April is Jazz Appreciation Month - and the Jazz Central Calendar is showing it in many ways.
One of the ways is theatrical - in the return of a musical play and review by the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater of Ernest McCarty’s exploration of the last year of legendary blues and jazz singer Dinah Washington.
Dinah Washington was born in Tuscaloosa Alabama, but she grew up in Chicago. She and playwright and bassist Ernest McCarty, Jr were more than a decade apart in age - but they did both study at Chicago’s DuSable High School and were influenced by the noted educator Captain Walter Diet (who also tutored Johnny Hartman, Gene Ammons, Nat King Cole, Von Freeman, Eddie Harris and many more).
The Musical Review Dinah! is in previews now and opens on April 12th with shows through the 28th in the Madison Arts Center - 3401 Milwaukee Street in Schenley Heights. This was formerly the elementary school for the director of DINAH! Mark Clayton Southers (also Founder and Producing Artistic Director for Pittsburgh Playwrights), plus saxophonist Tony Campbell and bassist Dwayne Dolphin. Those two musicians are joined by legendary drummer and educator Roger Humphries and Musical Director Dwayne Fulton (piano) who back the vocals of Delana Flowers as Dinah Washington.
We visit with Ernest McCarty, Mark Clayton Southers, Tony Campbell and Dwayne Dolphin, plus listen to a wide range of music by Dinah Washington in the show.
Also, a new musical series in the Hill District launches Sunday at 2pm at the Elsie Hillman Theater in the Kaufman Center - sax great Kenny Blake kicks off the first-sunday-of-the month series that continues through July.
Also coming in April - composer and trumpeter Terence Blanchard joins with the Turtle Island String Quartet for a concert rendition of his 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. -
Another reminder for 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
