This Independence Day weekend, we thought we’d take a visit with one of our favorite performers, vocalist, pianist and songwriter Karrin Allyson to delve into her most recent project, “Shoulder to Shoulder: Centennial Tribute to Women’s Suffrage.”

It’s the 100-year anniversary of the nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution. We’ll hear music to commemorate it.

Marty Ashby and Renée Govanucci of MCG Jazz consider the Big Band and other very large ensembles.

From 17 different large group recordings, we go from the New York Voices and the Count Basie Orchestra, to the most recent release, “Diva and the Boys.” Other large slices on the menu include the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, the Bob Mintzer Big Band, and a grammy winner with Nancy Wilson.

We go “large” in the MCG Jazz Spotlight on WZUM - Friday and Sunday nights at 6, Saturday afternoons at 1.

John Scofield's Musical Friends and a delay on that Thelonious Monk Palo Alto High School Recording from 1968

Pops’ Tunes - Musical Sons and their Fathers in the MCG Jazz Spotlight #MCGJazz #WZUM

This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show, Marty Ashby and special guests pay tribute to their musical dads and all fathers for this Father’s Day weekend. Benny Benack III, James Johnson III, Eric DeFade, Anton DeFade, Don Aliquo, Jr., Lucas Ashby and Tony DePaolis play music with Dads in mind,

The MCG Jazz Spotlight show airs on Friday and Sunday at 6pm and Saturday at 1pm on The Pittsburgh Jazz Channel WZUM.

Jazz comes on stealthy fingers - Live Jazz is slowing making it’s comeback around Pittsburgh - we visit with John Shannon about Con Alma’s new strategy - and note some other re-openings, and the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival.

The tenth anniversary of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival comes with an online-only event, Saturday June 20 from noon to 6 with an all-star lineup, through the world of the internet. Janis Burley Wilson of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center gives us some details.

Sean Jones on ABC News talking about jazz in the era of COVID-19

Sean is helping curate the daylong digital jazz festival for Pittsburgh, coming June 20 at noon from the August Wilson African American Cultural Center.

This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show hosts, Marty Ashby and Renee Govanucci discuss unique duets. With duos ranging from classics such as, Jim Hall and Bill Evans, and Chick Corea and Gary Burton; to unexpected pairings like trombonist Jiggs Wigham with guitarist Gene Bertoncini, and saxophonist Steve Wilson and drummer Lewis Nash.

The MCG Jazz Spotlight show airs on Friday and Sunday at 6pm and Saturday at 1pm on The Pittsburgh Jazz Channel WZUM.

Friday and Sunday nights at 6, and Saturday afternoon at 1.