Thursday night at 6, then again at noon on Friday and Saturday, Sunday at 5 - a look back to the past year in jazz in Pittsburgh, part one.
2019 had many great jazz performers in Pittsburgh spread their wings further, with new ensembles and new venues. Also, many great artists visited town with a lot of opportunity to not just perform in Pittsburgh, but to play with Pittsburghers.
On the program this time around, will touch on just a few of the highlights of 2019, including the opening the the new restaurant and jazz spot, Con Alma in Shadyside, plus additions and expansions at others like Kingfly Spirits and the Greer Cabaret. There were many visits by great performers from out of town, most for concerts but some for projects in town, like Branford Marsalis for the filming of the August Wilson play, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
The Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival had perfect weather and stunning performances on multiple stages as hosted by the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. Great programming was also shared by MCG Jazz, Kente Arts, the Afro American Music Institute and Lighthouse Arts, to name just a few.
2019 was also, a year of tributes - to Pittsburgh natives who have passed, like Eddie Jefferson and Art Blakey, plus living legends such as Joe Negri and Roger Humphries.
And 2019 was also a big year for WZUM - our first full year of uninterrupted broadcasts on FM 101.1 FM for Pittsburgh, and a celebration of the live music scene with jazzpgh.org for the Jazz Days of Winter and Summer - and on Jazz Central at WZUM.org. A typical month in the Pittsburgh region now has more than 200 events every month!
There’s much more to celebrate from 2019 - will do some this week and next -on WZUM!
Scott Hanley, Branford Marsalis
Cecelia Smith
Max Leake, Roger Humphries, Joe Negri, Terri Bell
Kenny Garrett