Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
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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
Jazz Trivia
Question: How did Coleman Hawkins acquire the name "Bean"? (Answer at end of post.)
Tuesday, Nov. 21st is the 113th birth anniversary of COLEMAN HAWKINS! WKCR.org will broadcast Hawk's music ALL DAY, NON-STOP. Host Phil Schaap will present from 2:00pm-6:30pm (EST).
WKCR.org
https://www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/#
Click "Listen" in upper right corner
Trivia answer: Early in Hawkins' career, his virtuosity dubbed him "the Best and Only", which became shortened to, 'B 'n O", then "Beano", and finally, "Bean". Check Hawkins' 1944 recording, "Bean At The Met" which launches "How High The Moon", into jazz repertoire; its chordal changes becoming the basis for Hawkins' "melody-less" composition. The recording session occurred 2 weeks following Hawkins' performance at NYC's Metropolitan Opera House.
Comment
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Comment by Bob Garvin on November 22, 2017 at 4:49pm
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You're right, Melissa. Blues singer Bull Moose had both men as instrumentalists in his band. Jackson was retired from the music business and working for a catering firm at Howard University in in D.C., when a Pittsburgh blues group called the Flashcats heard about him. With their help. his musical career was rejuvenated. He went on tour including appearances in Pittsburgh in the '80s and was a big hit with a young audience---except for me.. He had made an LP recording called "Moosemania" (of which, I have an autographed copy). It includes some of his risque stuff. In the 1940s, I had a 78 RPM record of "I Love You, Yes I Do', which was very popular.
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Is the Dameron/Golson bandleader Bull Moose Jackson? If so, I'm clueless as to the Pittsburgh connection.
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For those who didn't see the trivia question that I posted elsewhere, here is a repeat: Whose band were both Tadd Dameron and Benny Golson, two of the greatest jazz composers/arrangers, performing for in 1952? What is the connection of that bandleader to Pittsburgh?
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