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

Eric DeFade / Paul Thompson / Thomas Wendt

Event Details

Eric DeFade / Paul Thompson / Thomas Wendt

Time: July 7, 2017 from 8pm to 9pm
Location: City of Asylum @ Alphabet City
Street: 40 W. North Ave
City/Town: Pittsburgh
Website or Map: http://www.alphabetcity.org/e…
Phone: 412-435-1110
Event Type: jazz, concert
Organized By: City of Asylum/Pittsburgh
Latest Activity: Jun 30, 2017

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Event Description

Join us for Celebrating Sonny Rollins’ Freedom Suite & More, a concert featuring the jazz talents of Eric DeFade, Paul Thompson and Thomas Wendt. 

Eric DeFade is in demand as a performing artist and studio musician. He has toured internationally with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Artie Shaw Big Band, and has led his own combo in Tokyo. Mr. DeFade has played with Nancy Wilson, Rosemary Clooney, New York Voices, Roger Humphries, John Scofield, Dave Liebman, and has been a featured soloist for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Currently, Mr. DeFade is participating in concerts and workshops for the Pennsylvania Arts On Tour Program and filming a series of music specials for public television. He uses a pragmatic approach to understanding the jazz language while emphasizing sound, improvisation concepts, and versatility.

Paul Thompson is proud to have been a part of Pittsburgh’s jazz community for over 20 years. He can be seen performing locally with Roger Humphries, Sean Jones, Salsamba, OPEK, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, and many others. In addition to sharing the bandstand with such greats as Milt Jackson, Jon Faddis, Marlena Shaw, and Geri Allen, Paul was bassist/musical director for trumpeter Maynard Ferguson as well as playing bass in saxophonist Stanley Turrentine’s last touring group. Paul is an adjunct music teacher at his alma mater: Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 Performing Arts School, as well as being a guest artist/lecturer at West Virginia University and West Virginia Weslyan College.

Thomas Wendt has been playing the drums professionally since the age of 14.  A graduate of The Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, he has studied with master drummers Roger Humphries, Joe Harris, and Kenny Washington.  Thomas maintains a busy freelancing schedule with Pittsburgh’s top jazz artists such as Dwayne Dolphin, Joe Negri, Sean Jones, Dave & Maureen Budway, Kenia, the Latin jazz group, Salsamba, and the newly re-formed Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra.  He has also played with many visiting international artists like David “Fathead” Newman, Donald Byrd, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Freddy Cole, Monty Alexander, Bill Watrous, Paquito D’Rivera, Curtis Lundy, Wycliffe Gordon, and Javon Jackson.  In 2008, Thomas played on the Emmy Award winning soundtrack for the PBS documentary, “Fly Boys” and in 2010 he recorded an album featuring trombonists Jay Ashby and Steve Davis. Thomas has also recorded albums with Gene Ludwig, Sandy Staley, Salsamba, David and Maureen Budway, and Joe Negri. Recently, he appeared at The 2012 Litchfield Jazz Festival with jazz legend Hubert Laws and in 2013 performed with pianist Alan Broadbent for the Nyack NY Library Concert Series. Thomas has been on the faculty at the Afro-American Music Institute in Homewood since 1998 and in 2014/15 taught drumset fundamentals at Duquesne University.

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