Coming on WZUM AM/FM, a peak at a careful, yet enthusiastic jazz reopening in Pittsburgh. Hear it Thursday night at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5.
With the lifting of many of the COVD-19 mitigation protocols in the Pittsburgh region, a great reopening of sorts is in the works in the Jazz Scene.
Terri Bell of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Scott Hanley of WZUM - who spoke on March 10, 2020 about what was planned, before the lockdown. 14 months later, new plans and more great events are the 2021 topic at hand.
This is not without some loss - the passing of some dear friends, the permanent closing of several venues, and the care an caution that is fitting for coming out of such challenging times.
Katz Plaza, 2019
Still, Jazz finds a way - and in Pittsburgh, that means the annual Jazz Boat Cruise and educational fundraiser hosted by drummer, bandleader and educator Roger Humpries is making a return to the Gateway Clipper fleet on August 22nd, noon to 4. More details will be available, soon, but we caught up with Roger for the radio to make it official.
Another tradition returning is the harbinger of Summer in the Cultural District - BNY Mellon presents Pittsburgh Jazz Live Tuesdays are back - this summer at a new location - the Popup Park “Allegheny Overlook” - using two lanes of Ft. Duquesne Blvd on the South Shore of the Allegheny River, just west of the Roberto Clemente Bridge - with food, drinks, seating and live jazz on Tuesdays - July 6th through September 7th.
We visited with Terri Bell of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to learn more, and also learn about the rescheduled show by vocalist Kurt Elling coming to the Greer Cabaret, October 26th (it had been scheduled for Spring of 2020, but had to be postponed).
The RH Factor, June 30, 2019 on the river
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, a special weekend of Juneteeth Celebrations in Pittsburgh in June, an new Fall season at MCG Jazz, plus special events downtown at the Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park University in collaboration with MCG Jazz.
Roger Humphries
On the Ohio River, June 30, 2019
Earlier, WZUM’s Scott Hanley caught up with Con Alma’s Josh Ross, executive Chef and one of the three owners of the venture. We visited the space at 613 Penn Avenue, downtown, with Josh, along with designers and workers who are bringing the place into a total refit for the June Launch
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.
Jazz Endures in Pittsburgh, and on the air with WZUM!
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 much, much more.
