Recognizing jazz masters is a part of helping define the direction of jazz present and future. On the Scene, we visit with pianist Michael Weiss who is returning to Pittsburgh to play and share special insights on his good friend and mentor, the late NEA Jazz Master, pianist Barry Harris.
We talked with Michael Weiss about why Barry Harris was important, and also about how Weiss sees a new generation of students making this music modern and contemporary in their new approach and interest. Michael Weiss plays live and online at Alphabet City Thursday night October 24th with drummer Thomas Wendt and bassist Paul Thompson. The trio will also play the early set, Friday at Con Alma (5:30pm), and Michael Weiss will share a special listening session at the Morgan-Lee Arts Center, hosted by Lighthouse Arts, Saturday afternoon at 1.
Next week marks the return of Pitt Jazz with the the 54th Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concert - including a special Concert Tuesday night at 7 at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Hill District, paying tribute to the multifaceted saxophonist and composer Sam Rivers.
Pitt Music Chair A J Johnson leads the Pitt Community Collaborative Jazz Orchestra (PCCJO) along with guest musicians Joseph Daley (tuba) and Steve Coleman (saxophone), Doug Mathews (bass & clarinet) and Craig Harris (trombone) who worked with Sam during his years in Orlando.
Rivers passed away in 2011, and it was recently announced that his archives have been acquired by the University of Pittsburgh Library System. The archive includes hundreds of scores and unreleased audio and video recordings. We’ll share sounds from Sam Rivers’ first release - 1965’s Fuchsia Swing Song - which also featured pianist Jackie Byard, Tony Williams - drums and Ron Carter - bass. Pitt Jazz Week will also include the Saturday November 2nd Concert at Bellefield Hall with great bassist and composer Reggie Workman and Pittsburgh's own percussion master Roger Humphries, plus Jessica Boykin Settles, vocals; Ingrid Jensen, trumpet; Aaron J. Johnson, trombone; Jeff Parker, guitar; Brian Settles, tenor saxophone; Chad Taylor, drums; Sumi Tonooka, piano; Immanuel Wilkins, alto saxophone.
Coming up later in November - Benny Benack III shares sounds of broadway and the great American Songbook at the Byham Theater on Tuesday November 12th with the touring show “Some Enchanted Evening.” We’ll here a recent track from Benny - and also have a feature interview with him next week.
Plus, new music from Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh adjacent jazz notables Theron Brown, Tania Grubbs and the John Shannon Organ Trio.
The Scene - Thursday at 6pm, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday afternoon at 5.
Theron Brown by Rick Finkelstein
John Shannon