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
LYRICAL TRIBUTE TO THE TURRENTINE BROTHERS
Re: Blue Note CDP 7-46142-2
Can be recited or sung to "La Place" by Stanley Turrentine, La Place Music - BMI
Lyrics by Nelson E. Harrison, Timeslice Music- ASCAP
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A tiny street… a footpath with a beat…
In Pittsburgh town… where cats were throwing down…
It's on the Hill… and guess what's standing still…
A humble home… where T learned saxophone…
And the neighbors all knew… it would soon become true…
They were setting the pace… hanging out on L' Place.
A trumpet sound… no truer could be found…
A tenor man… with ears to beat the band…
The brothers T… were well known locally…
The traveling bands… would come to see first hand…
Soon as they had a clue… what the brothers could do…
They would all spread the word… of the things that they heard.
July the 4th… to show what you were worth…
They had a show… where everyone would go…
The streets were filled… with no one getting killed…
The times were gay… and folks were on display…
If you knew how to play… you would practice all day…
To have something to show… when the time came to blow.
From noon 'til night… until they got it right…
The sounds they made… would have to make the grade…
If you were good… your rep grew in the hood…
The girls at school… would know that you were cool…
Little Georgie could sing… and he learned how to swing…
On a tiny guitar… 'til he became a star…
This is where it began… how you became a man…
Not a trace of disgrace… proud to be from L' Place…
Where a couple of kids… would emerge from the skids…
'Cause they knew how to hang… with the rest of the gang…
The street dance they put on… in the old days is gone…
But you would be in awe… of the things that we saw.
Author Copyright © 2000-2010 by Nelson E. Harrison, ASCAP
All rights Reserved without Prejudice
Article 1 Constitution of the United States and 1-207 U.C.C.
Last updated by Dr. Nelson Harrison Oct 24, 2010.
© 2024 Created by Dr. Nelson Harrison.
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