Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS
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Pain Relief Beyond Belief
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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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Duke Ellington is first African-American and the first musician to solo on U.S. circulating coin
MARY LOU WILLIAMS
INTERVIEW
Plans greenlit to build music venue in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill
Plans greenlit to build music venue in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill, sparking frustration among neighbors
By Talia Kirkland,
3 days ago
In just a few weeks, Live Nation will break ground on a new 4,500-seat indoor concert venue in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District.
While this project now has the green light, many commitments made to Hill District residents have yet to be fulfilled, sparking deep frustration among neighbors.
Many residents say their voices weren’t heard.
In the late 1950s, the government removed 8,000 people and 430 businesses from the Hill District, a predominantly Black community, to make way for the Civic Arena and a highway.
“You have taxpayers and residents here pleading with you over and over, taking off work, pleading for representation, to say please do not continue to do what you did in 1958,” said Marimba Millions, CEO of the Hill Community Development Corporation.
When the penguins took over the land, they promised to right that wrong.
But Millions says in 2009, a public art exhibit and sustainability project called “The Curtain Call” representing the Hill District’s legacy of Black history, art and culture was approved to be built around PPG Paints Arena. That has not happened yet.
“Community members are frustrated, rightfully frustrated, because they participated in the gathering of information and personal photographs and stories,” Millions said.
The Penguins also committed to ensuring diverse employment opportunities through a hiring center. But that center closed a year ago.
Plus, a parking garage that was to be built next to the concert venue to fund redevelopment in the Middle Hill was put on hold.
We asked the Penguins about that.
“The ideas that we captured in the garage project are delayed, they are not not happening, they are delayed and the ability to capture parking taxes and direct a portion of that for housing stabilization is extremely innovative but it takes a project,” spokesperson Craig Dunham said.
“We’ve been patient, it’s been over 50 years,” resident Renee Wilson said.
Community members say they’re hesitant to call Thursday’s approval a victory.
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