One of the last touring jazz performers at the Greer Cabaret in downtown Pittsburgh was vocalist Jane Monheit. A veteran singer with many recordings under her name, she took the time during the COVID-19 lockdown to spend more time with her child and also to plan a new recording.

We visited with Jane to talk about the new project, Come What May. It features classic tunes from the jazz and musical theater canon, including tunes she felt she was finally ready to sing for a recording - such as Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life.”

As to live performing, Jane and many other musicians are on the lookout for venues and dates, and finding more and more are ready.

In Pittsburgh, the news from the state Health Department has changed many plans - as of Memorial Day, indoor venues will be allowed to open to full capacity (as long as masking is adhered to as proscribed), and the masking protocols will be lifted once the adult populations in Pennsylvania reach 70% vaccination.

Some major events have already been scheduled to later in the year - the Pittsburgh international Jazz Festival 2021, September 17-21 (Janis Burley Wilson shared a sneak preview with us, earlier), plus the return of the Monroeville Jazz Festival on September 4th.

Coming very soon, to Indiana, PA - A Memorial Day weekend return for the Delaney Chevrolet Westsylvania Jazz & Blues Festival all day on Saturday, May 29th at the IRMC Park in downtown Indiana.

There’s also a Jazz day for the Juneteenth Celebrations on June 24th at Point State Park.

There’s much more being shared with WZUM every day, and we are rushing to keep track of it all. Check the calendar 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!