by Laura Stiles
Despite our efforts to leave a lasting mark on the world, the workings of legacy are puzzling and complex. How can we ever predict who will someday find the clues we have left behind?
Consider this…
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
http://www.komehsaessentials.com/
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.
WELCOME!
Groups
Badge
Duke Ellington is first African-American and the first musician to solo on U.S. circulating coin
MARY LOU WILLIAMS
INTERVIEW
Featured Blog Posts (732)
Jazz Trends
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on July 23, 2015 at 3:00am — No Comments
Billie Holiday: Honoring her life, talent and her Centennial by Kirk Silsbee
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on July 21, 2015 at 7:30pm — 2 Comments
Howard McGhee Talks Fats Navarro
An incredibly interesting, 14 part interview with Howard McGhee discussing and reminiscing about Fats Navarro has just been posted (6/14/2015). The interview(s) was conducted in 1977-78. What a remarkable piece of jazz information and history!
Added by Melissa Jones on July 14, 2015 at 4:01pm — 1 Comment
Phat Man Dee got outta than y'all! 2 weeks! 6 cities, 4 countries, a month to go!
I have been going at it hard, friends! I have seen some truly amazing things, met some incredible musicians, crossed some phenomenal bridges, big small, old, new.... sung with some delightful people and made some wonderful new friends and fans! It has been a very difficult and emotionally wrought journey, but…
Continue
Added by Phat Man Dee on July 14, 2015 at 12:06pm — No Comments
HARAMBEE UHIMA Black Arts & Culture Festival
HARAMBEE UJIMA
Black Arts & Culture Festival
On Kelly Street |…
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on July 13, 2015 at 6:24pm — No Comments
Pay the Band - An Open Letter to Apple from Taylor Swift
To Apple, Love Taylor
I write this to explain why I’ll be holding back my album, 1989, from the new streaming service, Apple Music. I feel this deserves an explanation because Apple has been and will continue to be one of my best partners in selling music and creating ways for me to connect with my fans. I respect the company and the truly ingenious minds that have created a legacy based on innovation and pushing the right boundaries.
I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music…
ContinueAdded by Dr. Nelson Harrison on June 23, 2015 at 3:12am — 1 Comment
Pittsburgh Jazz Celebration kicks off a big week of music at Heinz Hall
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on June 17, 2015 at 6:36am — No Comments
AAMI Boys Choir Home Coming Alumni Concert “A Tribute to Fathers”
Afro American Music Institute Presents…
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on June 16, 2015 at 7:11pm — No Comments
RIP Ornette in the groove time of forever. Art By Adamo.
Added by Frank Black on June 12, 2015 at 11:44pm — 1 Comment
From Timbuktu to the Mississippi Delta (Pt. 1)
POSTED ON DECEMBER 1, 2010 BY THE INDEPENDENT EAR Guitarist-educator, and now author, Pascal (Bokar) Thiam aims to broaden the historical timeline of blues and jazz well beyond the romantic notion of ‘up the Mississippi from New Orleans…’ Though I had the pleasure of spinning Pascal’s in-performance ’07 CD Savannah Jazz Club on radio, I didn’t have the opportunity to meet him until about two months ago at the first in a series of book signing & reading events for African Rhythms: the…
ContinueAdded by Dr. Nelson Harrison on April 5, 2015 at 1:00am — No Comments
Billie Holiday Centennial
April 7th marks the centennial celebration of the incomparable Billie Holiday. Her genius remains the foundation for jazz vocalists and her legacy reigns supreme.
The Swing Song Tradition
By the early 1930's, the Jazz Age was coming to an end. The 2/4, oomp-pah rhythm of the 1920's was giving way to the smoother, more elastic rhythm of the Swing Era. Benny Goodman officially got the ball rolling at the Palomar; but the Jazz Age Orchestra had left a…
ContinueAdded by Melissa Jones on April 3, 2015 at 5:15pm — No Comments
Pioneers of African American Entertainment in Pittsburgh
Pioneers of African American Entertainment in Pittsburgh
Prepared by Dr. Theodora D. Cotton *
We are indebted to Frank E. Bolden who graciously granted an interview on a Sunday evening for this information. Mr. Bolden, who is an authority on African American history in Western Pennsylvania, is a member of the Pennsylvania Historical commission and the History and Landmarks Foundation. Born and educated in Western…
ContinueAdded by Dr. Nelson Harrison on March 1, 2015 at 8:14am — 4 Comments
Tony Campbell and Jazz Surgery
I would like to thank Tony Campbell and Jazz Surgery for the opportunity this past Saturday at The Village Tavern. Two years ago I did not play an instrument. Six months ago I did not own a jazz tune. Tony invited me to sit-in on the drums and we played Moanin' by the late great Art Blakey. What a thrill playing with such great musicians. If you have not been to The Village Tavern to see Tony and the band on Saturdays from 5 - 7:30 please get there. Also, thanks to drummer Kevin Hindes for…
ContinueAdded by Charlie Becker on February 9, 2015 at 2:15pm — No Comments
To Tug Hearts, Music First Must Tickle the Neurons - New York Times, Published: April 18, 2011
Milton Glaser - Science
By PAM BELLUCK
The other day, Paul Simon was rehearsing a favorite song: his own “Darling Lorraine,” about a love that starts hot but turns very cold. He found himself thinking about a three-note rhythmic pattern near the end, where Lorraine (spoiler alert) gets sick and dies.…
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on January 28, 2015 at 11:00pm — No Comments
Pittsburgh Jazz Legends 13: Maxine Sullivan
"She swung it—not a fierce, hard swing like Jimmy Rushing with Count Basie…
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on December 11, 2014 at 2:43am — 4 Comments
Creativity and the Brain: What We Can Learn From Jazz Musicians
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on December 10, 2014 at 3:47am — No Comments
¨Digital Series ( 2014 2015) Samples¨Sketching a Melody¨
Sketching a Melody ( Difference multiply,Zoom 3D ZoomI lightingI)
Sketching a Melody ( Difference multiply,ZoomI I 3DHard Light lighting I…
Added by Marta Graciela Bressi on November 29, 2014 at 9:30pm — 1 Comment
TURN UP THE HEAT - BNY Mellon presents Michele Bensen & the Bensen Burners
Turn Up the Heat!
