This past week, a retro look to television of the ‘60’s led to a bit of a musical family reunion and musical highlights from video archives and in-person talents.
The event was Jazz Beat Meets Present - with rare video archives from WQED-TV matched up with live performers who knew the performers on screen - and in one case, were related to them!
Legendary trumpeter and entertainer Benny Benack, Sr was one of the stars of the vintage WQED show, which is now available on WQED+ to public television donors - and through the PBS Passport app.
On the MCG Jazz stage Tuesday, October 20th, the crowd was wowed by mid 1960’s black and white video of Joe Negri, Harold Betters, Johnny Costa and Benny Benack Sr, then tied together with live performances by trombonist Jeff Bush, guitarist Bill Bonidie, pianist Max Leake, drummer Roger Humphries, bassist Chris McGraw and the Benny Benack Jr on tenor sax and Benny Benack III on trumpet. Later, at a reception after the show, pianist Craig Davis sat in at the grand piano that Johnny Costa played for 500 episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Also on hand - the television host of Jazz Beat for many episodes, the voice of the Steelers, Pitt Panthers and voice on WZUM, Bill Hillgrove.
It was a musical family reunion, joining the past to the present and available for the future.
October and November continue to be busy on the scene, with scores of club dates and numerous other special events:
At MCG Jazz, shows with the Music of Chuck Mangione with trumpeter Rick Braun - October 24th; Gerald Albright - November 14 and John Scofield - November 20.
November 2-7 - The 56th Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concert, featuring Peter Bernstein and Bobby Broom
November 3-4 - Boney James at City Winery (4 shows over 2 days)
November 11 - Champion Fulton with Jazz at the Ballroom - Flying High for the Holidays - Greer Cabaret Theater - 7pm
Find what’s on and when at Jazz Central at wzum.org
The Scene - Thursdays at 6pm, Friday at Saturdays at noon, Sundays at 5pm on WZUM.
Benny Benack Sr from Jazz Beat on WQED-TV
Benny Benack Jr and Benny Benack III backstage at MCG Jazz
Scott Hanley of WZUM and Jim Cunningham of WQED