We take a look ahead to things coming up on the next couple of weeks - gleaned from the Jazz Central Calendar - and there’s much more to find in this waning jazz days of summer.

We’ll also take a look back to June, around the start of Summer - when the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the City of Duquesne and many other community members shared in the unveiling of a marker to commemorate the home of the father of modern jazz piano, Duquesne Native Earl “Fatha” Hines. June 18, 2024 - and we wanted to share the moment one more time.

We also look toward the August 31st Monroeville Jazz Festival - the 21st Annual - noon til 8pm on that Saturday - featuring Roger Barbour, Dennis Garner and Tempo Noir, Theron Brown, the Norside Organ Trio - and, just back from a European tour, the John Shannon Organ Trio (with Cliff Barnes and James Johnson III).

Plus the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival returns, free and on the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh, September 20-22nd (there’s even a jazz train and a “Taste of Jazz” event in the mix)

Also, vocalist April Varner has a new release out - and plays Con Alma - August 27th.

On June 18, 2024, the City of Duquesne was proud to unveil a new Pennsylvania Historical Marker at the home of the father of modern Jazz Piano, Earl “Fatha” Hines, 11am at 600 Priscilla Avenue, Duquesne, PA 15110. WZUM was delighted to be there, and we celebrate it on the radio - and you can see the event online, too!

WZUM has produced special programing celebrating HInes’ career and Pittsburgh roots which can be found at this link.

Earl “Fatha” Hines” was a major jazz figure from Duquesne who influenced the musical world. Called “Fatha” because he was, from early in his career, considered the father of what became jazz piano.

His work in light classical and popular music with Lois Deppe’s Serenaders was notable in Pittsburgh - The Serenaders are considered the first “swing band” in the history of Pittsburgh - cited as performing at Pittsburgh's Paramount Inn as early as 1919, leading to recordings in the early 1920’s.

There are more than a few reports of Earl Hines and Lois Deppe being the first two African Americans to perform on the radio - on KDKA in 1921

A few years later, around 1925, at the strong encouragement of composer and pianist Eubie Blake, Earl Hines left for Chicago - and collaborations over the next few years led him to make seminal recordings with Louis Armstrong - tunes like Weather Bird and the West End Blues - around 1928.

Earl Hines went on to be a star performer and bandleader on his own - and an influence on Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, Nat “King” Cole and legions more.

His big band featured as many as 28 players - and included the likes of Pittsburgh’s own Billy Eckstine and Art Blakey, plus Budd Johnson, Ray Nance, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Gene Ammons, Trummy Young and Sarah Vaughan. His other performances an collaborations went on for decades more - including a headlining feature for the All-Star Tribute to Duke Ellington at the White House in 1969 - and touring with his own band that featured Pittsburgh area native Marva Jose for the last 16 years of his performing career.

The Scene - Thursday at 6pm, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday afternoon at 5.

Program Playlist