Lena Horne was an American treasure, a cultural icon whose career achievements and social…
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/
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
Added by Afro-American Music Institute, Inc on July 21, 2012 at 9:46pm — No Comments
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on June 23, 2012 at 12:00pm — 5 Comments
Lena Horne was an American treasure, a cultural icon whose career achievements and social…
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on June 10, 2012 at 5:39pm — No Comments
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on June 10, 2012 at 5:32pm — No Comments
After immersing myself in the Pittsburgh music scene over the past few months, I have decided to embark on a new journey- making a short film surrounding the history of jazz and blues in Pittsburgh and what the scene is transforming into today.
Many outsiders may not know that years ago, Pittsburgh was the center of jazz. National artists like Lena Horne could have practically called the Iron City their second home, and many local musicians such as Earl "Fatha" Hines and…
ContinueAdded by Chelsey Engel on May 14, 2012 at 2:00pm — No Comments
Happy Jazz Appreciation month family….
I dedicate this posting to my oldest brother, Clark Grayson, who if he had lived, would be celebrating his 60th birthday next month….
In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month, I wanted to share with you a funny family story about my brother Clark.…
ContinueAdded by TDanyel on April 21, 2012 at 3:25pm — No Comments
The African Origins of Jazz
March 28, 2012
Lee Evans
By Lee Evans
In his brilliant 1968 analytical book on jazz, Early Jazz: Its Roots and Musical Development (Oxford University Press) author Gunther Schuller makes a very strong case for jazz’s African origins, writing that “the analytic study in this chapter [Chapter 1, pages 3-62] shows that every musical element – rhythm, harmony, melody, timbre, and the basic forms of jazz – is essentially African in background and…
ContinueAdded by Dr. Nelson Harrison on April 6, 2012 at 5:08pm — No Comments
In 2009, I published my book A History of African American Jazz and Bluesthat discusses the reasons why the innovators of jazz and blues – Africans in America make paultry income from their cultural product.
I posted this article on my site – …
ContinueAdded by Diva JC on March 16, 2012 at 10:09pm — No Comments
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on March 10, 2012 at 7:18pm — 1 Comment
Hello all,
I am currently in search of information about a particular musician who performed with the California-Ramblers and Max Adkins. The musician was Elmer "Bunny" Drown, he was my great grandfather and I know very little about him. The only remnants of him left in my family are a picture of him and his sax. What I know is he played tenor sax and clarinet, he lived in Pittsburgh, was married to Anne ( they had two children Ronald and Douglas). I am trying to find any possible…
Added by Bruce E Faulkner on January 18, 2012 at 11:00pm — 9 Comments
Pittsburgh Music History
Jazz Guitar Week
Honoring
Ron Affif and Andy Fite
(Both students of Joe Negri)
Read their stories at…
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on November 28, 2011 at 1:59pm — No Comments
Pittsburgh Music History
Jazz Guitar Week
Honoring
Ray Crawford
Solo recording artist who also played with Ahmad Jamal, Gil Evans and more
Read his profile at…
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on November 24, 2011 at 4:00pm — No Comments
Pittsburgh Music History
Jazz Guitar Week Day 3
Honoring proflic recording artist
Jimmy Ponder
Read His Profile at…
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on November 22, 2011 at 1:30pm — No Comments
Pittsburgh Music History
Jazz Guitar Week - Day II
Honoring 10 Time Grammy Winner
George Benson
Read his story at…
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on November 21, 2011 at 2:00pm — 1 Comment
Pittsbugh Music
Pittsburgh Music History Piano Week II
Celebrating Pittsburgh's Many Great Jazz and Classical Pianist
Honoring a pianist who got his start playing ethnic weddings in Aliquippa
Henry Mancini…
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on October 29, 2011 at 12:15pm — No Comments
Pittsburgh Music History - Piano Week II
Honoring Jazz and Classical Pianist
David has a new CD Release "A New Kiss" and
has toured with Hubert Laws and Liza Minnelli this…
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on October 28, 2011 at 5:54pm — No Comments
Pittsburgh Music History Piano Week II
Honoring Awadagin Pratt
Celebrating Piano Week II: At the recommendation of Dr. Nelson Harrison we are honoring pianist Awadagin Pratt. Born in Pittsburgh he began his piano studies here at age 6. Winning the prestigious Naumburg International Piano Competition he quickly became an…
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on October 27, 2011 at 1:04pm — No Comments
Pittsburgh Piano Week Part II
Honoring Oscar Levant
The foremost Interpretor of Gershwin's Piano Works…
Continue
Added by Paul Carosi on October 23, 2011 at 5:30pm — No Comments
Wow! What a night, it just keeps getting better! I want to thank everyone who attended Jazz Night @ Savoy this past Monday, Oct. 17th. Etta Cox was the featured guest artist and she did a fantastic job! The sheer joy that was generated by the music, the restaurant, the food, the crowd; everything, was a thrill to behold. I don't have the words to tell you how much it means to me to see just how ecstatic people are who have experienced a night of jazz @ Savoy. I have been so blessed in…
ContinueAdded by Charlie G. Sanders on October 19, 2011 at 7:52am — No Comments
Pittsburgh Music History Piano Week Day 8
(Since the Beatles said there's 8 days a week....we added a bonus day to honor one more)
ContinueAdded by Paul Carosi on October 16, 2011 at 5:00pm — No Comments
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