Looking back to 2022, there were passings of jazz artists we remember - and also looking forward to the legacy that continues.
Originally, we were going to do a show about artists who passed away - especially from a Pittsburgh perspective, but as we started to put things together we though remembrance with a nod to the future was more appropriate - especially with a Pittsburgh connection we were pleased to revisit.
Pittsburgh born and raised bassist, teacher and producer Mickey Bass died in New York February 4, 2022. He was 78. A graduate of Schenley High School, Bass did not record often as a leader - but we did manage to get a vinyl copy of his 1981 date with John Hicks, Mickey Tucker and Chico Freeman. He played and recorded with Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins, Bennie Green, George Cables, Carmen McRae, Gloria Lynne and more. His students at Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC included Wallace Roney, and young performers Wynton and Branford Marsalis played in his bands before they went on the road with Art Blakey.
This year also so the passing of many with connections to jazz - from producer Creed Taylor, organist and multi instrumentalist Joey DeFrancesco, pianist Ramsey Lewis, and recent performer at the 2022 Pittsburgh Blues and Heritage Festival, Walter Wolfman Washington. We’ll have a comprehensive list up on this website, soon.
There are also many things to look forward to, set in motion in many ways by those who have come before. And that includes touring artists and folks from here who are making special things happen - and many, we just learned about this week!
The Count Basie Orchestra led by Scotty Barnhart visits the Robins Theatre in nearby Warren Ohio along with vocalist Vanessa Rubin - Sunday night at 6.
Lighthouse Arts is reviving their multi-generational music project with a concert at Alphabet City on the Northside, Sunday November 15.
Bassist Eli Naragon has a new CD project out and has a special event on Friday the 13th at Con Alma with Roger Humphries, Tommy Lehman, Theron Brown, and Nathan Paul Davis.
Coming in February - Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III bring their trumpet and vocal chops to the Byham Theater with young stars from Jazz at Lincoln Center - Wednesday February 22nd.
And vocalist Vanisha Gould comes to the August Wilson Center for a Friday show on February 10th.
One last lookback to note - it was two years ago, January 6th that our friend and jazz radio leader Tony Mowod passed. We are honored that his family has allowed and encouraged WZUM to continue sharing some of his archive shows on the station to this day.
The Scene - an hourlong radio show - Thursday night at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5 on WZUM
1981 Mickey Bass
Benny Benack III, Bria Skonberg
Tony Mowod
Vanessa Rubin
