Kosi

Two chances to hear this fantastic jazz vocalist this weekend in Pittsburgh:


Friday, April 29, 9:30PM
The Park House
403 E Ohio Street

Saturday, April 30, 7:00PM
Brew on Broadway
1557 Broadway Avenue
with Amy Mmhmm

Cuban Jazz Piano Playlist

Chuchito Valdés

Cabaret at Theater Square
655 Penn Ave.

Tuesday, April 26, 8:00PM

I've updated my Cuban Jazz Pianist playlist:

Jazz Guide to TrustArts' Gallery Crawl

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Gallery Crawl
Friday, April 22
5:30PM-10:00PM - Free

Peirce Studio
Jazz Lounge
805-807 Liberty Avenue

• Ben Barson/John Bagnato Duo (Pitt Jazz/Department of Music)
• Nick DeCesare Trio
• Joe Bad Project

Culture
7th Street & Penn Avenue

• Tony Campbell and Howie Alexander

Backstage Bar
655 Penn Avenue

• Jeremy Fisher Trio

Jazz is Phish

Jazz is Phish
Wednesday, 4/20/2016, 8:00PM
The Rex Theater 
1602 E Carson St,
$15-$20, 18 and over
More Details

College Week

Duquesne Jazz Ensemble
Tuesday, 4/19 7:30PM
Pappert Center
600 Forbes Avenue
$10
More Details

Pitt Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert
Wednesday, 4/20 8:00PM
Bellefield Hall Auditorium
315 S. Bellefield Avenue
$10, Students $5
More Details

CMU Jazz Orchestra
Thursday, 4/21 8:00PM
Carnegie Music Hall
4400 Forbes Avenue
$10, Students Free
More Details

Matthew Shipp and Michael Bisio

First Unitarian Church
605 Morewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Monday, 4/18 7:30PM
$16 in advance, $20 at the door.

More Details

Pittsburgh Jazz Calendar (Week of 3/28/2016)

March 28 - April 3, 2016

Highlights:

• B-PEP (the Black Political Empowerment Project) presents their 11th annual jazz marathon fundraiser featuring Roger Humphries and the RH Factor, the Tim Stevens/Leonard Johnson Project and over 50 guest artists. 
• Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra brings in jazz flutist Hubert Laws to perform at MCG Jazz.

More...

Pittsburgh Jazz Calendar (Week of 3/21/2016)

March 21 - 27, 2016

Highlights:

• Jazz trained taiko master Kenny Endo interweaves traditional Japanese percussion with jazz drumming.  Catch his show at MCG Jazz on Thursday. 
• Concord Jazz Ensemble lead by vibraphonist Andy Reamer of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, performs compositions by master pianists at James Street's Speakeasy on Wednesday. 

More...

New Ground - Contemporary Big Band

Here's a playlist of contemporary big band jazz inspired by the big band shows in Pittsburgh this weekend:

Thursday - The Duquesne Jazz Ensemble presents the Music of Motown.
Friday - The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra presents the music of Leonard Bernstein at MCG Jazz.
Saturday - Big Band Festival:  Pitt Jazz Ensemble hosts the Jazz Ensembles of Carnegie Mellon University, West Virginia University, CAPA Middle and High Schools, and Upper St. Clair High School.

Pittsburgh Jazz Calendar (Week of 3/14/2016)

March 14 - 20, 2016

Highlights:

It's Big Band Week in Pittsburgh!:

• On Thursday - The Duquesne Jazz Ensemble presents the Music of Motown.
• On Friday  - MCG Jazz hosts the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra with their tribute to the music of Leonard Bernstein (Saturday show SOLD OUT).
• On Saturday - Pitt Jazz Ensemble hosts their Big Band Festival featuring jazz ensembles from Carnegie Mellon University and West Virginia University, as well as CAPA Middle and High Schools and Upper St. Clair High School..
• If you've not had enough by the time next Monday rolls around, and you're willing to drive a bit out of town, you can catch Balcony Big Band at Jergels.

More...

