Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS
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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
"Harold's House Of Jazz" from "Battle Of The Saxes Vol. 1 / Richie Cole - Eric Kloss (1976)"
Harold's House of Jazz from "Battle Of The Saxes Vol. 1 / Richie Cole - Eric Kloss" Muse MR 5082 Recorded May 26 or 27, 1976 in NYC. Eric Kloss, as - left Ri...
Comment
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Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on September 8, 2017 at 7:16pm
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First, you cannot overuse this space. Second, if you want to send me a direct message, go to my personal page and use "send message." Third, if you are trying to send a physical CD, let me know and I'll give you my physical address.
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Comment by Bob Garvin on September 8, 2017 at 5:53pm
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Nelson, I don't want to overuse this space, but I tried to send a link to the mail @jazzburgher address that has Round Midnight (duo), Autumn Leaves (4Tet), and also some big band performances. The CD was called "A tribute to the Masters" and was made about the turn of the century. Bob G.
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I'm prepared to have you shatter my illusions by concluding that he is second-rate, so don't hold back your candid appraisal. Maybe I am influenced by the fact that his mother and I helped to finance his initial CD and that Ron also plays what he calls a euphonium but I call a tuba which I played in high school and college bands. .
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Never heard of him but you have captured my attention. I'll check him out on YouTube this weekend and let you know.
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You do so much. I don't know how you find time for it all, but I appreciate it. Sometime I'd like to further intrude on your busy schedule by saying what you think of Ron Wilkins, now living in Harlem but formerly from San Antonio. To my unprofessional ear, he was (and is) outstanding as an instrumentalist on trombone in all its variations as well as a first-rate entertainer---scat singing, Louie imitations, and spontaneous wit. There are recordings on You Tbe, but I don't ask you to give it high priority. Thanks so much Bob G.
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I just found Danny on FaceBook and sent a friend request.
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Danny Goodson, the trombonist. I haven't heard his name lately. I'll try to find out or ask Harold Betters about him.
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I tried to attend J.C.'s funeral services on the Hill, but arrived too late. Jerry Betters had another sideman ---Danny---who was a very nice guy. I believe his day job was with the New Kensington hospital. His task was to round up all the best-looking women and lead them up to the stage to do the high-kicking when Jerry performed his version of "New York, New York." Any news available about Danny? I don't know his last name.
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The sax player that walked the bar was J.C. Gordon who was with Johnny Wilson & the Debonaires before joining Jerry Betters.
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On a couple of visits to the Crawford Grill, I was able to catch teenage phenom Eric Kloss, whose father must have been a remarkable man. Years later, I saw Eric at different venues that his wife took him to. I still have 7 or 8 of his LPs, but didn't care for his turn to fusion. After the MLK, Jr. assassination, I still went to the Crawford Grill #2 now and then, but it was not quite the same Often I was the only white person there, but I always felt welcome. I'm sorry that I never made it to the Hurricane Bar to see the sax player who "walked the bar", but I did hear him many times with Jerry at the Crescendo. His version of "C C Rider" would bring down the house.
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