Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 31 YEARS
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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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Len Bryant
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Dr. Nelson Harrison commented on Len Bryant's blog post Ray Bryant"From Member Rebecca Taksel:
Through Dr. Nelson Harrison and the Pittsburgh Jazz Network I learned that the marvelous pianist Ray Bryant died a couple of days ago. I was privileged not only to listen to his music on records but to meet him in my own…"
Len Bryant's blog post was featuredRay Bryant
New York TimesRay Bryant, Jazz Pianist, Dies at 79By NATE CHINENPublished: June 3, 2011Ray Bryant, a jazz pianist whose sensitivity and easy authority made him a busy accompanist and a successful solo artist, beginning in the mid-1950s, died on Thursday 6/2/2011. He was 79.His wife of 20 years, Claude Bryant, said he died at New York Hospital Queens after a long illness. He lived in Jackson Heights, Queens.Mr. Bryant had a firm touch and an unshakable sense of time, notably in his left hand,…See More
Len Bryant joined Dr. Nelson Harrison's group
OBITUARIES
As our musical icons are graduating into the higher realms we want to keep them fresh in our memories. Please join this group where you can post any obituaries of the ancestors of our tradition for all to read and learn more about them.
Jim Eigo commented on Len Bryant's photo
Johnny Coles, Ray Bryant, SaxYoung, John Coltrane, Sugie Rhodes
"Wow!...Great photo.
Thx for posting.
Jim Eigo"
Dr. Nelson Harrison commented on Len Bryant's photo
Bill Marcus, Ray Bryant, Len Bryant
"Another great jazz family from the great city of Brotherly Love."
Profile Information
- Favorite Jazz Radio or media station
- 90.1 WRTI fm, Philadelphia
- About Me:
- Len Bryant has spent half a century performing as both a drummer and vocalist. He has done lots of recordings with various artists and is now running his own recording studio. He is currently working on some new music. Some of the people that len has worked with are Ray Bryant, Tom Bryant, Sam Dockery, Lisle Atkinson, Hank Mobley, Ray Drummond, Winard Harper, Stanley Jordan, Bootsie Barnes, Kevin Eubanks, Robin Eubanks, Duane Eubanks, Tyrone Brown, Ed Wiley, Don Sickler, Charles Fambrough, Bill O'Connel, Ralph Bowen, Bobby Porcelli, Jay Brandford, Tina May, Tim Givens, brilliant engineer Rudy Van Gelder and many more. Some sort of musical genes are sure to be found in his extended family. His brother Ray Bryant is a stellar jazz pianist. Another brother, Tom Bryant, was an accomplished bassist and singer. He died in 1982. His sister Vera Eubanks, who in addition to being a multi-instrumentalist in her own right gave birth to not one but three jazzy sons, guitarist Kevin Eubanks, (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno), trombonist Robin Eubanks and trumpeter Duane Eubanks.
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Ray Bryant
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:48am 3 Comments 3 Likes
New York Times
Ray Bryant, Jazz Pianist, Dies at 79
By NATE CHINEN
Published: June 3, 2011
Ray Bryant, a jazz pianist whose sensitivity and easy authority made him a busy accompanist and a successful solo artist, beginning in the mid-1950s, died on Thursday 6/2/2011. He was 79.
His wife of 20 years, Claude Bryant, said he died at New York Hospital Queens after a long illness. He lived in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Mr. Bryant had a firm touch and an unshakable… Continue
Ray Bryant, Jazz Pianist, Dies at 79
By NATE CHINEN
Published: June 3, 2011
Ray Bryant, a jazz pianist whose sensitivity and easy authority made him a busy accompanist and a successful solo artist, beginning in the mid-1950s, died on Thursday 6/2/2011. He was 79.
His wife of 20 years, Claude Bryant, said he died at New York Hospital Queens after a long illness. He lived in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Mr. Bryant had a firm touch and an unshakable… Continue
Comment Wall (2 comments)
- At 4:30am on February 24, 2010,
Bill Trousdale said… - Took a quick tour of your site and it would appear we are on a similar page. The major difference is PMMBH is adding broadcasters in Pa too.
PMMBH is seeking all Broadcast and Music Professionals from Pennsylvania or have connection to the Commonwealth to contribute.
Phase One of our plan is to develop a critical mass audience on Facebook: pmmbh home
Some of the names below maybe familiar to you, Poison, Live, Magnificent Men, Hybrid Ice, Dan Hartman, Gamble and Huff, Intruders, Marion Anderson, Myron Cope, Teddy Pendergrass, Blue Magic, Kenny Chandler, Steven Foster, Hooters, Richie Ashburn, Badlees, Dick Clark, Porky Chedwick, Dick Biondi, P.P. Bliss... others not so much. However all deserve recognition.
The Pennsylvania Museum of Music and Broadcast History is working to two primary projects:
* Expanding our network of interested persons, bands, artists and broadcasters from Pennsylvania
* Gaining archival information from the above groups and many others to post on our virtual museum.
More focus on our mission can be found below.
If you would like to provide photos, videos, narratives and interviews please post on Facebook: pmmbh home
or email to bill.trousdale@pmmbh.org
We are seeking archive items for our unveiling soon at www.pmmbh.org
Please spread the word
- At 4:10am on February 24, 2010, Dr. Nelson Harrison said…
- Welcome Len,
It is an honor to count you as a member. As an elder in one the the country's finest jazz families, I'm sure you gain many new fans and friends on this network. Philadelphia is one of the countries most fertile jazz capital cities and it is a real pleasure to meet another of her fabulous sons. Please add me as a friend
© 2014 Created by Dr. Nelson Harrison.
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