bruce Marion, DC on September 15, 2009 at 4:54pm -
My favorite quote applied to life and music comes from my Lake Tahoe piano teacher (originally from Boston) Mickey Gentily "There's no such thing as a mistake!! Especially when you place it twice!!!" after all you can't spread your wings until you jump (or fall) from your perch....& I must mention "Annie Friedland is a super-great melodic genius ; whose music can help us all stay alive!!!"
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Comment by Anne Annie Friedland on April 9, 2009 at 1:08am -
some day i will be dead and someone may mention me as a great talent. Gee, I hate to wait that long!
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