The Spring season has jazz in bloom in Pittsburgh - including a return to Pittsburgh by iconic guitarist Al Di Meola with a return to his “roots” in the 70’s.
We had the chance to talk with Al about what he’s up to and what to look forward to with his upcoming show Wednesday, April 9th at the Oaks Theater in Oakmont, where he’ll revisit the times that started when he was a teenager, hired by Chick Corea to replace Bill Connors in the pioneering jazz fusion band Return to Forever with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. The story of how that happened includes having others be your champion without you knowing at all!
Al Di Meola as speaks about his being a champion for the innovative guitarist Stanley Jordan a decade or so later.
We also play music from the new national releases by Pittsburgh’s Max Leake and Pittsburgh denizen Reggie Watkins. Reggie has a gig to celebrate his new release on March 29th at his adopted home of Carnegie at the music hall at the Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall.
Which leads us West Virginia native (Piedmont) Don Redman. The legendary saxophonist and bandleader grew up mostly in the Maryland panhandle. Early on in his career, Don Redman traveled north in 1920 to play with Billy Page's Broadway Syncopators from Pittsburgh - and then moved on to worldwide jazz acclaim. He was the uncle of saxophonist Dewey Redman, and thus great-uncle of saxophonist Joshua Redman.
Joshua Redman and his group with vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa at MCG Jazz April 5th.
We hear strings with the Occidental Gypsy - playing Con Alma, March 29.
The Scene - Thursday night at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5 on WZUM.
Al Di Meola