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.
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INTERVIEW
Save the Music Program at Westinghouse High School
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Ok, we have 41 members and it is almost January. Can we find one day to have a planning meeting- I could use four volunteers to lead a panel discussion on the future of music at Westinghouse and in Pittsburgh in general. Please reply with input soon!
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Members: 64
Latest Activity: May 16, 2016
Discussion Forum
Westinghouse Music Program
Started by Maryellen Hayden. Last reply by Richard King Aug 25, 2009. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Comment Wall
Comment
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Comment by Ben on September 3, 2009 at 9:01pm
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I'm pretty far detached from the Westinghouse high school area, but my roots in the Peobody high school experience and also close excellent musician friend who passed away recently played in the Band at Westinghouse and knew many musicians from the area. We're losing the very thing that preserves the future of the Arts and helps Human Relations to the utmost by losing such a program....Priorities play a role, but even thousands of years ago Music was a priority in the ancient world...Are we going backward?
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Comment by CWR (Fan of Culture) on September 3, 2009 at 4:09pm
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Who cares what has happened to this program, who cares where the blame sits, what can I do to help make it of interest, to help it come back. Look it's not that I do not care the hows and whys, look around everything is in the gutter. Its our job as citizens to stop and reverse this decay. if not us , who will look after the children. So what can i do to help?
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Comment by Michael Sciomacco on August 26, 2009 at 1:44pm
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Another music program going (if not gone) from the Pgh Schools. There is no music at Arsenal Middle, and Rooney Middle schools. A lack of leadership in music for the past several years has not helped !
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Comment by Ed Skirtich on August 26, 2009 at 1:20am
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Hi All,
What has to happen at Westinghouse High School and the Pittsburgh Public School system is EVERYONE IN THE PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOL FROM TOP TO BOTTOM MUST REALIZE THAT THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS ONCE THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE FOR JAZZ AND ARTS AND ENTETAINMENT!
WHEN I WENT TO WESTINGHOUSE AND PEABODY
FOLKS IN SCHOOLS LIKE PEABODY AND WESTINGHOUSE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW OR DON'T CARE THAT PROMINENT MUSICIANS WHO ALL BECAME GLOBALLY RENOWNED ONCE ATTENDED THESE SCHOOLS!
FOR THE JAZZ WORKSHOP, INC. OUTREACH PROGRAMS ONLY 2 SCHOOLS IN THE WHOLE DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACCEPTED OUR PROGRAMS!
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC!
I WALK INTO PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IT'S ALL BACK IN THE DAY AND ALL KINDS OF HALLS AND WALLS OF FAME IN WHICH UNFORTUNATELY TODAY'S KIDS DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR OWN SCHOOL'S BACKGROUND! (There should be mentors program for these kids too so they can realize who these people are and that they can one day be on that wall)
IT'S A REAL SHAME THAT MUSIC HAS BECOME UNACCEPTABLE TO ADMINISTRATORS TOO!
SO WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS OUTREACH PROGRAMS AT JAZZ WORKSHOP, INC. SHOULD BE INCLUDED TO ALL PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY WESTINGHOUSE AND PEABODY HIGH SCHOOLS!
FOLKS AT PEABODY AND WESTINGHOUSE NEED TO ATTEND PROGRAMS LIKE JAZZ WORKSHOP, INC.'S SATURDAY SCHOOL TO WHICH STARTS SEPT 13TH AT 12 PM TOO!
SO Y'ALL BETTER QUIT CRYIN' ON THE NEWS ABOUT WE NEED SOMETHING FOR OUR KIDS TO DO WHEN Y'ALL CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET TO THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH HOMEWOOD BRANCH AND ATTEND CLASSES AT THE JWS SAT. SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVBERY SAT. 12 PM TO 4:30 PM STARTING SEPT. 13TH!
Once again, I apologize if anyone feels offended by these remarks, but I am very passionate about not only making sure music stays in our school systems, but also it's a chance for me (My ancestors and I taught in the Pittsburgh Public Schools) and Dr. Nelson Harrison (He performs in the JWS Outreach Program Band) to give back and pass on our knowledge to the future musicians who come out of Pittsburgh Public Schools!
We all really need to come together on this network and figure out ways on 1) Keeping Music Programs In The Pittsburgh Public Schools and 2) Developing Outreach Programs!
Musically,
Ed Skirtich
Artistic Director/Jazz Workshop, Inc.
ejskirtich@comcast.net
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Comment by Linda Theophilus on August 25, 2009 at 10:26pm
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What has to happen for music programs to continue at Westinghouse and generaly in the Pittsburgh School System?
Linda Theophilus
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Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on August 25, 2009 at 12:32pm
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This school is not only my alma mater but it has produced more than a few international jazz legends including Mary Lou Williams, Billy Strayhorn, Erroll Garner, Linton Garner, Ahmad Jamal, Grover Mitchell, Al Aarons, Dakota Staton, Fred Staton, Jerry Byrd, Eric Johnson, Adam Wade, Naomi Sims and dozens more less famous but outstanding artists. Additionally its orchestra won the State Championship in 1956. For it not to have a music program is worse than tragic. Please join this group and at least state your opinion or leave a comment.
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