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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.