WZUM Jazz Pittsburgh

View Original

The Scene: Jazz to be Thankful for around Valentine's Day

February is the shortest month, but it makes us think of Thanksgiving with all the great riches we can go enjoy during the mere 28 days.

Jeff Goldblum

We hope you know about the Pittsburgh Jazz Days of Winter and the collaboration around PGHJazz.org - an amazing celebration of more than 60 jazz gigs in our region over just 8 days. Yet the celebration is starting a bit early, with 11 jazz performances on Valentine’s night, alone. Check it out at Jazz Central!

We’ll feature some of it on The Scene - including the homecoming return of Actor and Pittsburgh Native Jeff Goldblum. Who’s also a pianist who studied in Pittsburgh and came to embrace jazz with the legendary Frank Cunimondo - they BOTH appear in Pittsburgh at their own gigs on Valentine’s Day.

There’s a great article chronicling the story behind this tale in the Post-Gazette this week. JazzTimes had a really good story on all this in December, too. And the Irish Times chimed in in January.

Jeff Goldblum plays piano with Gregory Porter for his latest jazz single, Mona Lisa. All rights belong to the BBC.

As we mention on the show, there’s a great video of Jeff Goldblum from the Graham Norton show in England, where Jeff became accompanist to vocalist Gregory Porter - who’s playing in Pittsburgh on February 17th.

Nellie McKay credit Shervin Lainez

Gregory Porter

We also share sounds from Saxophonist Jared Sims, with a great new recording - he leads the Jazz Program at West Virginia University. And Trombonist Reggie Watkins - who plays all over the world and calls Pittsburgh home.

And vocalist Nellie McKay, at the Warhol, Friday, February 15.

So hearts and flowers everybody, but we’re pretty thankful for the great jazz scene! And, a reminder about the Pittsburgh Jazz Days of Winter, later this month!

The Scene - Thursdays at 6pm, Sundays at 5pm on WZUM.

This is a video taken from The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson with special musical guest, jazz pianist, Frank Cunimondo. This episode was filmed in the summer of 1963. The Show was broadcast nationally and recorded at Rockefeller Plaza, NYC. This video was kept in a basement storage area at Frank Cunimondo's mother's house since first produced till now.
Jeff Goldblum shows off the jazz lingo he acquired while recording 'The Capitol Studio Sessions,' an album he put together with The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.