ACFL&MH Acquires Rare Collection of
Lincoln Photographs
Programming
Presents
Michele Bensen & the Bensen Burners
Saturday January 24 at 8:00 p.m.
Michele Bensen returns to Carnegie Carnegie Hall bringing
a little sizzle to ease the bleak mid-winter doldrums.
Football is anathema to arts…
ContinueAdded by Dr. Nelson Harrison on November 22, 2014 at 2:00am — No Comments
MOZELLE THOMPSON LP Cover Illustrations: 1953 - 1969.
The Album Art of Mozelle Thompson / GRAPHIC COURTESY J. MALLS
Pittsburgh artist Mozelle Thompson subject of retrospective opening this Friday
Continue
Added by Dr. Nelson Harrison on November 18, 2014 at 9:04pm — No Comments
Latest Featured Blog Posts
- PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL - 2024
- Street re-naming ceremony: From E. Jefferson Street to Roger Humphries Way
- TRIBUTE TO STANLEY TURRENTINE - November 9, 2024
- Report: Arts Bring Big Boost to Pittsburgh’s Economy
- Bill Doggett Zoom Celebration
- Bluesman marries Mother-in-law!
- Plans greenlit to build music venue in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill
Most Popular Featured Blog Posts
- Street re-naming ceremony: From E. Jefferson Street to Roger Humphries Way
- an important development
- Franco Harris eyes restoring the Historic Crawford Grill #2
- Joe Westray web page
- BRILLIANT YOUNG PIANIST DR. DERRICK R. FINCH DIES IN AUTO CRASH IN LOS ANGELES
- ..welcome to the blues highway!
- Charlie Parker and the Meaning of Freedom
Featured Monthly Archives
2024
2023
- December (4)
- November (3)
- October (3)
- September (2)
- August (2)
- July (7)
- June (7)
- April (8)
- March (4)
- February (4)
- January (10)
2022
- December (3)
- November (3)
- October (6)
- September (3)
- August (2)
- July (2)
- June (1)
- May (3)
- April (11)
- March (14)
- February (6)
- January (3)
2021
- December (1)
- November (1)
- October (14)
- September (9)
- August (8)
- July (6)
- June (14)
- May (5)
- April (5)
- March (3)
- February (3)
2020
- December (3)
- October (4)
- September (3)
- August (7)
- July (4)
- June (2)
- May (1)
- April (3)
- March (3)
- February (7)
- January (1)
2019
2018
- December (6)
- November (3)
- September (1)
- August (2)
- July (2)
- June (2)
- May (1)
- April (5)
- March (2)
- February (5)
- January (2)
2017
- December (2)
- November (1)
- October (6)
- September (10)
- August (3)
- July (1)
- June (2)
- May (4)
- April (4)
- March (2)
- February (5)
- January (2)
2016
- November (1)
- October (1)
- September (2)
- August (4)
- July (3)
- June (2)
- May (5)
- April (3)
- March (2)
- February (1)
- January (3)
2015
- December (1)
- November (3)
- October (5)
- September (8)
- August (8)
- July (6)
- June (4)
- May (1)
- April (2)
- March (1)
- February (1)
- January (2)
2014
- December (2)
- November (10)
- October (3)
- September (4)
- August (7)
- July (5)
- June (12)
- May (2)
- March (4)
- February (5)
- January (4)
2013
- December (5)
- November (2)
- October (3)
- September (2)
- August (2)
- July (3)
- June (4)
- May (1)
- April (6)
- March (3)
- February (6)
- January (4)
2012
- December (5)
- November (4)
- October (6)
- September (6)
- August (7)
- July (2)
- June (11)
- May (2)
- April (4)
- March (2)
- February (12)
- January (14)
2011
- December (6)
- November (9)
- October (18)
- September (4)
- August (7)
- July (3)
- June (3)
- May (3)
- April (3)
- March (9)
- February (1)
- January (7)
2010
- December (7)
- November (2)
- October (6)
- September (9)
- August (8)
- July (8)
- June (3)
- May (6)
- March (1)
- February (5)
- January (7)
2009
- December (2)
- November (3)
- October (5)
- September (4)
- August (2)
- July (1)
- June (4)
- May (6)
- April (9)
- March (8)
- February (7)
- January (5)
2008
© 2024 Created by Dr. Nelson Harrison.
Powered by
