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!