Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
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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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Jim Gibson
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- Pittsburgh Connection
- I had lots of college friends from Pittsburgh. I grew up in Wheeling area, listened to Pittsburgh radio and shopped there in the '50's and '60's.
- Favorite Pittsburgh musicians/performers
- E. Garner, Harold Betters
- Favorite Jazz Radio or media station
- WILY, WAMO, Jazz and others on FM, don't recall call letters.
- Favorite Pittsburgh Jazz Venue
- Encore
- About Me:
- I went to the Shadyside Encore several times in the 1961-63 era to hear Harold Betters. Recall it as a great place to hear jazz. We always sat near the piano, and got to talk to Harold several times. I played his LP's to death, and recall his tunes also being on the jukebox at Kaufman's Restaurant in Bowling Green, Ohio. Saw a copy of Harold's Encore LP for sale recently at a jazz event in Columbus, Ohio.
Also went to the "Jazz for Moderns" concert at the Syria Mosque around November, 1959 or possibly '60, featuring Maynard Ferguson's band with Chris Connor, also the Brubeck Quartet, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, and the Chico Hamilton Quartet - all for $3.00! My first live jazz show and a truly exciting experience for me.
Also attended a Maynard band performance at Westview Dance Pavilion in 1962 or '63, when he still had Willie Maiden and other great sidemen. The audience was full of true Maynard fans, who chanted "Ole, Ole" for an encore, which he did.
I was also a teenage radio fan of Porky, Barry Kaye, and Jay Michaels top 40 radio in the '50's, but jazz was always at the top of my list.
I'd love to see interior photos of the Encore, or read others' recollections of Pittsburgh jazz spots.
JKG - Dec., 2011
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- fan
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