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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Heads Up: The Arts Council seeks nominations for the 2009 Work of Art Awards
2009 WORK OF ART AWARDS
PITTSBURGH, PA – The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is seeking nominations for the Work of Art Awards to be presented at a ceremony on June 1, 2009. This biennial event honors and celebrates the individuals, businesses, and organizations that support and create arts and culture in the Pittsburgh region. The deadline for nominations is February 13, 2009; nomination forms and more information can be found at www.WorkofArtAwards.com or by calling 412.391.2060.
The Arts Council is accepting nominations in the following Award Categories*:
- Creative Arts and Business Partnership
- Best Practices in Arts Management
- Working Artist
- Arts and Technology
- Excellence in Arts Education
- Public Art
*See page 2 for details on all awards that will be presented at the Work of Art Awards event.
Winners of the first Work of Art Awards in 2007 included the Institute for the Management of Creative Enterprises at Carnegie Mellon University, Union Project, Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival, Wall to Wall Studios, Robert O’Keefe and four other artists, arts organizations, and volunteers that support the arts in the Pittsburgh region.
“During tough economic times, it is even more imperative for us to recognize the outstanding leadership and creativity of artists and businesspeople who work hard to bring innovative and mutually-enriching cultural experiences to our communities,” said Mitch Swain, the Arts Council’s chief executive officer. “We are proud to honor the people behind the arts in Pittsburgh.”
Nominations will be reviewed by panels of Pittsburgh arts and business professionals. Three finalists will be chosen for each category and announced to the public in April. Winners of each award will be kept secret until the June celebration, where they will be presented with a unique piece of artwork from a local artist, commissioned specifically for the event.
The 2009 Work of Art Awards is generously sponsored by Thorp Reed & Armstrong and Giant Eagle.
WORK OF ART AWARD CATEGORIES
The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is seeking nominations for the following award categories:
Creative Arts and Business Partnership Award recognizes a successful collaboration between an arts organization and a business that furthered the interests of both parties.
Best Practices in Arts Management Award recognizes an innovative and creative arts management practice that can serve as a model for the advancement of arts and culture in the region and beyond.
Working Artist Award recognizes an individual artist who has demonstrated exceptional innovation, boldness and creativity when working on the business/promotion side of his or her art.
Arts & Technology Award honors an artist or organization that has successfully incorporated technology in a skillful or inventive way to do their artistic or management work. This award is presented in partnership with the Center for Arts Management and Technology at Carnegie Mellon University and the Pittsburgh Technology Council.
Excellence in Arts Education Award honors an individual or organization in the Pittsburgh region who has worked over time to implement excellence in arts education. This award is presented in partnership with Arts Education Collaborative and Gateway to the Arts.
Public Art Award recognizes an individual or organization's efforts in the development of a public art project that contributes to the quality of life and economic development of a Pittsburgh community.
Additional Awards
Outstanding Volunteer Award recognizes outstanding contributions of an active volunteer, firm or business from the Arts Council’s Business Volunteers for the Arts® and/or Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts programs. The honoree in this category will be chosen by Arts Council leadership based on their history of involvement with the consulting programs.
Leadership in the Arts Award recognizes an individual or organization from the business, legal, arts or civic sectors whose work has had a significant impact on the region’s cultural landscape. The honoree in this category will be chosen by Arts Council leadership.
People’s Choice Award recognizes a favorite arts or culture event and is selected through a public polling process.
Artful Attire Award will be awarded to an event attendee and will be chosen by a live voting process during the Celebratory Party.
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