Comment

Comment by Phat Man Dee on September 26, 2008 at 4:54am

WELL DON YOU DONT HAVE TO YELL ABOUT IT!!!! WE CAN HEAR YOU!!! :) Ah, I am just jaggin' ya'..... but as you say, Pittsburgh obviously has the talent to put together a kick ass local festival of musicians. I mean, a trip to AVA Lounge on a Monday will prove that we are not lacking in talent and solid groove. I think if we could present a united front and pursue a good media partnership with a radio station and tv station the people would come. Sometimes when I get depressed about local turnout, I remember Karl Marx, the first meeting of the Communist Party had one person in attendance, and that was Mr Marx himself..... now I know that taking examples from the Communist Party is not generally recommended, but really they were very successful at what they tried to do, they certainly had the turn out..... ;) Let's make a proposal and ask someone for money. We could do it at Kelly Strayhorn, or New Hazlett, and keep it modest, a weekend. Fri night one set of 3 bands, Sat day workshops, Sat night 3 other bands, Sun day workshops, and Sun night jam session ..... We can do this and we owe it to the next generation to do so. Maybe we can't leave them any money, but we can leave them music.

Comment by Don Cerminara on September 23, 2008 at 5:22pm

ABSOLUTELY..BUT...WHO'S GONNA GO...AND WHO'S GONNA PLAY?? CANT SUSTAIN BRINGIN IN "BIG TIMERS" LACK OF ATTENDANCE MAKES IT ECONOMICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. REFESHING TO HEAR THOSE "BARBS" FROM OLGA! SHE;S"RIGHT ON"..WE DO HAVE ENOUGH LOCAL TALENT TO JUSTIFY IT...STILLL....WHO WILL COME? NAMES?? JOHN WILSON, JOE DALLAS, ERIC SUSOEFF,ROGER HUMPHRIES, SEAN JONES, THAT YOUNG GUY ON TRUMPET FROM SOME COLLEGE "NOT TOO FAR FROM PGH, GENE LUDWIG, ERIC DEFADE, DON ALIQUO JIM GUERRA, DE PAULIS, JOHN DAMICO, I'D LOVE TO HEAR RON FUDOLI PLUS BASSIST WHO USED TO BE WITH ROGER RYAN(APOLOGIES, I FORGOT HIS NAME), PLUS 2 OR 3 OTHER BASSISTS(FORGOT THEIR NAMES)..THE "GUYS" KNOW WHO THEY ARE, AND O YEAH THE DRUMMER WHO JUST RECENTLY MADE IT BACK WITH J WILSONS BAND(THE BEST BAND IN TOWN...GREAT CHARTS) AND, HOW CAN ONE OMIT JOE NEGRI...IF HE'LL COME....I COULD GO ON, BUT FORGET SEVERAL WORTHY NAMES...SO, MY APOLOGIES TO THEM, NO SLIGHT INTENDED..YEAH, NELSON HARRISON (DARN IT)...SUFFICE TO SAY, WE'VE GOT THE PLAYERS...BUT, WHAT OF THE ATTENDANCE??? I'M JUST APPREHENSIVE...CAN WE DRAW ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THESE FINE ARTISTS???
DONNY C HARRY AND BOBBY CARDILLO..(KEYBOARDS)
LARGE APOLOGIES, I KNOW I FORGOT SOME NAMES...ONE HITS 50, AND ONE TENDS TO "FORGET"

Comment by Debi Sciranka on September 23, 2008 at 4:59am

New Hazlett Theater Exploring Jazz Programming -- join us for discussion, networking, complementary food/drink, and of course -- live jazz music


WHAT: NEW HAZLETT THEATER’S LAST DAYS CAFÉ

WHEN: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2008
5:30pm to 8:30 pm
The monthly series is held during the last week
of every month on varying days

WHERE: New Hazlett Theater – 6 Allegheny Sq. E. – Pittsburgh, PA 15212

September 17, 2008 (PITTSBURGH) On the heals of the recent successful City of Asylum Jazz/Poetry Concert, the New Hazlett Theater is presenting an evening of networking and discussions on Pittsburgh’s jazz scene.

On Sunday, September 28, 2008 their FREE monthly happy hour, Last Days Café, will offer Pittsburgh’s creatives a chance to join in discussions on a new networking tool on the internet aimed at connecting jazz musicians and fans, opportunities and collaborations, and availability of music venues. The evening will round out with a live jazz performance.

Last Days Café is a casual “salon” open to everyone, where spontaneous creative conversations are accompanied by complementary appetizers and drinks. Artists, musicians, writers, dancers, poets, performers, and arts administrators are invited to stop in and talk about projects, plans, ideas, and interests. Often the key to unique opportunities is discovering who is doing what and interacting regularly with a circle of colleagues who are working creatively. The Last Days Café also provides a forum through which Pittsburgh’s creative community can become more familiar with the resources available to them as they create new work, consider forming a new organization, or think about how, when and where to show their work.

The special guest this month to help lead the discussion will be Nelson Harrison, the founder of the online Pittsburgh Jazz Network (http://jazzburgher.ning.com/). The site has become a fertile location for musicians to network and make connections with other musicians and fans.

