PROGRESSIVE MUSIC COMPANY

AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS

BOYS CHOIR AFRICA SHIRTS
 
 
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.

 

WELCOME!

 

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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

       In Her Own Words

Dr. Nelson Harrison's Comments

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At 2:20am on January 4, 2016, Lisa White said…

Doc, I got your email but I don't feel good about putting the 2 names on this main page and I don't know any other way to talk except to call you. It may take a few days but I can  get your number. These 2 people must be working together because they use the same paragraph of being interested in my profile or something to that effect and mention to contact them because it cannot be discussed on this public site. I bet I'm not the only one being targeted. ok doc,thanks

At 11:15pm on January 2, 2016, Lisa White said…

Doc,don't know exactly how and where on this site to ask this question and wish i could  ask you this in private. Anyway, are any of your members being contacted by these so called members from Ghana ? Scarey

At 11:35pm on November 30, 2015, Michele Bensen said…

Thanks so much for your birthday wishes Nelson. Life is good and I won't stop singin till it's over man! It's good to get older, right? Thanks for all you do for the Pittsburgh Jazz Community and Internationally too. Thanks for the picture on Walnut Street in 1991.It's nice to share a birthday with Pittsburgh's own Billy Strayhorn, pretty cool! Love, Michele

At 9:00pm on October 21, 2015, Shane Austin said…

Thanks for the add to the Pittsburgh Jazz Network.  I appreciate the musical history and jazz legacy that is part of the Pittsburgh history.

At 7:20pm on August 28, 2015, Kevin Hurst, Sr. said…

I remember growing up in the 60's the Steelers were like the sorriest team in the NFL! My Pgh cousins say the Pirates were sorry before 60s. LOLThe region produced many ofthe best anf football is the game in western Pa. The support of high school sports and bands etc were huge before the video game era. That's wild the Steelers hired Harold Betters to play berfore the games to get folks to come out. I woulda stayed to listen to him. When I went to PITT 1975-79 they couldn't GIVE away Penguins tickets LOL. When I visited Pgh @2009 the traffic was back to Ohio one night the Penguins played. When I moved to Pgh 2010 many locals dont know where there is live music

At 9:33pm on June 29, 2015, Billy Strayhorn Memorial Page said…

Thank you for accepting me as a member.  I would very much like to connect with music lovers and of course learn as much as possible about Billy Strayhorn from other people.  What does anyone really know about him.  I would definitely love to learn even more.

At 4:22am on March 11, 2015, Gene Mariani said…

Thanks for accepting me as a Pittsburgh Jazz Network member.  I do so appreciate it.

Gene M

At 1:36pm on March 5, 2015, Don Cerminara said…

FIRST..HERE'S THE VERY LATEST RE MARK MURPHY..AS OF MARCH 5 2015..MARK TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE..AND WAS AMBULANCED TO INGLEWOOD HOSP IN N. JERSEY. I HAVE A MESSAGE INTO HIS DOCTOR..INQUIRING AS TO MARK'S CONDITION..BUT NO ANS YET. I SPOKE TO MARK AND HE'S NOT VERY COMMUNICATIVE.  HE'S WEAK AND A LITTLE "OUTSIDE"...BUT I'LL KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HIM, 'TIL I GET A TRUE PICTURE OF HIS CONDITION.

"    APRIL 1ST, FROM 5PM 'TIL 8PM,,,I'LL BE DOIN' THE "STANDARDS"..REMINISCENT OF SINATRA, BENNETT, NAT COLE, JOE WILLIAMS AND MARK MURPHY.  PRIVILEGED TO HAVE DE PAOLIS ON BASS, WHITEHEAD ON KEYBOARD AND...RICHIE COLE ON ALTO!  THAT'S WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1ST, AT THE RIVERS CLUB, ONE OXFORD CENTER ON GRANT ST DOWNTOWN (6TH FLOOR)

At 3:12pm on February 2, 2015, godfrey e mills said…

     This seems to be the first comment of 2015, but if not, So be it! This site is the best gift to Pgh jazz. Thanks for the memories, and the ongoing gifts to the Community. It has been a pleasure to have known yu as a friend from so far back in our "teenhood'. The EMonday gift at the Westin last year was a surprise since it has existed for 7 yrs previously. But,no sour grapes, I can be sure to be there from  this year forward.  Thanks for giving me a chance to experieence this great site and to be a part of this great Pgh Jazz legacy. Hooray for Jazz in Pittsburgh! "Your Ace Boon Coon"-Godfrey

At 12:27am on July 4, 2014, Jennifer M Vanella said…

I came in last weekend at Cioppinos and listened to your FANTASTIC musical tributes for the evening. I was awe struck, inspired, and very much looking forward to learning and listening more. I told my students about it I think I need to plan a field trip. :)  Warm Regards, - Ms. Jen Vanella

At 3:43am on May 13, 2014, Bruce Mayhall Rastrelli said…

I just learned about Fannetta and your fabulous grandparents!!! Can you tell me about anything about the youngest girls and Billy Strayhorn. Clearly, the French Club  membership for Sophia and Billy. Tell me more about Fannetta and Billy. I'm having this existential angst with McVicker - I had always admired him for his sense of equality and justice - but this is hard!!!!

