Keepin' Da Blues, R&B, and Funk Alive…
Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS
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.
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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
Featured Blog Posts (720)
Jazz is not a what you do, but a how....
Or at least that's what I tell myself. I also believe that jazz happens when you use music and your instrument to communicate complex ideas and feelings in a conversation that isn't spoken. You don't need words, (though they help, if your a poet and vocalist like me, they are as much a part of your instrument as much as a reed is to sax player or a string is to a bassist). Sometimes those conversations bleed into to other art forms, they shape them and the other…
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Added by Phat Man Dee on May 22, 2013 at 3:53am — No Comments
MARY LOU WILLIAMS - Swinger with a Mission
Swinger with a MissionMary Lou Williams has been making music for 60 years;
now she teaches others how to feel it
By Catherine O'Neill
MARY LOU WILLIAMS is a lady with a mission -- to bring jazz back to the young. In recent years, that quest has brought the 69-year-old pianist and composer to Duke University in…
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on April 28, 2013 at 2:30am — No Comments
MARY LOU WILLIAMS - JAZZ PIANO ICON
Mary Lou Williams Facts
Pianist, composer, and arranger Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981) is often referred to as the First Lady of Jazz in the annals of American music history. Williams was a highly respected musician in her day whose repertoire spanned several seminal jazz styles, from boogie-woogie to bebop, and she was an integral member of what became known as the Kansas…
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on April 28, 2013 at 2:22am — No Comments
MARY LOU WILLIAMS - The Mother of Bebop
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on April 28, 2013 at 1:30am — No Comments
A forgotten story: Jazz finds religion in Pittsburgh - Mary Lou Williams, May 8, 1910
Black Catholic Spotlight ~ { Print Version }
The National Black Catholic Congress
www.nbccongress.org…
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Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on April 28, 2013 at 1:00am — 1 Comment
Pittsburgh Music History Honors
The Swan Silvertones and Rev. Claude Jeter
One of the Greatest Vocal Groups of All Time
The Swan Silvertones who made their home in Pittsburgh from the late 1940s thro…
Pittsburgh Music History Honors
The Swan Silvertones and Rev. Claude Jeter
One of the Greatest Vocal Groups of All Time…
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on April 24, 2013 at 4:54pm — No Comments
Kuntu Repertory Theatre to close after four decades
- Created on Sunday, 21 April 2013 17:50
- Last Updated on Sunday, 21 April 2013 17:51
- Published on Monday, 22 April 2013 06:00
- Written by Genea Webb
- …
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on April 23, 2013 at 1:24am — No Comments
APRIL 1, 2013 B-PEP JAZZ JAM HONORING THE MEMORIY OF MARY TURNER, CHUCK AUSTIN & LEROY K. WOFFORD
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on March 31, 2013 at 1:53am — 1 Comment
TONY CAMPBELL IN city paper FEATURE ARTICLE - OFF THE CHARTS
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on March 22, 2013 at 2:24am — 3 Comments
Afro American Music Institute celebrates 30th Anniversary
Added by Afro-American Music Institute, Inc on March 17, 2013 at 3:51am — No Comments
Remembering the Hurricane Club and Birdie Dunlap
Added by Paul Carosi on February 18, 2013 at 2:58pm — 3 Comments
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you to all the players and jazz fans that came out tonight to support the new sunday jazz program here at James Street. keep coming out and we will continue to bring to you the best Jazz that Pittsburgh has to offer!! THANK YOU! LONG LIVE JAZZ!!
Added by Adam Johnston & James Street on February 11, 2013 at 3:50am — No Comments
Pittsburgh Music History Honors Roger Humphries
Added by Paul Carosi on February 7, 2013 at 2:22pm — 2 Comments
Pgh Jazz Society
In our very tenuous economic times, I'm not sure how a private club can have the audacity to "charge" a venue to host weekly live music offerings rather than the converse. As an outsider looking in this sounds very much like a "pay to play" or "protection" scam. I've performed in the previous iterations of James Street and the owners were always very gracious toward musicians and went out of their way to promote and support established and young acts most days of the week. Though I've been…
ContinueAdded by Barry Boyd on February 7, 2013 at 3:25am — 1 Comment
Jazz Society Leaves James Street..For the wrong reasons!
Dear Pittsburgh Jazz Society Members,
Unfortunately, it is true that the Pittsburgh Jazz Society will no longer be presenting jazz on Sunday night at James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy. The reasons for the board's decision, as they have stated, are very questionable at best. However, we would like to address the issues mentioned by Mr. Mowod.
James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy has been in business for slightly over one year. As a brand new…
ContinueAdded by Adam Johnston & James Street on February 6, 2013 at 11:14pm — 3 Comments
Pittsburgh Music History
Honors
Chuck Jackson
Pioneering Soul Singer Who Scored 23 Hit Records
including the classic "Any Day Now" penned by Burt Bacharach
Pittsburgh Music History
Honors
Pioneering Soul Singer Who Scored 23 Hit Records
including the classic "Any Day Now" penned by Burt Bacharach…
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on February 4, 2013 at 2:04pm — 1 Comment
Bonedog Records Keepin' Da Blues, R&B, and Funk Alive
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on January 29, 2013 at 9:51pm — No Comments
Second Line Saturdays w/ Phat Man Dee & the Cultural District!
There was a galactic and planetary shift of consciousness last December.
On the 21st we aligned with our solar system, the galaxy and the
universe....whether or not you spent the solstice hiding in a bunker
with a gross of rations and water purification tablets, in prayer with
drums and chanting to the moon or madly purchasing gifts to prove to
your loved ones that you really do care (I myself did a little of each, I
like to keep my bases covered), whatever…
Added by Phat Man Dee on January 11, 2013 at 12:00am — No Comments
Forming Stellar C-Jazz Group
Putting a band together to perform in the Pittsburgh area. Looking for musicians. ..four piece rhythm...horn...singer. C-jazz aka smooth jazz genre. Here's the audition material: Swept Away by Russ Freeman and David Benoit; Hallelujah i just love her so by David Sanborn with James Taylor;3rd Degree by Fourplay; If I ever lose this heaven by Jeff Golub; Surreptitious by Jeff…
ContinueAdded by Ken Smelko on January 2, 2013 at 11:30am — No Comments
EXCITING NIGHTS OF JAZZ AT SAVOY!
Hey jazz fans,
Just wanted to share some exciting video footage of an amazing night of jazz last month (12/17/12) at Savoy. For those of you who may not have had the opportunity to experience just how wonderful Monday Night Jazz at Savoy is, please use the link provided to take a good look at this video and see what all the fuss is about! Then, come join us each and every Monday for some of the best jazz around! See you at Savoy on Mondays!…
ContinueAdded by Charlie G. Sanders on January 4, 2013 at 8:19am — No Comments
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