Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
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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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MARY LOU WILLIAMS
INTERVIEW
Billy Bang and the Aftermath Band
Event Details
Time: November 8, 2008 at 8pm
Location: Kelly-Strayhorn Theater
Street: 5914 Penn Avenue
City/Town: Pittsburgh
Website or Map: http://www.kentearts.org
Phone: 412.322.0292
Event Type: Jazz, Concert
Organized By: Kente Arts Alliance
Latest Activity: Nov 6, 2008
Event Description
The violin is hardly the first instrument that comes to mind when you think about jazz, but that's never daunted Billy Bang, one of the instrument's most adventurous exponents. Drafted into the army following graduation, Band was sent to Vietnam, an experience that profoundly affected his life, often quite painfully. Returning home and radicalized, Billy became active in the anti-war movement, and by the late '60s had returned to his music.
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Comment
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Comment by Edgar Um Bucholtz on October 25, 2008 at 7:57pm
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Very exciting concert!!!!
Billy Bang is an incredible jazz violinist and composer. He is also a former member of the Sun Ra Arkestra. (More detailed bio below.)
I've had the great pleasure of seeing him once at a reunion concert with the Arkestra in the early 90's and once at a Marion Brown benefit show.
The line-up he is bringing to Pittsburgh is quite impressive:
James Spaulding is a legendary alto and flute player who got his start with Sun Ra in late 50s Chicago. He went on to record with Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Max Roach, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson and Pharoah Sanders (on the legendary "Karma" LP.)
Trumpet player Ted Daniel has recorded with Archie Shepp, Dewey Redman, Andrew Cyrille, Sam Rivers, Billy Bang and Henry Threadgill. He is featured on his childhood friend, the great Sonny Sharrock's "Black Woman" LP. He co-led the 70's jazz-rock band, Brute Force, which had an excellent LP release on the Embryo label featuring Sonny Sharrock.
Many thanks to Kente Arts for bringing this great ensemble and concert to Pittsburgh.
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