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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JIA CONNA was born and raised in Newark,NJ. Growing up on the mean streets of Newark, Jia witnessed many things that motivated him to want a better life. Influenced by hip hop greats such as Tupac, B.I.G., Jay-Z and Nas, young Jia began to write lyrics at the tender age of 14. Jia began by writing about the things happening around him until all that changed to actual experiences. Jia attended Vocational High School that boasts alumni such as famed television actress Tisha Campbell and J.D. Williams of HBO’s hit show The Wire. By the end of high school, Jia met three brothers from his neighborhood that used to hold free style sessions in their basement which resulted in the formation of the group L.I.F.E. That meeting went from the basement to studio sessions and live performances. As a way to pay for studio time and seeking the finer things in life the young men hit the streets where they became instant hoodstars but the streets have a way of institutionalizing hoodstars which became their fate. Then there was music.With a swagger and a flow that’s relevant to the game, it was only a matter of time before Jia hooked up with the hottest new record label in the game, QwiLite Records, the brainchild of Grammy-award winning producer/composer, Quincy "Q" Patrick. Now, armed with his first single, "Rider Girl", and sheer grind for the music industry, Jia Conna is poised to be the heir to the throne of the rap kingdom.
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Looks like you definitely have it hooked up. Your page is very well done and we can learn a lot from you. Thanks for bringing your vibe into the mix. Please add me as a friend.