There are many high school music programs with great traditions in the region over the decades.
One of them is Butler High School - that was where Jim Anderson (French horn) and Jim Pugh (trombone) got to know one another.
NEXT week, we will bring the two together to talk about a new project featuring a long lost Tommy Dorsey commission for a symphony by Roy Harris from 1938 (and the Dorsey band has some serious, current Pittsburgh connections, too). That record is officially being release in August - but we’ve gotten a sneak preview to share.
THIS WEEK, we go back to 2018 and a Panera in Cranberry where we caught up with Jim Anderson to chronicle his story - which is not just playing French Horn and piano, but also working his way into the recording studio at Duquesne University and an important stay at WDUQ in Pittsburgh. WDUQ was one of the first NPR stations, and his WDUQ experience helped lead Jim to work at NPR - and then to a robust, Grammy rich career in the music industry, television and movies, very special work with another Pittsburgh original, arranger, composer and bandleader Sammy Nestico - and a long tour of duty with the Muppets!.
Jim has those stories - and we share a sliver of the music he’s touched - from Stevie Wonder with Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Henderson, Terence Blanchard and more.
We also hear from Harry Connick Jr - at Heinz Hall, July 22, Vanessa Rubin - at Con Alma, July 24-25, Marion Meadows - with Alex Bugnon at MCG Jazz July 18, and Tommy Lehman at Arts Landing, downtown, Tuesday July 28 (he’s on Stephen Phillip Harvey’s latest release).
The Scene - Thursday night at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5 on WZUM