Confessin' - Lizz Wright, Jazz Singer

Kente Arts Alliance is bringing neo-soul vocalist Lizz Wright to the August Wilson Center on Saturday, 3/12.

This is a playlist that compiles some of her jazzier tracks:

 

A Mellow Tone - Guitar and Bass Duos

Inspired by the Philip Catherine and Martin Wind show this Sunday night at MCG Jazz, this is a playlist of guitar and bass duos.

A track from Catherine and Wind's album is included and a collaboration between Catherine and his countryman Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen called "The Puzzle" closes out the set (the highlight of the playlist IMO). Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, and many other greats are included as well.

 

Pittsburgh Jazz Calendar (Week of 3/7/2016)

March 7 - 13, 2016

Highlights:

• The Afro-American Music Institute celebrates its 33rd Anniversary with the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble and the AAMI Youth Jazz Ensemble.
• The Hot Sardines bring old-time jazz  to MCG Jazz (think Postmodern Jukebox without the irony).
• Kente Arts Alliance presents neo-soul vocalist Lizz Wright at the August Wilson Center.
• CAPA Jazz Cabaret at the SAVOY, a fundraiser for Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts 6-12 school.

More...

Sing, Sing, Sing - Classic Vocalese

Inspired by the Blue-Hots playing at James Street this Saturday, I've been listening to vocalese all week.

Pittsburgh born Eddie Jefferson is generally credited with being the primary innovator of the vocalese style and Jon Hendricks popularized it (primarily with the popular group Lambert Hendricks and Ross), so they're well-represented on this playlist.

Yes, I included a Monkees track.  I make no apologies.

Pittsburgh Jazz Calendar (Week of 2/29/16)

February 29 - March 6, 2016

Highlights:

• Geri Allen performs Mary Lou Williams' Zodiac Suite with Pitt's Symphony Orchestra.
• McKenna Productions present a sampler of their artists (Orrin Evans, Marcus Strickland, Darryl Tookes, Gregory Generet, Dominick Farinacci, Luques Curtis, and Donald Edwards) performing for a live recording at MCG Jazz.
• Organist Cory Henry promoting his new album "The Revival" at Rex Theater.
• Blue-Hots at James Street - How often to you get a chance to hear live vocalese?

More...

Pittsburgh Jazz Calendar (Week of 2/22 - 2/28, 2016)

February 22-28, 2016

Highlights This Week:

• George Lewis in Residence - a week of events at Pitt.
• Jeff "Tain" Watts - at Kelly Strayhorn on Saturday.
• Savion Glover and Jack DeJohnette - an evening of jazz and tap dance at MCG Jazz on Friday.
• Boilermaker Jazz Band - a tribute to Benny Goodman on Friday, and Swing City dance on Saturday.
• Richie Cole - New CD "Pittsburgh" release party at James Street on Sunday.

Fly Time Fly - Gary Burton

Vibraphonist Gary Burton will be playing with the Mack Avenue SuperBand this Saturday at MCG Jazz.

For #ThrowbackThursday, here's a playlist of some of the highlights from his first recordings (both as leader and sideman) from over 50 years ago:

This Week's Shows (2/15/2016)

February 15-21, 2016

Hear vocalist Shawnee Lake as she reopens the Monday Jazz series at Savoy, and catch saxophonist Don Aliquo at James Street Gastropub on Friday. 

MONDAY 2/15

 Shawnee Lake w/ the Roger Humphries Trio
Savoy

8:00PM

TUESDAY 2/16

Joe Sheehan

Backstage Bar at Theater Grill

5:00PM

Reggie Watkins

Thunderbird Cafe

9:00PM

WEDNESDAY 2/17

RML Jazz
Walnut Grill, Robinson Twp.
7:00PM

Heather Kropf

Andys Bar

7:30PM

John Hall Band

Tana Ethiopian Cuisine

8:30PM

THURSDAY 2/18

Tania Grubbs

Andys Bar

7:30PM

Duquesne Jazz Ensemble

Pappert Center

7:30PM

Roger Humphries Jam Session

James Street Gastropub (Ballroom)

