Comment

Comment by Michele Bensen on August 26, 2015 at 5:27pm

Enjoyed your comments  Shawn Cohen about Art and the Encore. I have many memories of that place, of Art and especially Bobby Davis. The history needs to be spoken and written about for preservation for all of us and the young musicians coming up. Thank you for posting the video. Dr. Harrison's passion is shown on this Pittsburgh Jazz Network throughout. We are fortunate the he started this site for all of us.

Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on August 26, 2015 at 4:58am

We have been trying to wake Pittsburgh up to its rich jazz and artistic heritage for decades, hence this network.  More comments like yours would certainly help the process.  Ironically I find that there is more interest in the Steelers among the musicians than there is in the music tradition.

Perhaps you can help me remind them (especially the young-uns) that in the 60s Harold Betters was bigger than the Steelers.  It was so difficult to even give a Steeler ticket away that the Rooneys hired Harold Betters to play outside of Pitt Stadium to draw people into the the Steeler games.  People find that hard to believe but there were often no more than 5000 fans in that 60,000 seat stadium. I was there. 

People lined up 2 blocks in the snow on Walnut waiting to get in to the tiny Encore I to catch Harold's next set.  Remember?

Comment by Shawn Cohen on August 25, 2015 at 12:56pm

Yes, Dr. Harrison, will do! Darryl Cann, that is right and a fabulous clarinet player he is too. I was truly awestruck to find him playing, Amazing Grace" right on Art's brick! I think that was a message for me from Art!  Darryl remembered the Encore and Art and Bobby too. I think 5505 Walnut Street, which is the exact address of the Encore but now stands the Steel Cactus Restaurant...it should have a blue commemorator plaque like we have here all over London. "Here is the spot that the greatest jazz legends performed at for over 20 years, known as The Encore"! I would really like to see that happen and Pittsburgh take pride in their past history of Jazz because it is Legend! All the best to you and your peeps here, Dr. Harrison. 

Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on August 24, 2015 at 11:25pm

Shawn,

Your comments are truly in the spirit of this network. I encourage more members to register their memories and jazz experiences here so that the names of icons like Art and Bobby Davis will not be forgotten.  If you have any photos, please post them on your page so we can reminisce some more.  Thank you.

BTW the clarinetist is Darryl Cann... another personality making his presence felt in the 'Burgh through music.

Comment by Shawn Cohen on August 24, 2015 at 2:33pm

And a little bit of magic happened when I was just home visiting that brick in Shadyside with Art's name on it. (I live in London, England but was home for a month in Pgh in July) so here is my final entry of a wonderful bit of magic! Art Swiden and the Encore style via this video.  Note the clarinet player, who is a Bell Man in his day job! Name is Darryl, check this out. Only in Shadyside!  https://youtu.be/ad-RLoVC_yE

Comment by Shawn Cohen on August 24, 2015 at 1:25pm

Thank you Dr. Harrison. I hope people do see his brick there in Shadyside and think good of Art. I put that brick there in 2009 so it has been there for a while now. I have a special place in my heart for Art and he should be remembered. So many people help make Jazz music happen, not just the brilliant and talented musicians but promoters, nightclubs, music teachers, music publishers and record companies as well as the little people like me who waitressed and tended bar at the Encore and the Balcony in Pgh for a time, 1976-79...where the best jazz in the world was heard! May people remember that time as unique and as Art would say,  "an offer you can't refuse!"  By the way, Art was 6' 1" not 6'12 as it says in my other post! lol He was big man but not that big...lol  Harold Betters was born to play at the Encore too and Harold and Art were good friends and I met Billy Conn, also known as The Pittsburgh Kid as a pro boxer who boxed Joe Louis! Art knew Billy, the Steelers, like Lynn Swann, Terry Bradshaw and Mean Joe Green and I waited on them all at the Encore.  Everyone came to listen to the Jazz. I will never forget at the Encore II downtown watching Dizzy Gillespie's cheeks blow out while he was onstage blowing his horn! I was young and never saw him before! Many memories of many fantastic and wonderful jazz artists there, like Blossom Dearie, Chuck Mangione,  Sarah Vaughn,  Cleo Lane, Harold Betters, of course, and you name it, they were there! Thanks for letting me share my memories, Dr. Harrison. :-) Bless you and keep up the good work you do here. 

Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on August 24, 2015 at 2:19am

Shawn,

I am so glad you added this information about Art.  You brought back many fond memories for me and I'm sure others as well.  Art was one of a kind and his special personality made Walnut Street the 'place to be.'  I'll stop by and visit his marker next time I am over there and will tell others as well.

Comment by Shawn Cohen on August 23, 2015 at 11:22pm

Art Swiden:  born Feb. 11, 1928 - died: Aug. 23, 2004  

Comment by Shawn Cohen on August 23, 2015 at 11:19pm

11 years ago today, the long time manager of the Encore in Shadyside and also downtown on Liberty Ave., Art Swiden, passed away. Art loved jazz and talent and was a true Pittsburgh character! He started his career as a light heavyweight boxer and went pro as a Heavyweight boxer until 1960 when he retired from boxing. His next move was to be THE man at the Encore  Bar and Restaurant on Walnut Street. Owned by Will Shiner but managed by Art Swiden, he loved to make people laugh and his trademark statement was, "I'm not here to hurt ya, I am here to help ya!"  He was 6'12 and a big man who voice could imitate actors like Clark Gable to bit parts in local movies, like the Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. Art loved jazz and made sure the Encore booked the best of the best! He should be mentioned here and if anyone wants to see a small memorial to him, go to the parklet on Walnut Street, right next to where the Encore used to be and look down, you will see his name and it says, "Art Swiden Champ 4 Ever!" Art was my boss at the Encore and he was also my friend and therefore I felt it was only right his name is mentioned in Shadyside where he made himself known throughout. A true lover of music and brought into the Encore, along with Bobby Davis, the best of the best. Missed by so many. 

Comment by Melissa Jones on June 12, 2015 at 12:32am

We lost Ornette Coleman this morning.

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