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.
I´d really appreciate it if you could take the time to look at my work and leave your impressions here or in the guestbook on my homepage -http://www.miartemartagracielabressi.webs.com/- where there are more samples of my digital art works, engravings and sculptures. The web site´s in Spanish but, if you want to read the texts in English, you can access my Livejournal:
You can also visit the website we created with the Belgian jazz musician Dirk Schreurs to make our recent video art collaboration known to the world:
http://www.mindsofglass.webs.com/ ¨ Minds of Glass: ¨All visual compositions perfectly match the soundtrack’s expressive aesthetics in terms of emotional content and artistic strength” (New York/Los Angeles Independent Media Board).
Mara here. You sound great! It would be a pleasure to be able to share my music with you live, so I am writing to extend to you a personal invitation: My group, the Mara Rosenbloom Quartet will be on tour from New York City next week! We perform original jazz music, & will be kicking off our spring tour in Pittsburgh, Wed, April 14, 8:00pm @ Shadow Lounge. We make this music for sharing! So, I hope you'll be able to join us. You can have a listen at www.mararosenbloom.com, or simply write me for more info!
I'm really enjoying your site. It's great! I love what you're saying about women in jazz as my aunt was Mary Lou Williams. Keep on speaking for all those women in jazz who can't speak for themselves. Thanks for being a voice.
Bobbie@Mary Lou Williams Family and Friends
I would love to feature "you" as my guest on my show..If I am not your friend..please add me...also please call me @ the offc at 757 538 3540...757 971 3733 for details...click on the banner below to be a guest...JB
Diva JC: We are A JAZZ band with many Awards & A Grammy nomination, We live in south Central pa. We are looking For JAZZ gigs in Western pa.
I also book the Moondancer Winery JAZZ festival in York Pa in on May 23rd & 24th, you could do this.
Please check out our Web-site; www.reeseproject.com Click on the link provided;
Blessings; Tom Reese; TRP
Many options indeed, my Cellist is a professor at Millersville University & they have A JAZZ series Late Spring.
We would need a Hook-up for our Band out there to Complete the process.
blessings; Tom Reese; TRP
Maybe we could do a show about musicians who never get to retire because they don't have pensions or health insurance and they must work until they die. So many did that. Let's keep talking this is an interesting thread.