PROGRESSIVE MUSIC COMPANY

AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS

BOYS CHOIR AFRICA SHIRTS
 
 
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/building-today-for-tomorrow/x/267428

 Pain Relief Beyond Belief

                         http://www.komehsaessentials.com/                              

 

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.

 

WELCOME!

 

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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

       In Her Own Words
Laurel Hewston
  • Female
  • Sewickley, PA
  • United States
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Pittsburgh Connection
I was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area and have called it home my whole life. I first lived in Wilkinsburg but have since lived in Irwin, Greensburg, New Stanton, West Mifflin, Mt. Lebanon and McCandless, and I currently live in Franklin Park in the North Hills. I love it there!

I went to Duquesne U for voice performance, and studied voice with Maureen Budway as well as Dr. Pamela Lewis and Sandy Staley. I had piano lessons with Dave Budway, drum lessons with Lenny Rogers, and Music History with John Wilson. All of these are consummate musicians with a wealth of experience and wisdom to share. Although I was a bit of a black sheep when I went there because I was very outspoken and already had my own ideas about how to sing, plus I am more of a pop-rocker than a jazz or opera singer, I still must say, looking back, that these people instilled skills in me that I am forever grateful for, and I'm a better musician for having been exposed to such concepts, however much I may have "bucked" them at the time! lol
I appreciate the musicianship that my training gave to me, and the invaluable insight that these very experienced professors offered.

I have also played in Pittsburgh bands my whole life! My band chronology goes something like this: Intents, Pearl, Off Limits, The Flex, Legend, Highlife, Mirage, Mercedez (1990-1996), Jam Nation, House of Soul, and back to Mercedez (2005-2010). I recently said goodbye to my bandmates to focus all my efforts on a new project I am putting together, which will finally feature songs I have wanted to do my whole life!
Favorite Pittsburgh musicians/performers
All of my old band mates of course! Rich Kendall & Jerry Onesi (guitars& bass respectively, currently in RT's Bon Journey), Denny Bondra & Jay Pereira (guitars and keys respectively, both currently in Switch), Mark Skero (one-time guitarist for Tangent, now a soundman for Switch), Jim Porreca (drums for Highlife, and now also a soundman). Plus all my old bandmates from Mirage, you were amazing! (Bob DeCroo is one of the finest keyboardists I have ever worked with),and Jim/Ray/Nick/Richie I miss you all! Finally, everyone from Mercedez--you gave me some of the best years of my life up until now. Everyone watch out for Eric Pasqua--he is the next sensation in Pittsburgh! That boy is going places! He played bass with me in Mercedez but also studies guitar with Joe Negri--look out! And Jimmy, I won't miss our squabbles, but you are one of the best guitarists I have ever had the pleasure of playing with, and I will miss you and your immeasurable talent. Dom, you were always in the pocket and you could follow a program effortlessly, better than anyone else I know. And you always knew every stop/break without fail (unless you were REALLY drunk, which didn't happen often! lol) And our music had a hell of a lot of stops, didn't it?! And Al Peden, aka "Al P." you totally rock it (or should I say "swing it?") in Dr. Zoot; they did much better for you than Mercedez ever could have. I also admired Jay Radencic (I dubbed him "J-Rad!") who played bass with us from 2005-2007. You were awesome, babe! Miss playing with you! (But you left us a really fabulous replacement in Eric! You couldn't have done any better on that one!) Thanks for all the great memories!
Favorite Jazz Radio or media station
I also DJ on occasion, so I like to flip between stations and learn what is new in every genre! See, I'm still the black sheep! C'mon, I sing pop & rock; did you really think I was gonna say WDUQ? Although I do listen to that as well, on occasion, and I DO like it! I love ALL music. I also love internet radio and I like that I can "dial up" literally anything I am in the mood for and there it is! What a great invention.
Favorite Pittsburgh Jazz Venue
I use to love Papparazzi in South Side...Blue Note is cool, too! Magoo's, plus outdoors of the Chadwick was fun; now I have to get a night free to check out Blue in the evening! (Duncan Manor, N. Hills)
About Me:
I am fun-loving but a workaholic, especially where music is concerned. I will spend hours on a tune just to get every nuance of the original! I drive others nuts with my perfectionism and that is just fine by me! Why do it at all if I ain't gonna do it right the first time?!

In addition to singing, I also love raising my beautiful children, writing songs, tending to my pretty puppies (two very loving, energetic pitbulls!), running my entertainment business, (especially selling shows and designing flyers, biz cards, brochures, etc.), and keeping up with all my friends both new and old on Facebook. I also love learning foreign languages, and landscaping...these are two of my roads "not travelled".
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