Best,

B

At 5:41pm on February 9, 2014, Roberta Windle said…

The Jazz Conspiracy Big Band is a wonderful group of talented artists and a must see . The dancers are most enjoyable as well. If you're in Pgh, catch this wonderful band. 

At 9:39pm on July 14, 2013, Kimberly Ann Hawes said…

Thank you for accepting me!

At 5:15pm on July 7, 2013, Sarah Schwettmann said…

Was great to meet you too! Thanks for a fantastic show and for sharing the history of the trombetto. Would love to see those pictures! 

At 8:18pm on February 17, 2013, Dr. Nelson Harrison said…
Cerminara, Don  |
Wednesday, Feb 13 10:29 PM
Re: Wardell Gray Day

i could listen to guys like wardell all nite..and not get bored.  so many of those tenor men...in that long ago period..there was just something about them..something they all had in common.  they all PLAYED THE TUNE!  So important..and many players today miss that.  entirely too much emphasis on playin lots of notes, lots of scales and runs and phrases.  seems like the further they can get from the melody..the better.  they are all well schooled, they all read their asses off..i dont mean to demean them but..seems like the "heart" is missing.Sometimes I can walk in after only one minute..and dont know what the hell they're playin, even tho its obvious they're good!  If ypou've got good ears, you can pick up the chord progressions and recognize the tune.  its almost like these cats WANT to keep you guessin' about the tune's title!  You and I could name maybe 3 doz guys, like Dexter and Mobley and Getz (stop now) and never  get tired diggin.  they were different..and yet...all the same...in that very important way.  maybe it was they put THEMSELVES into the tune, rather than bein so clinical.  thanks much for sending this

At 8:15pm on February 17, 2013, Dr. Nelson Harrison said…

Well, I was just getting ready to turn in and danged if you didn't light another fire. Dexter Gordon.  In 1961, in the late spring and summer, I was at the University of Illinois and I used to really dig the live show on Chicago FM that I could pick up on my tuner. All of a sudden, the announcer would say, with great excitement, hey there, jazz fans, once again, it is a special time coming to you live from (I don't know if I am spelling it right) but it was Mackie's Disc Jockey Lounge with Sonny Stitt, Gene (Jug) Ammons and Dexter Gordon. Oh, how I dug that whole scene. Here I was a white, 21-year old kid from a farm town getting ready to go in August of that year to summer (boot) camp at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton,Va., and remember the Cadet across the hall who had gone to Howard University and kept telling me for a white guy, I sure had rhythm and knew my music. Well, who could listen to that live program and also go to the Southerland Lounge, which I did about three times in 1960 and 1961 to see, Jimmy Smith and Kenny Burrell, then Les McCann and all that Shout stuff he was doing at that time, and it was at that place that Dizzy had his first bent horn stolen. I think upstairs there was an apartment over the lounge and all I know is that Daddio Daley or someone said, damn, Dizzy had his instrument stolen, and I'm talking about that bent thing that he blows, and of course that was funny but not to Dizzy. I am pretty sure he had to get another one. Anyway, my life was being wonderfully blessed by so much good music, so I just took it for granted, but every once in a while it seemed unusual. Well, thanks for the memories, but just mentioning one word-DEXTER. I think Jug was wasted, Sonny was Sonny, but in my memory, the guy that seemed to be the glue that made it all work so well was Dexter. It was almost too much. I just get goose bumps remembering how fortunate I felt to have an apartment with all that music. I am sure that is why I didn't make better grades or focus more. Think about it, Steve Sample was my room mate the first semester of my sophomore year and he was getting a 98 on his Physics final!! And he used to stick his head in the back bunk room and ask me sometime to turn down the music. I dream of having a music room again like I did when I first met you. Since I am dreaming, I would like to have a 9'4'' Bosendorfer in there and a device where I can write and record a bunch of music that is rolling around in my head. Some of it is special and I just want to get it out as a gift to anyone that hears it. You and I know that some that are tone deaf will be like the song went, "Just walk on by", but maybe a few would be touched, but I know I will, because as I am typing right now, I can hear it and it is so fine. Sorry for such a long paragraph, but I always know that you are one person that can understand and it is kind of fulfilling to be able to express myself and know that someone will share the joy. 
 
Keep on blessing Pittsburg and the rest of the world. Why, ole chap, I think you are getting famous like never before. Thanks for the World Wide Web and the gifts God has endowed you with. Your friend, Cado

At 8:20pm on December 12, 2012, Barbara Ray said…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  MANY HAPPY RETURNS!

At 4:52am on December 12, 2012, Marta Graciela Bressi gave Dr. Nelson Harrison a gift
Gift
My very best wishes on your birthday. Marta
At 4:46am on December 12, 2012, Marta Graciela Bressi said…

Dear Dr.Nelson Harrison,

¡Feliz Cumpleaños...a tí .! ¨Happy  Birthday to you...!!!

 

Marta:)

At 3:24am on November 25, 2012, Julius A Clinton Sr said…

Appreciate the add Doc!!

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