Pitt Jazz Ensemble - 52nd Annual Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concerts

KICKOFF PERFORMANCE: Pitt Jazz Ensemble Concert

The student-based Jazz Ensemble will perform under the direction of Ralph Guzzi.

Lower Lounge, William Pitt Union

3959 Fifth Ave.

The 52nd annual Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concert, which runs Oct. 31 through Nov. 5, 2022, will feature performances by national artists and regional musicians, a gift to the Pitt Jazz Archives, a jazz film, panel discussion, community workshop, a presentation by a visiting scholar and five concerts. All events, including the concerts, are free to the public.

Pianist Dave Burrell will perform with his own trio. Saxophonist Tia Fuller will lead a group of Pittsburgh-area musicians, be featured at the Pitt Jazz Faculty concert, and host a community workshop.

“With the theme of ‘We are All Jazz Messengers,’ our event seeks to invoke the spirit of Pittsburgh drummer and bandleader Art Blakey, whose Jazz Messengers were devoted to spreading the word of jazz and its powers to enlighten and delight audiences,” according to Aaron Johnson, assistant professor and interim director of the Jazz Studies Program.

EVENING JAZZ PRESENTATIONS

Tuesday, Nov. 1

8 p.m.

Bellefield Hall Auditorium

315 S. Bellefield Ave.

52nd Annual Pitt Jazz Concert

The Dave Burrell Trio, featuring Hamid Drake (drums) and Joshua Abrams (bass) along with Nicole Mitchell (flute).

There will be a presentation to Pitt of the Dave Burrell Archive at this event.

Wednesday, Nov. 2

7:30 p.m.

Cathedral of Learning, Room G24

Film Screening: We Knew What We Had: The Greatest Jazz Story Never Told (2018)

Written and directed by Jeff Sewald. Producer Marty Ashby will introduce the film and answer questions afterwards.

Thursday, Nov. 3

7:30 p.m.

Frick Fine Arts Auditorium

650 Schenley Drive

Chamber Ensemble Concert followed by Dave Burrell Panel

Conceptions and Expansions: A Discussion of the Music of Dave Burrell

A panel of jazz musicians and scholars will include Burrell; his wife, Monika Larsson; John Szwed; David Murray; Ted Daniel; and Pitt Associate Professor of Jazz Studies Michael Heller.

Friday, Nov. 4

7:30 p.m.

Bellefield Hall Auditorium

Feature Artist Concert with Tia Fuller

Fuller will perform with Pittsburgh musicians Roger Humphries (drums), Alton Merrell (piano) and Jeff Grubbs (bass).

Saturday, Nov. 5

7:30 p.m.

Bellefield Hall Auditorium

Pitt Jazz Faculty Concert, featuring Tia Fuller.

Faculty performers will include Mark Strickland (guitar), Irene Monteverde (piano), Ralph Guzzi (trumpet), Yoko Suzuki (saxophone), James Johnson III (drums). Non-faculty bassist Tony DePaolis will join them in a performance of the music of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.

DAYTIME SEMINAR

Friday, Nov. 4

1:00 p.m.

Cathedral of Learning, Room 213 

Visiting Scholar Series – Fumi Okiji “Aesthetic form in musique informelle and the new thing”

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Saturday, Nov. 5

2 p.m.

Afro-American Music Institute

7131 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh

Workshop with Tia Fuller, hosted by James Johnson, Jr.