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.
WELCOME!
Groups
Badge
Duke Ellington is first African-American and the first musician to solo on U.S. circulating coin
MARY LOU WILLIAMS
INTERVIEW
Wilton Felder (Mighty Jazz Crusader
RIP WILTON FELDER A Mighty JAZZ CRUSADER
Video
Wilton Felder spent over 30 years with the group known as the Jazz Crusaders (and later the Crusaders). In the mid-'50s while in high school in Houston, Felder, Joe Sample, and Stix Hooper became the founding members of the group which soon picked up Wayne Henderson as an additional member. Felder moved to Los Angeles with the other musicians in the late '50s and by 1961, they were recording for Pacific Jazz as the Jazz Crusaders. Felder's soulful blues-based tone and hard bop style fit well in the popular band. Around 1968, he started doubling on electric bass and has backed many top players outside of the group on that instrument. Including the Jackson Five. Felder remained with the Crusaders until its end in the late '80s and had a reunion with Wayne Henderson in the '90s in a new version of the group.
Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson...
There gone, but not forgotten!
They've created a "Chain Reaction" in music history!
Let's keep their musical legacy ALIVE for generations.
Ya Dig!
Denise Jordan Walker
Founder
The Candid JAZZBLAST
MAKE SURE YOU CLICK ON THE AWESOME VIDEO LINK ABOVE!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dr. Nelson Harrison on
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Thanks Rich. I sat in a played a set with the Jazz Crusaders at the Grill the second time they came here which was 1966. They had Herbie Lewis on bass. Felder, Hooper and Sample then came over to the Workingmen's Club after-hours to hear us (Sam Person & the Players) for a set. We played Young Rabbits and The Thing, their top hits at the time, then we played Eric Dolphy's Aggression, and featured George Green (tenor) on Misty. The Crusaders left with much respect for their Pittsburgh peers that night. The Players were: Sam Person - leader/alto and baritone sax, George Green - tenor sax, me on trombone, Robin Horsely - drums, Eugene "Woody" Smith - bass violin and 19 year-old Jimmy "Fats" Ponder - guitar. A memorable night indeed!
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