Marty Ashby teams up with drummer and jazz historian Thomas Wendt for a deep dive into Pittsburgh’s hidden jazz legacy. Together, they shine a long-overdue light on the unsung giants who helped shape the sound of American jazz, without ever becoming household names.
From the powerful drumming of Max Roach on “As Long As You’re Living,” -which features an all Pittsburgh Band- to the soulful trumpet of Tommy Turrentine on tracks like “Gunga Din” and “Time’s Up,” Wendt and Ashby celebrate the Pittsburgh-born players who left their fingerprints on jazz history.
Hear the stories behind Horace Parland’s lyrical piano lines, Abbey Lincoln’s haunting “Afro Blue,” and the deep roots that connect these artists to Pittsburgh’s vibrant jazz tradition.
Part musical journey, part history lesson—and all groove.
The MCG Jazz Spotlight show airs on Friday and Sunday at 6pm and Saturday at 1pm on The Pittsburgh Jazz Channel WZUM.
