We visit with pianist Bill Cunliffe, whose new TRIO release features a blowing session on jazz tunes with bassist John Patitucci and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta.

Bill was last in Pittsburgh for a trio date at the Heinz Chapel in January of 2018 with Bassist Dwayne Dolphin and drummer Thomas Wendt. We talked about his years in the music business, his studies with Mary Lou Williams at Duke University, and how things have been in the past year and what’s up, next.

Bill and his wife, Wendy, recent shared a youtube video of Bill performing the Mary Lou Williams composition, Baby Man.

We also share sounds from a brand new release by the innovative, Pittsburgh-based group, the Afro Yaqui Music Collective called Maroon Futures.

Plus, a new find for a great thank-you gift for fans and supporters of WZUM - One of our favorite records of all time is Quincy Jones, The Quintessence. The tune “For Lena and Lennie” served as the theme for Tony Mowod’s Nightside for decades. We wanted to offer it as a thank you gift, but it is out of print.

However, a recent 2019 reissue has put together The Quintessence with 7 other classic Quincy Jones jazz albums - from a 1956 date with the Art Farmer Septet through his 1963 exploration of the music of Alquippa’s Henry Mancini. You’ll be hearing more of it in the weeks to come!

We also update the Pittsburgh Jazz Scene and play an innovative track from Mary Lou Williams from the 1950’s that features her great piano work along with guitarist Mundell Lowe and trumpeter Idrees Suliman.

A nice way to celebrate jazz during Jazz Appreciation Month - from your station that appreciates jazz, with you, every day and every night - WZUM.

The Scene - Thursday at 6pm, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday afternoon at 5.