Pamela Johnson, Dr. James Johnson, Terri Bell and Deryck Tynes at the Greer Cabaret Theater, April 26, 2022
This past Tuesday night, April 26th, just before a concert by the Christian Sands Quartet, the newest honorees to receive the BNY Mellon JazzLive Legacy Award were announced and celebrated.
Dr. James Johnson and Pamela Johnson received the 2022 JazzLive Legacy Award for their work as performers and teachers, and especially for the 40 years of impact leading the Afro American Music Institute - a stalwart institution in Homewood that has taught thousands of youth and students of all ages, including Jazz Lab, the AAMI Boys Choir, and individualized instruction.
On the Scene, we celebrate with some music from Dr. J from an AAMI jam session of a few years ago, plus sound from instructors at the AAMI, such as Howie Alexander, Tony Campbell and Phat Man Dee.
This is also the culminating weekend of Jazz Appreciation Month - with World Jazz Day being observed Saturday, April 30th. There’s an online jazz concert to enjoy from the United Nations as a part of it (Saturday, 5PM ET) - plus music in Pittsburgh with a world flair, including Stefan Harris and Impact plus the steel pan sounds of the Victor Provost Ensemble at MCG Jazz.
April has seen more than 200 events in the Pittsburgh area jazz whirl, including nightlights from the aforementioned Christian Sands, plus the Stephane Wrembel Quintet and much more. Savor it at the Jazz Central Calendar.
The Scene - Thursdays at 6pm, Friday at Saturdays at noon, Sundays at 5pm on WZUM.