Jazz in Pittsburgh continues on an upward trajectory - with Jazz Appreciation Month (April) featuring a great number of special events in the city and beyond for the weeks ahead.
It includes composer and trumpeter Terence Blanchard with the Turtle Island String Quartet for a concert rendition of the award-winning opera “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” April 9th at the Byham Theater.
That same night (April 9), bassist Christian McBride leads what he calls “an all millennial band” at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. We caught up with Christian in the midst of his busy travel schedule to talk about that show - plus George Wein and the Newport Jazz Festival, Growing up in music in Philadelphia, his current local scene in Montclair, NJ - his new dual-bass release with Edgar Meyer.
Also in April - a new series celebrating jazz in a club setting at the Greer Cabaret Theater. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the August Wilson African American Cultural Center are calling it The Jazz Club at the Greer Cabaret Theater - three Saturdays in April featuring renowned jazz artist with serious Pittsburgh roots - Bell Family - Featuring Poogie Bell and Winston Bell Saturday April 13th (also celebrating the music of Charles Bell); Bassist Richie Goods with vibraphonist Chien Chien Lu and their project Connected - Saturday, April 20th; and trumpeter Sean Jones & bassist Dwayne Dolphin, Saturday April 27th.
Plus, on the air and online from WZUM - we’ll be sharing the 2024 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert - April 13th from Kennedy Center - which will include trumpeter Terence Blanchard as an honoree.
The Scene - an hourlong radio show - Thursday night at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5 on WZUM
Christian McBride