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, Parlanto 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.
dear nelson, thankyou for accepting me as a member and to the best of myability i will always keep cerricks memory alive..hes in my heart and i have very fond memories of him and his dad. please excuse me but im 56years yong and just about no knowledge of this computor, I work in a hospital doing graveyard work. i dont't have a camera now but plan on it soon. truthly speaking i havent seen derrick inyears, since my brother died in 1996. somehow his carrer just took off without me knowing. we always knew derrick would be a dr of somekind, but what. he always stayed an a student and knew where he was headed. I on the other hand knew he would be important, because he took after his dad. intellgent and smart. through the years and family we would hear bits and pieces about ther ini
Thank you for the warm welcome, Nelson. I found the Pittsburgh Jazz Network after following a link to read your latest blog "The Commercial State of Jazz in the New Millennium" which I found very insightful. On a sadder note, I wish to convey my sympathy over the loss of Derrick Finch who was a an extremely gifted and accomplished young man.
This all underscores how important it is that we have places where we can stay in touch and communicate...and for this reason I am most grateful to have found your place, Nelson. Pittsburgh has such a rich history and that legacy shall and must continue. I look forward to reading more of your writings and thanks again.
thankyou everyone for your thoughts and prayers. i don't have a camera yet and just learning to use the computor. needless to say everyone is in a state of shock... the good die young and derrick was excellent young man. again thankyou.
Thank you for telling me those people. I will surely ask them to be my friends. Your band was awesome on Friday. I never did get to tell you that. My step-Dad , Scott, has been bugging me to pick up my violin ever since I quit, so yesterday , Saturday, I picked it up and not to be bragging but, I'm still pretty good. Write back!!!!
Hello Nelson,
Yes Derrick or D as I called him was a wonderful wonderful person and a extraordinary artist. He will be greatly missed. I will do what I can to helo you in anyway possible, just hit me up and let me know. I don't have many pics beside what was in our year book and he was all thru that. But anyway I can help let me know.
Lorraine
Hey Nelson,
I am so glad to here from you. Thanks for writing back. I'm looking forword to learning and seeing The Blues Orphans again at Billy's or just anywhere else!!! Thank you for telling me about your trombetto last night! Write back!!
Ashley
Hi Nelson, thanks for rolling out the welcome mat. Its a shame it took me this long , the 6 yeras I've been here, to discover these ning.com's, but thanks to Antoinette Manganas and Darryl Crow ( a wonderful clarinetist), I'm here.
Peace to you and all the great members
Tony Basile
p.s.: and yes, Ahmad got 'the goods', I agree (been listenin' to him since the 'Happy Moods' album in vinyl ! Am I showing my age? :)
Greetings Nelson!
Congratulations on your dynamic jazz network. As a fan who loves jazz, it is a pleasure for me to be part of this creative, fresh expression. Thank you for including me.
Max Lesko
yes sir I will do that I have boxing matches to go and shoot right now and then I will be in the Club photographing sum models and then it will be around 2am sop I will have to work on that 2marow sum time after I shoot an afro-american month event at reinzie park in mckeesport on sunday but I have a lot o fjazz and jazz players from pittsburgh to post a couple of slide shows... Thank you for inviting me on the site and thank you for adding me!!! I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ricco ; )
Ricco ; )
J.L.Martello
"Just Love"
Award Winning International Independent
Freelance Photographer
contacts....
412-583-6901
www.myspace.com/18ricco
www.myearbook.com/freelancer07
www.youtube.com/18ricco
Yes I was up until 6 this morning clicking one thing after another. I saw the number 1 of the metaphysics. I am going to grab a salad and look at the rest in a few moments.
Thanks Nelson - Check out www.soundoctrine.com - check our Jazz out and ask Kevin Amos about us. We've only played the Burgh once and still awaiting our turn at bat...
Peace & Blessings!
At 7:10pm on February 11, 2009, Bob Parknavy said…
Thank you Nelson...if I may ask...what are Randy's health issues?
I believe that I sat in with you and Randy's quartet at the Holiday Inn Oakland about 12 years ago.
Nelson, I would love to have the collection of the Pgh. jazz greats cards. Would you please let me know where I can purchase the collection and how much the cost. Thanks, Jack Cenna
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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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Ashley
This all underscores how important it is that we have places where we can stay in touch and communicate...and for this reason I am most grateful to have found your place, Nelson. Pittsburgh has such a rich history and that legacy shall and must continue. I look forward to reading more of your writings and thanks again.
Best wishes,
Janie
Ashley
Ashley
Yes Derrick or D as I called him was a wonderful wonderful person and a extraordinary artist. He will be greatly missed. I will do what I can to helo you in anyway possible, just hit me up and let me know. I don't have many pics beside what was in our year book and he was all thru that. But anyway I can help let me know.
Lorraine
I am so glad to here from you. Thanks for writing back. I'm looking forword to learning and seeing The Blues Orphans again at Billy's or just anywhere else!!! Thank you for telling me about your trombetto last night! Write back!!
Ashley
Peace to you and all the great members
Tony Basile
p.s.: and yes, Ahmad got 'the goods', I agree (been listenin' to him since the 'Happy Moods' album in vinyl ! Am I showing my age? :)
Congratulations on your dynamic jazz network. As a fan who loves jazz, it is a pleasure for me to be part of this creative, fresh expression. Thank you for including me.
Max Lesko
Ricco ; )
Ricco ; )
J.L.Martello
"Just Love"
Award Winning International Independent
Freelance Photographer
contacts....
412-583-6901
www.myspace.com/18ricco
www.myearbook.com/freelancer07
www.youtube.com/18ricco
Peace & Blessings!
I believe that I sat in with you and Randy's quartet at the Holiday Inn Oakland about 12 years ago.