Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS
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Pain Relief Beyond Belief
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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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Groups
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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
HowieAlexander greets former Pittsburghers at the Grill
Angela was too young to visit the Grill when they moved to the west coast so her mother Jackie brought her there for a visit in 1998. Howie is a most gracious host.
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Comment
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Comment by Pgh Rich on January 1, 2009 at 9:35am
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Talking about bringing back memories I could tell a 100 stories about my great times at the Grill. I could not even begain to remember how many nights I spent there.
Or how much $$$$$ I left there LOL
there was a group from St. Louis that in later years played there for week at a time. I and the lady I was dating at the time became very good friend with them.
They were called The Quartette Tre's Bien. I have the names of a few of the members, Richard Simmons and Al James to name two.
I did not just remember those name I got them off an album that I have. In fact I have a number of their albums that they autograph for me (331/3 albums)
Some other events that I remember foundly from the Grill. I don't know if you guy will remember this, but Wayne Babish was the Police Chief from Baldwin that is were Jonny Gammage was killed by the Balwing police.
Babish did not go alone with the out come of the Gammage case and was fired. He than made a run for Sheriff of Allegheny County I had the privilege of working on his campaign (I call it a privilege because he opposed the finding in the Gammage case).
Wayne was in the Grill almost every day we ran his campaign from the grill. I only which I could remember the brother that headed up the campaign, he also was a feature at the Grill.
there are many many more stories I could,.....but won't, tell about my days a the Grill. I will say this I did not regreat and of them.
The last I remember was the many days I spent with Judge Little, John Adams and Jakie Williams
Thank you so much for allowing me to bring these memories back to MY own mind. and to be able to share them with others
P.S. the pic with Conrad Montgomery, Hicks and other was when the Grill was at Station Sq.
Peace: Keep Jazz alive
PghRich
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