It is Summer in Pittsburgh - and we look back a few summers in the Pittsburgh Scene - with 5th anniversary celebration for Con Alma as a club and major part of the Jazz Scene in Pittsburgh.
We’ll take a look and listen back to 2019, when we first talked to John Shannon in the Spring of 2019 when the club was just starting up with all of the planning that goes into a new restaurant.
5 years ago also was when Ma Rainey’ Black Bottom was filming in Pittsburgh - and it was a busy time for musicians involved in that film, too. Along with local players, saxophonist, composer and arranger Branford Marsalis was in town a lot - and that same summer - 2019, we talked with Branford about the experience.
Fast forward to 2024, and Con Alma has moved to downtown, started a record label, is broadcast worldwide on the OH! channel and has a firm footing in the arts and music scene in Pittsburgh which is showing more than just resilience - but growth and hope.
We also celebrate recent history - last week’s Jazz on the River Boat Ride with Roger Humphries and the RH Factor, plus Hugo Cruz and Caminos and vocalist Anita Levels. It was a first-ever sellout showing, providing great music for the day - and scholarships for student at CAPA, COL and AAMI.
On this page - we also have the show from 2019 - when the Ribbon Cutting of Con Alma in Shadyside led us to visit with the three folks behind the new jazz, food and drinks spot - Amy Marshall, Josh Ross and John Shannon. We talked about the adventure of putting this new venture on the scene.
Thursday night at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5 on WZUM.
Scott Hanley and John Shannon at Con Alma, David Roth - Summer 2019
Summer 2019 - Scott Hanley, Branford Marsalis, by Michelle Kienholz