September has a great number of notable Jazz Birthdays, including the 90th Birthday of Sonny Rollins on September 7th. On the program, we play some Sonny, and encourage you to read a new interview of Sonny with Lee Mergner, the former Publisher of JazzTimes Magazine (and a longtime friend). Some great stories. And great music - including a track from the classic Sonny Rollins release A Night at the Village Vanguard, a trio date that featured two other jazz masters with September birthday dates - bassist Wilbur Ware (September 8) and drummer Elvin Jones (September 9).
On a less happy note, with a connection to the Village Vanguard, there’s a new article in the New York Times about the precarious state jazz clubs are now finding themselves in during the current public health crisis and whatever may be next in the economics of music and entertainment.
Other birthday jazz notables on the program include Mel Torme (September 13, 1925) and Harry Connick Jr (September 11, 1967).
We also share some tracks from a new release by Chick Corea, blending sounds and musical genres on a two CD (and three LP) set called “Chick Corea Plays.”
Also, another genre blending pianist has returned to Pittsburgh for an extended stay, Deanna Witkowski - from modern jazz to classical to liturgical music (that swings!). Deanna will be featured at a Jazz Poetry Month event saluting Nat King Cole on September 16th.
Deanna Witkowski, Dwayne Dolphin, Thomas Wendt
Roger Humphries and the RH Factor are back at an in person setting over the weekend a Con Alma and will also be one of two groups anchoring the 34th Black Political Empowerment Project B-PEP Jazz event on September 21st. A special note - there will be live music, but audience members will need to watch and support B-PEP Jazz online this year - a very important year for supporting jazz and supporting the franchise of voting, too.
The Scene - Thursday night at six, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday afternoon at 5 on WZUM