Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of 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.
WELCOME!
MARY LOU WILLIAMS
INTERVIEW
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Posted on April 21, 2012 at 5:03am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Greetings and salutations good people!
I am so excited about the gigs I have coming up, and I hope you will be as well! If you don't know about them, allow me to share the knowledge!
Tomorrow on Saturday April 21, 2012, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., I am singing at the Backstage Bar at CLO Cabaret located at 655 Penn Ave, in Pittsburgh's Cultural District, beside Theater Square at Katz Plaza. There is no cover charge and I will be playing in…
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 9:40pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted on January 14, 2012 at 9:08am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted on December 10, 2011 at 6:12am 0 Comments 0 Likes
© 2012 Created by Dr. Nelson Harrison.
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Thanks for the feedback and for being an active member. We are supposed to be leaders in the jazz community as were our predecessors. Please help us recruit new members. We lose an occasional few along the way but we are growing steadily and gaining respect in all corners of the globe.
I am a Pittsburgh native and local youth arts advocate attempting to expose young up and coming artists to the heart and soul of pure Pittsburgh music culture and traditions as they meet and learn from some of the local Music Masters. If you are interested in hosting a Wednesday night once a month or every other month I would be humbled and honored to make this happen.
Respectfully,
Kent Bey
412.657.3327
kbey7@royaltribemusic.com
SPIN ON ELLSWORTH. AUG.29TH, I WILL BE AT THE
PENN CENTER (OUTDOORS, GOD WILLING) IN
MONROEVILLE FROM 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. IF IT IS TOO
HOT THOUGH, I WILL HAVE TO CANCEL... WILL LET YOU
KNOW. MY E-MAIL IS : sstaley2@verizon.net
-George
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