A sneak preview of the Jazz Summer - Con Alma, downtown

After a fairly long, hard winter, the hopes of Spring were bolstered for Pittsburgh Jazz fans with the announcement of an expansions of regular musical outlets - specifically, Con Alma in Shadyside, adding to their Ellsworth Avenue success story with a new, larger venue in downtown Pittsburgh.

WZUM’s Scott Hanley caught up with Josh Ross, executive Chef and one of the three owners of the venture (along with John Shannon and Aimee Marshall), and in a time of COVID mitigation protocols, a shape of the future is revealed.

In February, we learned of the announced expansion into the former Peter Allen location at 613 Penn Avenue, downtown - and now, we got to visit the space with Josh Ross, along with designers and workers who are bringing the place into a total refit for a June Launch

The change has been made even more dramatic with the announcement by the state of an opening of indoor venues to 100% capacity as long as protocols are still followed. - The Wolf administration, in coordination with the COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force, announced that mitigation orders except masking will be lifted on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at 12:01 AM.

That means the new Con Alma, Downtown, will have capacity for more than 100 patrons, with live music 5 nights a week, in the heart of the Cultural District. Add that to plans for the September dates for the Pittsburgh international Jazz Festival 2021 September 17-21 (Janis Burley Wilson shared a sneak preview with us, earlier), the return of the Monroeville Jazz Festival in September, plus some special events already on tap in Indiana, PA for a Memorial Day weekend return for the Westylvania Jazz and Blues Festival, plus a special weekend of Juneteeth Celebrations in Pittsburgh in June, special events from MCG Jazz and much more to come.

In this weeks episode of the Scene, we visit with Josh Ross at the downtown location, chat with Camden Leeds, the Designer of the new venue, and happen to see trumpeter and sound consultant JD Chaisson (of the Steel City Horns), who’s helping with the sounds system. Plus, Sarah Grossman, working with Colin Carrier of London Pattern Metalworks, creating a fascinating new copper-clad bar.

We will do the tour on the radio, but we also have a bunch of pictures, here — Enjoy!

You can keep track at Jazz Central on the schedules for Con Alma, MCGJazz, Kingfly Spirits, the Tryp Hotel, the Helltown Taproom, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and more.

Jazz Endures in Pittsburgh, and on the air with WZUM!

The Entrance to Downtown

Coming in from the point, things are clearly not busy at 9am on Thursday, May 6

The New Sign, Downtown

Con Alma takes over the former Peter Allen location, 613 Penn Ave, Downtown. Josh Ross, of the three owners, is on the phone, outside, waiting for us.

Con Alma - viewing the Bar and Vinyl Listening Space

From the Stage toward the bar

From the Vinyl Listening Space

The bar and listening lounge is larger than the whole dining room at the Ellsworth Ave Location. Looking toward the stage.

Another look at the Stage

From the front, the stage

The Bar with the Copper Top

Vinyl goes here

Copper Top Bar

Copper top crafted by Colin Carrier of London Pattern Metalworks

Copper

From the kitchen to the front

The stage to the left, the front entrance, straight ahead

Looking back from the front toward the kitchen

Stage to the right

JD Chaisson holds not a trumpet

Trumpeter JD Chaisson also works in sound reinforcement and will help put speakers around the venue.

Looking back from the front

The capacity of the restaurant and lounge seating, together will be more than 100.

Aimee Marshall, Josh Ross, John Shannon