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

"Spirit to Spirit: A Portrait of Pittsburgh Jazz in the New Century," with text by Abby Mendelson and photographs by David Aschkenas.

On this episode of the Spotlight, Marty Ashby visits with Abby and David for stories and music connected to the book and the Pittsburgh Jazz Scene of today

We’ve spent a lot of time, lately, looking back to the jazz scene in 1959 and 1960. This week, we look back just a year, to the first week in August, 2019.

Thursday night at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, and Sunday at 5 on “THE SCENE” - a radio journey back to last year’s late summer jazz scene in Pittsburgh.

The summer’s heat has led to a lot of jazz, hot and cool over the years. Join Marty Ashby and Renée Govanucci for a reading of the jazz temperature through the years in the the MCG Jazz Spotlight - Friday and Sunday at 6, Saturday at 1pm.

From commemorating the birthdays of guitarists Charlie Christian and Kenny Burrell, drummer Louie Bellson and trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis to landmark recordings by Miles Davis, Count Basie and Max Roach, and the first-ever recording of “In the Mood” by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, August 1st, 1939.

Improvising our way through a Pittsburgh Jazz Summer.

With special health concerns canceling larger performances, and severely limiting what restaurant and night scene can continue - Jazz performers and presenters have become agile and innovative in keeping the embers of the Pittsburgh Jazz Scene aglow.

Sounds from Bill Heid, Kenia, the Balcony Big Band, John Shannon, David Gurwin, Reggie Watkins.

Plus, a listen to the “New” 1959 studio recording on Blue Note from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin’.

And, another look and listen to the music of Annie Ross, plus a dip into the musical waters of the revolutionary vocal group, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. From 1957 to 1962, blazing a trail of vocal jazz that still resonates, today.

Plus, a link to the 2012 documentary on Annie Ross from BBC Scotland.

The Scene - Thursday at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5pm on WZUM

This week, a dip into the deep pool of recordings by guitarist and educator Kenny Burrell

We hear Kenny talk about his life and career from his NEA Jazz Masters oral history at the Smithsonian, and enjoy sounds from his long career that started in Detroit and took him all over the world.

Join Marty Ashby and Renée Govanucci with a musical appreciation of Kenny Burrell in the MCG Jazz Spotlight - Friday and Sunday at 6, Saturday at 1pm.

Vocalist and jazz promoter Tania Grubbs has a new CD out that is getting national airplay (as well as on WZUM), “Live at Maureen’s Jazz Cellar.”

We used a bit of tech to get Tania and Jeff Grubbs, plus David Budway, together to chat about the music, the club and the magic.

The hour also includes music from David Budway from recent release, “the Jazz Piano Man,” a gem from vocalist Maureen Budway, and a short tribute to the vocalist and jazz inspiration Annie Ross, who passed away this week just shy of her 90th birthday.

Thursday at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5pm on WZUM

This week, we turn the spotlight to you! It’s Listeners’ Choice this week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show.

The initial response to our Listener survey was tremendous! Hosts Marty Ashby and Renee Govanucci have selected from the artists and songs picked by listeners, with an emphasis on a feel for summer.

Some hints:

• Mark Murphy

• George Benson

• Al Jarreau

• Maria Schneider

• Pat Metheny

• Lee Morgan

• Jim Hall

• Oscar Castro-Neves

• and much more!