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, Parlanto 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.
WEMU 89.1, Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor's (Michigan) premiere Public Radio Station, will be adding selected songs from our debut CD to their radio playlist beginning January 7. Thank you to music director Linda Yohn for supporting our vision!
Washington Area Music Award
WAMA DC
23rd Annual Wammies
We are proud to announce that Jazz, Blues and Gospel recording artist Janine Gilbert-Carter has received a Wammie nomination for the the third year running in the Jazz Vocalist category. Please consider voting for Janine. You can listen to clips at http://www.janinecarter.com or http://www.cdbaby.com
you must be a member to vote:
To vote go to http://www.wamadc.com Wammie Ballot Fill it out on… Continue
Rev. Ricky Burgess, Sen. Jim Ferlo, and other local community leaders for an evening of celebration & inspiration as we kickoff 2009 preparing For the Change We Need now!
***Special Silent… Continue
Added by Pgh Rich on January 11, 2009 at 7:25am —
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Allegheny County Crusade for Voters
Presents For the Change We Need…..
Celebrating and building on the legacy of…Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Thursday, January 15, 2009, 7:00 pm Monumental Baptist Church, 2240 Wylie Avenue
JOIN THE CRUSADE,
Rev. Ricky Burgess, Sen. Jim Ferlo, and other local community leaders for an evening of celebration & inspiration as we kickoff 2009 preparing For the Change We Need now!
***Special Silent Auction of Obama… Continue
Added by Pgh Rich on January 11, 2009 at 7:23am —
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ACORN is holding an Obama Inauguration Luncheon on the 20th of January, starting at 10 AM. We will have a big screen to view the festivities together, and will honor Ms. Lillian Allen, 100 years old, who doorknocked her street before going to vote, to make sure that all her neighbors made it to the polls!
Luncheon colors, Black and Red
Cost- either a $10.00 contribution, or a covered dish.
RSVP 412 441-5441
Added by Maryellen Hayden on January 11, 2009 at 12:43am —
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A few years ago I wrote a letter called “*A Roll Call” Its premise was: A call to action for creative minds to not only record history but to also write our future. As it’s no big secret our Nation, as a whole, has slipped away from culture and fell into consumerism. We lost that balance that holds democratic civilizations afloat. Culture is as important to this world as is oil. Without creative minds we lay stagnate in our past accomplishments but mostly our mistakes. Without different… Continue
"What's in Store? - Jessie Wills, Canary Label, 1999
“In Jessie Wills, we find straight forward simplicity of style and an openness of voice that is both sanguine and sweet. It is her “Thousand Eyes” that is the preeminent version of the three (I reviewed this time) with some astoundingly linear tuba playing by Jim Self. When Wills scats against his melodic burrowing, there is something metaphysical in the air. Frank Rosolino’s "Daniel" hits a… Continue
Music, the sound of the spheres, begins in the womb! -- Diva JC
Historically, women have been left out of his-story. My books emphasize the contribution women have made in the field of jazz and blues. Visit my site www.wijsf.com and check out JAZZWOMEN in the links. Also, see my books at … Continue
Added by Diva JC on January 7, 2009 at 1:24pm —
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Ok folks...here are some of the best perfomances I saw or almost saw this past year.
I say almost because I was in the press room with Bob Davis and T Watts when Surgar Pie Desanto gave her kick a** perfomance at the Kimmel Center during the R&B Foundation Pioneer Awards. We could not see the monitors well but with flips on the stage and that knockout voice, she was someone who really "stole the show".
Biologists are addressing one of humanity’s strangest attributes, its all-singing, all-dancing culture“IF MUSIC be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it.” And if not? Well, what exactly is it for? The production and consumption of music is a big part of… Continue
Added by Kevin Amos on January 2, 2009 at 12:30am —
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Thank
you so much for an incredible year--a new CD, the wonderful CD Release
Party, and the increasing recognition that we are getting for our
music. We couldn't have done it without your continuing support and
encouragement. We hope to make it to Pittsburgh soon!
We hope you have a wonderful, safe, blessed holiday season. We look forward to seeing you at our events in the New… Continue
Added by Musique Noire on January 1, 2009 at 6:29am —
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As 2008 comes to a close we are overwhelmingly grateful for each and every member. The more you play around with your page the more you will learn. Anything you post you can also delete or edit. If you want to increase you traffic, make lots of friends; annotate your photos and videos. THE MAGIC TRAFFIC GENERATOR IS THE TAG. Make sure you put key words in the tag of every post and also your name. Viral marketing is driven by the tag so never leave the tag blank. You can also edit… Continue
So wowza, it has been some crazy last couple of weeks....
For the record, NYC was awesome, I met a cousin I didn't even know I had , saw one of my best friends from college (I practically lived on their couch) .... here is some video from that night:
I lived in a second floor apartment at 2173 Webster Avenue. There, amidst all the goins' ons...The Perry Bar, on down to the Crawford Grill #2, shoot over to Center Avenue where there were flourishing businesses...as far as the eye could see...both ways...both sides; head on down past The Savoy Ballroom, The New Granada Theater, hustle on past the Roosevelt Theater, constantly weaving through an endless flow of moving people until I'd reach The Irene Kaufmann Settlement; turn left on Helman… Continue
Many years ago, I had thought what an amazing thing technology was. It was ever moving always improving, and solving problems. My thoughts drifted to the next resting stop in entertainment. I wondered how they were going to get the media to us. Like Video killing the radio star. Computer killed the video star, even thought it is not dead yet, TV. is ,as we know it, heading out.. As a matter of facts, communication as we know it is out the window.
Hey Nelson & all the PJN folks. This is my first blog. Hope it works.
Best wishes for 2009. My production of "The Snow Queen" opened and had a nice run at the Playhouse...but I've had some pretty serious
leg surgery which has curtailed some Holiday Festivities. So have a couple on me!
Added by Doug Bentz on December 25, 2008 at 8:57pm —
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