Visiting Jazz Scholar Fumi Okiji - 52nd Annual Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concerts Cathedral of Learning, Room 213
Visiting Scholar Series – Fumi Okiji “Aesthetic form in musique informelle and the new thing”
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.
Pitt Jazz Week events include the following:
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.
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.