Harrison has been a player in the Pittsburgh jazz scene since the late 50’s, when he began doing gigs at the renowned jazz club, Crawford Grill No. 2 in the Hill District. Since then, this multi-tasking composer, arranger and soloist has played with Kenny Clarke, Billy Eckstine and Earl “Fatha” Hines, Jay McShann, Slide Hampton, and with the Count Basie Orchestra (1978-81). He has recorded with Walt Harper, Nathan Davis and Count Basie, and was co-leader of jazz groups featuring singer Andy Bey and drummer Joe Harris. He is currently active in Pittsburgh with Gary Racan and the Studio-E Band, The Blues Orphans, Roger Humphries Big Band, Bill Dell and Wee Jams, and his own jazz bands The World According to Bop, Jazz ‘N Jive, Dr. Jazz and the Salty Dawgs, Blue to the Bone, and Nelson Harrison and Associates.

The New Hazlett Theater is a performing arts venue located on Pittsburgh’s Northside.
As a charitable 501c nonprofit, the organization supports and nurtures the creative performing arts, and serves as a community resource for arts access and arts education.

Comment by Gene Stovall on September 12, 2008 at 4:03am

I'm in.

Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on September 12, 2008 at 3:49am

The Detroit International Jazz Festival
Friday, September 05, 2008
By Larry Roberts, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh has a great jazz history, with many historic figures getting their start here and with many wonderful performers appearing in local clubs today. However, what seems to have dropped off the charts is a local jazz festival. So, in order to be part of such a scene you have to travel. There's the JVC festival in New York, Newport in Rhode Island, Tri-C in Cleveland, or the nation's largest free jazz festival -- The Detroit International Jazz Festival celebrated its 29th anniversary this year with nearly 750,000 jazz fans attending over the Labor Day weekend. Billed as "A Love Supreme: The Philly-Detroit Summit" the festival featured musicians with connections to those cities.
First published on September 5, 2008 at 12:00 am

Comment by CWR (Fan of Culture) on September 5, 2008 at 10:31pm

Cohesiveness, that’s what happened, we have drifted about, each seeking our own pot of gold.


So now we realize it can’t be done, we need one and another to make it happen, that being anything.
“It takes a village to raise a child. “
“It takes a force to move mountains.”
“It takes two to tango.”

I could go on and on, but I will not. I just can’t see why it’s such a hard thing to do. Start small work your way up, I know many of you think that they are above starting small, I know I have. However to bring Jazz out of the dust balls you’ll need to prove that it’s worth it. Show them that you are a force. So were do you start? Start with numbers, here again is how PJN can work as your pivot point and work joining together all the power and talent needed..

Like I said look at the talent power and money here, alone you’re a fan and artist and promoter ,together a new wave. Look it’s not been easy the last decade, everything is crazy, but change is coming we will have our lives back. Its just up to you to decide if you want to be free to do as you wish or stuck playing gigs at the local “fried and beer bash.”, or flying to distant lands looking for fans because it’s the only venues you can get..


Obama 08.

Comment by DR. LEO CASINO on September 5, 2008 at 5:13pm

I was at a gig last month and a brother was sitting up front for the whole set,I walked over to him and introduced myself.He said I know you,my name is Lou Donaldson.I was floored, he is one of my idols on alto. He said he missed the scene in Pittsburgh,he felt at one time it was a mecca like Harlem,Chicago etc. He said it had all the giants, Billy, Stanley,Roy and others.He said the sisters in the burgh had the best looking legs from walking up those hills. He then asked what happened ?

Comment by Maryellen Hayden on August 31, 2008 at 8:40am

How much money is needed?

Comment by Kevin Amos on August 29, 2008 at 11:06pm

When you all get a chance go read my comments on the Thunder tour. It's very similar to what is being discussed here. Most of you know me so you you know that I am ready to plan and organize such an endevor. The only problem is....money. That's is what's needed. For a sucessful event to take place it's gonna take a colaboration of a lot of folks in the private and cororate sectors to make it happen. Just go explre the existing festivals here in the states and you will see what I mean. It's not rocket science, but I do not work for free anymore. Especially on something of this magnitude.

Now we can all bitch and moan about what type of music should be a part of this endevor. Jazz fans are very diverse. We have the very young( toodlers, grade school kids), High school kids, college kids, etc, etc. ( Don't tell me they don't exist because I have seen them all.) How do you attact folks and keep them happy. How do you bring on various sponsors and keep them happy. How do we reflect the diversity of our audience and the participating musicians. As you see there is an awful lot to consider and I haven't covered all the bases.

I have been a participart as a media person and as an actual event planner. That is what I got paid to do so excuse me if I'm sounding so harsh, but these are some of the things to consider..

I will say that I was not happy with the one-sided approach of the last Jazz Festival held at Flagstaff Hill two years ago. Neither were a few other people at the top.

Kevin

Comment by Phat Man Dee on August 25, 2008 at 7:54am

Olga knows whats up. I have had plenty of coffee today and believe she speaks the truth. I mean big money would be nice and probably really helpful, but we need to show the world that jazz in Pittsburgh is what it is, and in my humble opinion, this time is really exciting. The music being made here is incomparable. The new compositions, paired with the technique, power and skill of the cats playing out here is incredible. Our scene is really unique and we have a sacred duty to share it with the world, there are plenty of people who will feel the love. So what if DUQ won't play my stuff? I have the internet at my fingertips. Let's do this. Right now, like this time yesterday.

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