8:00PM

FRIDAY 2/19

Max Leake Trio

Sweetwater Center for the Arts

7:00PM

Anqwenique Wingfield

Andys Bar
8:00PM

Don Aliquo and Friends

James Street Gastropub

8:00PM

SATURDAY 2/20

Mack Avenue SuperBand

MCG Jazz

6:00PM and 8:30PM

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble

First Unitarian Church
6:30PM

Jazz Bean

The Club Bar & Grill
7:00PM

Etta Cox

Andys Bar

8:00PM

TRAVLIN'

James Street Gastropub

8:00PM

The Song is You - Dane Vannatter

Dane Vannatter is performing this Saturday at James Street. It's a good opportunity to hear classic vocal jazz in a proper venue instead of a busy hotel lobby or noisy casino.

 

This Week's Shows (2/08/2016)

February 8-14, 2016

MONDAY 2/8

 Ben Goldberg's Invisible Guy Trio

Thunderbird Cafe

8:00PM

TUESDAY 2/9

James Johnson III

Backstage Bar at Theater Grill

5:00PM

Phat Man Dee

Chaz and Odette

6:00PM

Thoth Trio

Thunderbird Cafe

9:00PM

WEDNESDAY 2/10

RML Jazz
NOLA on the Square
7:00PM

Judi Figel

Andys Bar

7:30PM

John Hall Band

Tana Ethiopian Cuisine

8:30PM

THURSDAY 2/11

Bronwyn Wyatt Higgins
Andys Bar

7:30PM

Mark Strickland and Friends

James Street Gastropub

8:00PM

Roger Humphries Jam Session

James Street Gastropub (Ballroom)

8:00PM

FRIDAY 2/12

Jazz Surgery w/ Tony Campbell
Culture Restaurant and Lounge
5:30PM

Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

MCG Jazz
7:00PM and 9:30PM

Betty Douglas & Co.

Sweetwater Center for the Arts

7:00PM

Kenia

Andys Bar
8:00PM

Kenny Blake Trio

Rivers Casino

9:00PM

SATURDAY 2/13

Isaiah Small

James Street Gastropub

7:00PM

The Holidays and Southside Jerry
The Liedertafel Club
7:00PM

Tubby Daniels and Sandra Green

The Club Bar & Grill
7:00PM

Boilermakers Jazz Band

Wightman School Community Building
8:00PM

Dane Vannatter

James Street Gastropub
8:00PM

Lisa Bleil

Andys Bar

8:00PM

SUNDAY 2/14

Maria Becoates-Bey

Andys Bar

7:00PM

Welcome to the Party - Afro-Cuban Jazz

For those planning on hearing Arturo O'Farrill perform at MCG Jazz next Friday (2/12), here's an Afro-Cuban Jazz playlist to set the tone.

It features Arturo O'Farrill, his father Chico, and all the luminaries of the Afro-Cuban Jazz genre one would expect.  It's mostly limited to large ensembles to better represent the show on Friday - expect some notable omissions by smaller combos to end up on a future playlist.

This Week's Shows (2/1/2016)

February 1-7, 2016

TUESDAY 2/2

George Jones New View Trio

Backstage Bar at Theater Grill

5:00PM

WEDNESDAY 2/3

Don Aliquo Jr. Trio

James Street Gastropub

7:00PM

Shari Richards

Andys Bar

7:30PM

John Hall Band
Tana Ethiopian Cuisine

8:30PM

THURSDAY 2/4

Clare Ascani

Andys Bar

7:30PM

MVT with The Chop Shop

James Street Gastropub

8:00PM

Roger Humphries Jam Session

James Street Gastropub (Ballroom)

8:00PM

FRIDAY 2/5

George Jones New View Trio

James Street Gastropub
7:00PM

Cadillac Club

Sweetwater Center for the Arts

7:00PM

Jessica Lee and Mark Strickland's
Rhythm Jazz and Blues Fusion

James Street Gastropub

8:00PM

Spanky Wilson

Andys Bar

8:00PM

SATURDAY 2/6

Roger Barbour Jazz Trio
Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church
6:30PM

Jazz Bean
The Club Bar & Grill
7:00PM

Tania Grubbs

Andys Bar

8:00PM

Ain't No Gong Show - Roger Humphries

This Saturday (1/30) is Roger Humphries' birthday.

