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.
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Duke Ellington is first African-American and the first musician to solo on U.S. circulating coin
MARY LOU WILLIAMS
INTERVIEW
And yet we persist! ART! MUSIC! LOVE!
My favorite Smoky Robinson and the Miracles song is "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" and I think it's appropriate for the state of the world.... I am going to dance harder, sing louder, play more music and harmonize with more intensity than ever before. I am going to keep sharing my knowledge with the next generation and hope they have the strength and opportunity to do the same. I am going to defend the people who make this world beautiful and different. I am going to celebrate culture and religion and the incredible rainbow of humanity we can be when we aren't killing each other.
So, I was just featured in this month's edition of Whirl Magazine!
I was so honored to be included in this issue, it was all about powerhouse women in Pittsburgh! Check it!
Link to the article by Rachel Jones!
Here is a list of gigs I have worked very hard to put together and be part of!
I would be thrilled to see you at any one of them!
Next Friday May 12, 2017
My vocal and performance students are having a CD Release Party!
Show 7 - 9 pm, Mr Smalls theatre, 400 Lincoln Ave, Millvale, PA
I teach at the We Rock Workshop, which is a recording and performance workshop for current and former foster and homeless youth, led by Liz Berlin and Creative Life Support, sponsored by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. This all ages event, and all proceeds benefit the Allegheny County Music Festival Fund. Tickets are free to foster or IL youth and $25 to everyone else.
Later that EXACT SAME EVENING!!!!! AND THEN AGAIN THE NEXT NIGHT!
May 12 & 13, 2017
Doors at 9, show at 10 pm, 21 and over
Rex Theater, 1602 E Carson St, South Side, Pittsburgh, PA
I am thrilled to be appearing in the 9th Annual Morose and Macabre's Atrocity Exhibition! This year we are performing a collaborative interpretation of Dante's Inferno! This annual, award winning, cavalcade of the beautiful and bizarre promises to create an immersive theater experience that tells one horribly wonderful story through the art of nationally recognized sideshow, burlesque, and cabaret entertainers. The Atrocity Exhibition is also host to an array of exhibiting artists, for those of a darker sensibility. As we enter into the Exhibition's 9th annual event, we head....down. This year's event will take guests on a journey through the depths of Hell in a re-telling of Dante's Divine Comedy of Atrocious proportions.
The tickets are selling really fast and if you want to come, please don't wait to buy them at the door, because I sincerely doubt they will be there. We have made it a 2 night event to try to accommodate the incredible number of people who want to see it, but even so, the tickets are going.... all the seated tickets are gone...so if you come, wear your standing shoes... it's a long walk down.... to the INFERNO!
More info:
Tickets:
THEN THE NEXT DAY IS MOTHER'S DAY!
Sunday May 14, 2017
I will be singing at my dear friend Cecilia Coleman's Mother's Day and Fashion Show Event!
Doors at 3 p.m. , Show at 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.
400 Sherwood Ave, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
$20 donation includes dinner, all ages welcome!
I am singing at my friend Cecilia Coleman's first annual Mother’s Day Celebration at the Sherwood Event Center! Entertainment provided by the jazz musicians James Johnson III, Clifford Barnes, Howard Alexander and Phat Man Dee, line dance instruction by Roland Ford! DJ Wreck the Club Powered by Tuff Beats and hosted by MC Akil Esoon.
Refined Culture Fashion Show! Raffles and giveaways!
Dinner provided by Win10 Catering! Desert by Mad Dez Sweets by Dena Stanley!
Please join us for a delightful celebration of motherhood and fashion with music, food, entertainment and dancing!
Next month, save the dates for these performances which will include my full band!
Sunday June 4 at 3 pm I will be "Singing in the Stacks" at the Carnegie Library on South Side!
With Howard Alexander, Carlos Peña and Miguel Sague III!
3 p.m. - 5 p.m.! Free and ALL AGES!
Come on down and celebrate our wonderful library's new SUNDAY hours!
Sunday June 11 at 2:30 p.m. I will be singing on the Main Stage at the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Arts Festival!
Joining me will be Howard Alexander, Carlos Peña, Miguel Sague III and Jeremy Papay!
More info:
Thursday June 15, 2017 I am heading to sing at Snake Oil Festival in New Orleans!
I am thrilled to heading down to the magical city of New Orleans! I will be joining the delightfully debaucherous denizens of the sideshow and burlesque world at the Howling Wolf!
Doors 8 pm, show at 9 pm, tickets from $20- $105
More info:
Tickets:
We just had our spring recital at Afro-American Music Institute where I teach voice to students between the ages of 10-17 and we have one more session left if you would like to study with us before our summer break! We are open to students of all ages and skill levels and offer piano, guitar, bass, drums, saxophone voice and more! Individual and groups lessons available!
More info: http://afroamericanmusic.org/
You may recall I have been working on a pretty fabulous project with my old friend, mentor and boss Liz Berlin from Rusted Root and Mr Smalls Theater, we are co-creating a new album called "Social Justice Disco" and we are about to launch a Pledge Music Campaign to help us sell pre-order cd's and vinyl records. It will be the very first vinyl record I have ever made. I am so proud of the music we have been creating. I don't have a link yet because we are getting together next week to finalize our store on Pledge Music, but do keep your eyes open and please remember, we must love each other and we must defend our ideals. Love thy neighbor as thyself and be the person who stands up for what is right. I am working on this new record to underscore these ideals and I can't wait for you to hear it. Keep eyes open and ears peeled for us, online you can find us now only on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SocialJusticeDisco/
Love yinz, stay strong. Remember you can also keep up with my shenanigans online on instagram, twitter and facebook!
Phat Man Dee
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