A chat with guitarist Gene Bertoncini, and music with Gene, and also, recordings with Scott Hanley and Gene from a few years back.

On the Scene, on WZUM

In these times of COVID-19, studios are now where you are - and the the MCG Jazz Spotlight this week has four hosts from four homes - with Marty Ashby and Renée Govanucci visited, remotely by two stalwarts of the Pittsburgh music scene - bassist Paul Thompson and trumpeter JD Chaisson.

This week, we share music from a number of our favorites who have recently passed - pianist Mike Longo, percussionist Ray Mantilla, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, trumpeter Wallace Roney, and pianist Ellis Marsalis.

We also revisit our meeting from January with Pittsburgh area native who is very much with us, vocalist Aimée Allen, who did one last tour of France just before tours were halted.

WZUM is a radio station - broadcasting from one to many. In these times of COVID-19, it has meant that we do a lot of it from home.

This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight, Marty Ashby has had the chance to dig into some records that he’s long been waiting to hear - and eager to share with you on the show.

We visit with bandleader Reggie Watkins - We talk about his time with Jason Mraz, Maynard Ferguson, Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern Jukebox and much more.

We also revisit the Piano Day Pittsburgh, and look again toward Saturday, March 28th’s broadcast of the Piano Day Pittsburgh Piano Songwriting contest - it was going to be a live event, but given COVID-19, WZUM is lending a had to do it on the radio, 3pm Saturday.

Music with guitars - as MCGJazz’s Marty Ashby brings to the mic guest host AB Billings, music lover and supporter, guitarist and Statistician at West Virginia University.

What a difference a few days can make. The Jazz Scene in Pittsburgh had been averaging more than 200 live events each month since last summer.

Now, COVID-19 has put a halt to all live, in person performances. So, on WZUM, we’re going to try to share a lot of Pittsburgh with you. On the Scene, we’ll dip into some of the recent recordings from Pittsburgh favorites - plus some links to special things to put a smile on your face.

The Scene - Thursdays at 6pm, Friday at Saturdays at noon, Sundays at 5pm on WZUM.

A special MCG Jazz Spotlight Show with a message to the people of Wuhan – Pittsburgh’s sister city – and all of the people of China, will connect these two sister cities and its people as we all deal with the effects of the Coronavirus.

The theme of love will also be prevalent given that March 14, is White Valentine’s Day in China. The MCG Jazz Spotlight on WZUM - Friday and Sunday nights at 6, Saturday afternoons at 1 - plus a special airing for China at 8am EDT, Saturday, March 14.