We reflect back on the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival. It could have had a slogan from James Brown - “Give the Drummer Some.”
A pan-generational array of talent - from Terri Lyne Carrington to Nate Smith to Roger Humphries, Jae Sinnett and Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, there were drumming leaders all around!
On the program, we visit with drummers Roger Humphries, Bernard Purdie and Nate Smith (who is also now the Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival).
Also, a chat with Janis Burley, PIJF Artistic Director and Leader of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. We talked about the festival, the Taste of Jazz event Friday, and about the just revealed new lighting installation to highlight the architectural features of the center.
Highlights for the festival included Samara Joy onstage Friday night; the Orrin Evans set of Thelonious Monk music, featuring drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and bassist Robert Hurst; Jae Sinnett’s “Blurred Lines Project”: A stunning Sean Jones set; Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science; Lalah Hathaway; Nate Smith and much more.
Friday night, while Roger Humphries was featured at the August Wilson Center (with Sean Jones sitting in!), Reggie Watkins was leading the “Indestructible” Sextet at Con Alma - music inspired by Art Blakey and driven by Roger Humphries - but this time featuring Philadelphians Jacob Hurlock - piano and Leon Jordan, Sr - drums (they came in on the Jazz Train with Orrin Evans).
There was a notable set of Thelonious Monk (and related) music by an all-star trio led by pianist Orrin Evans with Robert Hurst (bass) and Terri Lyne Carrington (drums) that had the audience rapt while having to pull up umbrellas a bit toward the end.
A new sound from Sean Jones with Presence was a rich mixture of sounds, adding in the Hammond Organ to his palette of musical colors.
Terri Lyne Carrington’s band Social Science has a new release out, and she was there to represent,
Vocalists Lalah Hathaway, Lady Blackbird and more. Plus, an occasional outpouring of rain that showed the dedication of fans with a sea of umbrellas and other raingear on Sunday.
A busy jazz scene in the weeks ahead -
Saturday September 26 - Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra and a celebration of new Jazz Legends inducted by MCG Jazz;
October 3rd - two shows with the Count Basie Orchestra with Nnenna Freelon at MCG Jazz
October 3rd - Kente Arts presents Corcoran Holt with Jeff Tain Watts at the New Hazlett Theater.
October 6th - Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall.
October 17th - Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at the Byham
October 17th - Pianist Rossano Sportiello and his all stars for Jazz at the Stifel in Wheeling
October 17th - BPEP Jazz at the Heinz History Center
The Scene - Thursdays at 6pm, Friday at Saturdays at noon, Sundays at 5pm on WZUM.
Jae Sinnett, Bernard Purdie, Roger Humphries
Samara Joy at the August Wilson Center
WZUM’s both was in front of the James Simon sculptures “Liberty Avenue Musicians” on Liberty Ave