Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/building-today-for-tomorrow/x/267428
Pain Relief Beyond Belief
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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.
WELCOME!
MARY LOU WILLIAMS
INTERVIEW
THE MUSICIANS FOUNDATION
By
Nelson E. Harrison, Ph. D., RA, ASCAP
November 18, 2005 10:56 PM – February 23, 2017 12:29 AM
"Jazz musicians are the only workers who will put in a full shift for pay and then go somewhere else and continue to work for free."---George Carlin
All joking aside musicians are an endangered species. They are dying off…
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By PAULA A. SMITH Correspondent
Photo by Nelson Harrison
West, 84, and his great nephew Cameron Nino performed recently at the Village of Pennwood personal care home in…
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THE PITTSBURGH SOUND
Thoughts by Nelson E. Harrison, Ph.D.
The jazz tradition in Pittsburgh began in the first decade of the 20th century establishing it as one of the earliest caldrons of refinement and influence in the primeval development of its…
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Because of all of your help and support we have been able to make all of the required renovations to the historic Ballroom. It has truly been an amazing turn around, and all of us at James Street…
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I’ve had two lessons with Charles McPherson when on tour in San Diego. They have been utterly remarkable. The second one from last fall I taped: Thanks to Charles for allowing this transcription to be published on DTM.
This week Charles is playing at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola Thursday through Sunday. It is a must-see gig for lovers of the…
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A new festival celebrates Daphne Oram, Laurie Spiegel and other female synth…
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ATTENTION!!!!
The Afro-American-Music-Institute is having a TWO week MUSIC summer camp from June 28th through July 12th...9am to 3pm . All you have to pay is a registration fee of only $25 dollars for your child and that's it. If your kids already have summer plans then spread the…
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on May 29, 2016 at 3:00am — No Comments
by Dom Cerulli — 9/1/1957
Marian McPartland threw back her head and laughed. “You have no idea how often I’ve been asked that,” she said. “And, actually, I don’t know how to answer it.”
The questions were: What are your comments on being a woman in a man’s world, the world of jazz? Are…
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by Harvey Siders — 10/19/1967
Yes, Virginia, there are leprechauns. I know because I’ve been running into one lately in Los Angeles. It seems everywhere I go, he’s there, listening, burying himself in some dark corner, just “quietly finding out what’s happening.” He must be a leprechaun. He’s 5'2"…
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Black Music is Black Music: Call it that!
by Fred Logan
April 18, 2016
Amiri Baraka said somewhere that, among other things, calling jazz (and other black music) "American" music ignores who created it and the
immense debt,…
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On the Importance of Jazz…
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This interview was sent to me by Kevin McManus, who edited it down I guess from a recording of the interview. I did another once over and here it is! Hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I don't know the exact year of the interview - suffice it to say it was in the last 10-15 years. Thanks to Jim, Nelson and Kevin - Great job! JP:
I…
ContinueAdded by Dr. Nelson Harrison on November 14, 2015 at 1:00am — 1 Comment
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