If you're going to Roger Humphries Jam Session at the James Street Gastropub on Thursday, be sure to wish him a Happy Birthday.

This playlist features some (but by no means all) of the great drumming performances on albums where he played as a session musician as well as his own albums:

Ramón Valle show canceled

The Ramón Valle show has been canceled.

From Marty Ashby at MCG Jazz:

I am so sorry to inform you that the Ramón Valle concert next Saturday, January 30, 2016, is not going to take place.  The Visas for the musicians have been delayed and thus all of the concerts scheduled for Ramón’s US tour are not possible at this time.  We are looking to reschedule the concert once the Visas are cleared and specific dates can be determined.

Complete statement here.

This Week's Shows (1/25/16)

January 25-31, 2016
MONDAY 1/25

Jazz Jam with Reggie Watkins and Friends

Brew on Broadway

7:30PM

TUESDAY 1/26

Eric Johnson

Backstage Bar at Theater Grill

5:00PM

David Throckmorton Birthday Concert

Thunderbird Cafe

9:00PM

WEDNESDAY 1/27

Tania Grubbs

Andys Bar

7:30PM

THURSDAY 1/28

Judi Figel

Andys Bar

7:30PM

Duquesne Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Workshop

Pappert Center, Duquesne University

7:30PM

Roger Humphries Jam Session

James Street Gastropub (Ballroom)

8:00PM

FRIDAY 1/29

The Resonance Trio

Sweetwater Center for the Arts

7:00PM

Mark Strickland Duo

James Street Gastropub (Dining Room)

7:00PM

Andy Fite

Andys Bar

8:00PM

SATURDAY 1/30

Eric Johnson

Wicked Fox
7:00PM

The Rhythm Machine w/ Bill Henry
The Club Bar & Grill
7:00PM

Tony Campbell & Friends 
Perform Miles Davis' Bitches Brew

James Street Gastropub

8:00PM

Anqwenique Wingfield

Andys Bar

8:00PM

Ramon Valle (CANCELED)

MCG Jazz

Crossing the Border - Jazz Pianists from Cuba

Ramón Valle

Manchester Craftmen's Guild

8:00pm, Saturday, January 30th, 2016

I created a Spotify playlist inspired by the upcoming Ramon Valle show at MCG.  

The playlist has Valle plus 10 other Cuban jazz pianists from Afro-Cuban jazz legend Bebo Valdés to 30 year old Alfredo Rodriguez. 

 The first three tracks all feature Ernesto Simpson on drums.

This Week's Shows (1/18/16)

January 18-24, 2016

TUESDAY 1/19

Thomas Wendt

Backstage Bar at Theater Grill

5:00PM

Harper/Grubbs/Throckmorton

Thunderbird Cafe

9:00PM

WEDNESDAY 1/20

Charles Wallace

NOLA on the Square

7:00PM

Maura Minteer

Andys Bar

7:30PM

Andreas Kapsalis

w/ Daryl Shawn and Pairdown

Thunderbird Cafe

9:00PM

THURSDAY 1/21

Dane Vannatter

Andys Bar

7:30PM

Roger Humphries Jam Session

James Street Gastropub (Ballroom)

8:00PM

FRIDAY 1/22

Boilermakers Jazz Band

James Street Gastropub (Ballroom)

7:00PM

Lori Russo Trio

James Street Gastropub

7:00PM

Kenia

Andys Bar

8:00PM

Etta Cox Trio

Levels at River Casino

9:00PM

SATURDAY 1/23

Kyle Greene

James Street Gastropub

7:00PM

Mark Pipas

Andys Bar

8:00PM

Boilermakers Jazz Band

Wightman School Community Building

8:00PM