Autumn is in full color, the jazz scene continue to bring warm sounds to Pittsburgh - and we took the time to do some Autumnal sorting in the studio.
And we came across an old disc from our dear departed friend Lou Tracey - a Pittsburgh jazz regular and lyricist who passed away in 2016. The CD was not for sale, but of various songs with his lyrics done by a number of notables - from Sandy Staley and Maureen Budway to Joyce Breach, Opie Bellas, Donna Bailey and more.
We will need to catch up with Joe Negri (who wrote music for more than 30 songs with Lou) and David Budway to put a more complete appreciation together, soon.
We’ll hear vocalist Joyce Breach with the Jerry Melega Trio and Joe Negri and that tune “Music is My Best Friend” from a 1994 release called "Songbird.” We’ll also turn to pianist and singer David Budway from his recent CD project “The Jazz Piano Man.”
Then - we proceed to a number of new releases - several by Pittsburgh area artists or frequent visitors:
Aimée Allen
Bobby Watson
Judith Owen
Reid Hoyson with Hendrik Meurkens
Duochrome (Jared Sims and Brian Thomas)
Manhattan Transfer
The Baylor Project
And we pull out an old favorite dedicated to the season from pianist, composer and singer Bob Dorough.
Some Things Old, Some Things New, Some Things Lou (Tracey) on the Scene on WZUM
The Scene - an hourlong radio show - Thursday night at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5 on WZUM
A beloved disc of Lou Tracey tunes, discovered (with his lapel button icon on the cover).
