Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS
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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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Featured Blog Posts (736)
Piano Week - Honoring Erroll Garner on Pittsburgh Music History
Added by Paul Carosi on October 10, 2011 at 6:23pm — No Comments
Savoy Restaurant hosts Jazz on Mondays
My friends and fellow lovers of jazz,
As I’m sure many of you are already aware, I have had the pleasure of creating a jazz night every Monday, starting at 5pm, at one of the most exciting new restaurants in the city, Savoy.
To date, Savoy has hosted 5 Mondays (the first, on August 15, was a preview party). The first 3 (including the Aug 15 event) were very well attended and everyone I spoke to had a great time and applauded the addition of a jazz night to the Savoy…
ContinueAdded by Charlie G. Sanders on October 6, 2011 at 9:30am — No Comments
Honoring Pittsburgh born pianist Sonny Clark
Added by Paul Carosi on October 3, 2011 at 3:00am — No Comments
The Johnny Appleseed of Jazz and Father of the Pittsburgh School of Jazz Piano
Fate Marable
The Johnny Appleseed of Jazz and Father of the Pittsburgh School of Jazz Piano
Read his story at Pittsburgh Music History…
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on September 20, 2011 at 2:00am — No Comments
Brian Edwards is now accepting students
Greetings everyone,
I wanted to let you all know that I am now on staff at Bentley & Romito Professional Music Lessons Studio in Irwin. We still have spots open so if you are serious about learning to play the drums from a world class drummer and want to get a "different" perspective of the instrument I am your guy (see bio). Bentley and Romito has been around for a while now providing top notch music education from some of the best musicians, known not just in Pgh. or…
ContinueAdded by The Brian Edwards Excursion on September 1, 2011 at 2:20pm — No Comments
Octoberfest musicians needed for september 17th.
Added by Michael Sciomacco on August 25, 2011 at 10:10pm — No Comments
¨Hope Digital Series ( 2011): Samples¨
Added by Marta Graciela Bressi on August 30, 2011 at 4:54am — No Comments
A Drummer's Ears
As a drummer, there is nothing better than creating rhythmic patterns that present a foundation for the
other musicians to groove to. The use of dynamics
is important in letting them shine. There's a time for
a little 'piano' and a time for 'forte.' A good drummer must know the difference between the two and
when to apply each.
Added by Frank Catanzano on August 30, 2011 at 11:47am — No Comments
Actually Useful Research About Younger Jazz Audiences (John Rogers for NPR)
The audience at the latest concert in WBGO's The Checkout: Live From 92Y Tribeca series. There's a new study out on the jazz audience. And for once, it actually contains some pertinent information about younger jazz concertgoers — the demographic much bandied-about the last time there was significant data about live jazz crowds, and the one necessarily responsible for the future proliferation of jazz performances.
In 2009, the… Continue
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on August 17, 2011 at 12:19pm — 1 Comment
Record Industry Braces for Artists’ Battles Over Song Rights
Published: August 15, 2011
Since their release in 1978, hit albums like Bruce Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” Billy Joel’s “52nd Street,” the Doobie Brothers’ “Minute by Minute,” Kenny Rogers’s “Gambler” and Funkadelic’s “One Nation Under a Groove” have generated tens of millions of dollars for record companies. But thanks to a little-noted provision in United States copyright law, those artists — and thousands more — now have the right to reclaim… Continue
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on August 16, 2011 at 3:34am — 1 Comment
Wtch out Batman, there's a Mousetrap in town!
The larger than Lifesize Mousetrap is in town!!!!! These old friends of…
Added by Phat Man Dee on August 11, 2011 at 12:13am — No Comments
Local musicians vs musicians from somewhere else
I don't normally post my thoughts on this site when I am peeved , but I have to clear these thoughts. I played a gig this weekend with three of Pittsburgh"s best musicians: Mark Lucas, Brian Sanders, and Kevin Howard. These three guys as well as myself played with Ronnie Laws at the August Wilson Center a few months back. The guys and I discussed back on the Ronnie gig about how The "audiences" and promoters here in Pgh don't really appreciate the talent that lives here and this weekend was…
ContinueAdded by The Brian Edwards Excursion on August 8, 2011 at 9:45pm — No Comments
Local choir wins national prize - New Pittsburgh Courier Article
Written by Genea Webb
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 12:17
Last month, the Afro American Music Institute’s Boys Choir won first place at the National Boys Choir Convention in Louisville, Ky., beating out three other choirs from Kansas City, Mo., and Louisville, winning a trophy and medal.
“I am so happy and proud of my boys,” Pamela Johnson said. “This was a wonderful opportunity for the choir. They have the opportunity to become great Black men.”…
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on July 28, 2011 at 1:38am — 1 Comment
The World Premier of "Stowaway" on "A Funk Above The Rest" Show
Added by Doug Jackson on July 8, 2011 at 7:50pm — 1 Comment
Remembering Walt Harper On His Birthday. July 3, 1926 - Oct. 25, 2006
Added by Sharynn Harper on July 3, 2011 at 10:18am — No Comments
Boycott WDUQ and WYEP!
Added by Mary Barr on June 10, 2011 at 12:48pm — 8 Comments
A look back
Here is a recording by and archival pictures of Fate Marable. He has been called the founding of the Pittsburgh jazz piano tradition. This is worth a look and listen.
Added by bob studebaker on June 23, 2011 at 3:38am — No Comments
Ray Bryant
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
Added by Len Bryant on June 5, 2011 at 1:48am — 3 Comments
Tonight at Little E's! Next week in Asheville, NC!
Added by Phat Man Dee on May 27, 2011 at 6:44pm — No Comments
Max Adkins
Does anyone have any info on Max Adkins. He is mentioned prominently in Henry Mancini's biography but I've found very little else. I'm looking for any info at all.....like where he was born, where he studied and whether or not he was married,...had kids,...and any definite connections to Mary Lou Williams, Billy Strayhorn or any one else
thanks
Added by bob studebaker on May 18, 2011 at 8:53pm — 2 Comments
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