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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Musicians Club: Open House, Open Mind at Wilkinsburg
September 25, 2012 from 12pm to 3pm
Tuesday September 25th. For jazz musicians and those interested in the music. FREE!!!!Music, Fellowship, Laughter Free Coffee Parking!! Hip AtmosphereSee More
Jagsu's event was featuredMusicians Club: Open House, Open Mind at Wilkinsburg
September 25, 2012 from 12pm to 3pm
Tuesday September 25th. For jazz musicians and those interested in the music. FREE!!!!Music, Fellowship, Laughter Free Coffee Parking!! Hip AtmosphereSee More
Musicians Club: Open House, Open Mind at Wilkinsburg
September 25, 2012 from 12pm to 3pm
Tuesday September 25th. For jazz musicians and those interested in the music. FREE!!!!Music, Fellowship, Laughter Free Coffee Parking!! Hip AtmosphereSee More
Marva Josie might attend Jagsu's eventMusicians Club: Open House, Open Mind at Wilkinsburg
September 25, 2012 from 12pm to 3pm
Tuesday September 25th. For jazz musicians and those interested in the music. FREE!!!!Music, Fellowship, Laughter Free Coffee Parking!! Hip AtmosphereSee More
Jagsu posted an eventMusicians Club: Open House, Open Mind at Wilkinsburg
September 25, 2012 from 12pm to 3pm
Tuesday September 25th. For jazz musicians and those interested in the music. FREE!!!!Music, Fellowship, Laughter Free Coffee Parking!! Hip AtmosphereSee More
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Master drummer Michael Carvin beats his path to greatness
Posted on June 26, 2009 at 7:30pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Drummer Michael Carvin says there is no real mystery about why so many great drummers have come from Pittsburgh.
He looks at a hard-working city, where success is never guaranteed, and says that simply creates an attitude that demands a high level of effort.
"It wasn't that the city produced great drummers," he says. "Rather, they were simply great people who played drums."
Carvin, who runs the Michael Carvin School of Drumming in New York City, will be here… Continue
He looks at a hard-working city, where success is never guaranteed, and says that simply creates an attitude that demands a high level of effort.
"It wasn't that the city produced great drummers," he says. "Rather, they were simply great people who played drums."
Carvin, who runs the Michael Carvin School of Drumming in New York City, will be here… Continue
Memory of Mike Taylor [Poem by Michael Dennison]
Posted on January 18, 2009 at 12:05am 5 Comments 0 Likes
MEMORY OF MIKE TAYLOR – A YEAR ROUND
[Poem by Michael Dennison]
A spring day, rain for the grass
puts the green on the table and evenings of late sun
and then the History Channel
time in a man’s life to ripen, to pass
as June crawls in with a birthday, stands up
like green corn on the stalk, fresh and wide open
to a good joke, the promise of a late show loaded with guests,
with irony gentle, universal as night
and June struts… Continue
[Poem by Michael Dennison]
A spring day, rain for the grass
puts the green on the table and evenings of late sun
and then the History Channel
time in a man’s life to ripen, to pass
as June crawls in with a birthday, stands up
like green corn on the stalk, fresh and wide open
to a good joke, the promise of a late show loaded with guests,
with irony gentle, universal as night
and June struts… Continue
© 2013 Created by Dr. Nelson Harrison.
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I'm writing in regards to seeing if you could help me with recruiting for the Jazz Workshop, Inc. Saturday School of Music.
We need students for private lessons on all instruments and musicians for the jazz ensemble which starts each Saturday at 2:30 PM.
All classes happen each Saturday from 12 PM - 4:30 PM in the lower level at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Homewood, which is located at the following address:
7101 Hamilton Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Registeration for these classes are on September 11 and classes start on September 18th.
Thanks,
Ed Skirtich
Artistic Director/Jazz Workshop, Inc.
ejskirtich@comcast.net
(412) 422-4149 (H)
(412) 841-8046 (C)
I first met him at the Black Banjo Gathering...he quit Preservation Hall to attend it (but had been disatisfied with them anyhow).
Great playing -- musicality, style, delicacy, technique -- you've got it all.
What a treat to jam with you.
Best regards.
Roy
Likewise, good to meet you at the PJN forum. Best wishes.
Roy
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