Pittsburgh has been a place of convergence for centuries - and an influence on generations of inventive and creative people.
Coming home for a brief stay - actor, pitchman and pianist / bandleader Jeff Goldblum - leading a special performance for Pittsburgh CLO at the Benedum Center - Saturday June 1st. The band includes Jeff on piano, John Storie - guitar, Alex Frank - bass, Joe Bagg - organ, James King and Scott Gilman - saxophones and Ryan Shaw - drums, along with featured vocalist Tawanda.
Also coming back to visit, trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III, Friday night in Indiana for the Westylvania Jazz and Blues Festival.
We play music from both of these returnees - and visit with Jeff Goldblum plus bassist and musical director for the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra Alex Frank on the Scene.
Jeff Goldblum
Jeff Goldblum tells us of his early years in Pittsburgh - of his experiences with teachers like Frank Cunimondo for piano - plus summer studies in art and theater at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, Chatham College, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and CMU.
Jeff Goldblum’s Pittsburgh roots are strong - but he moved to New York City at age 17, and then to Los Angeles a few years later. His career has been diverse and busy - from the Fly to Independence Day, Jurassic Pak, the Big Chill - Wes Anderson Films - and the Grandmaster in the MCU. Soon, you’ll see him onscreen as the Wizard in the new film adaptation of the musical Wicked.
But he’s always been playing the piano. We talk about that - and how music has been an important part of his life - and now important to his young sons.
We also visit with Alex Frank, bass player musical director for the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra for the past seven years or so. Frank has worked with a wide range of musical performers, including the Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra, Quincy Jones, Bill Holman’s big band, Benny Golson, Johnny Mandel and much more. Pittsburgh connections for Alex Frank include the player who led him to play the bass - Ray Brown. Alex Frank has also worked and recorded with Pittsburgh’s Benny Benack III.
Speaking of Benny Benack III - he opens the Westylvania Jazz and Blues Festival this weekend with a Friday May 24th - show at the Indiana Theater.
Katz Plaza Jazz returns for Tuesday nights downtown from BNY Mellon JazzLive - opening with Kenny Blake - June 11th
Also back in town this weekend, guitarist Stephane Wrembel with a special added show a the James Simon Studios on the Bluff, Friday night at 7.
Add into the busy summer music mix - jazz vocalist Nicole Zuraitis plays the Three Rivers Arts Festival at the Dollar Bank Stage, Tuesday June 4 at 7:30. Vocalist Olivia Van Goor returns to Con Alma on Sunday - and there are dozens more things to choose from at Jazz Central!
The Scene - Thursday night at 6, Friday at Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5 on WZUM.
Benny Benack III
Alex Frank and Quincy Jones