A Virtual Jazz Season in the MCG Jazz Spotlight

A Virtual Jazz Season in the MCG Jazz Spotlight

Marty Ashby and Renee Govanucci highlight the artists performing on the MCG Jazz 34th season, The New Jazz Age Goes Virtual.

Hear music by Karrin Allyson, Bob Mintzer, Kurt Elling, James Guerra, Konrad Paszkudzki, New York Voices and a special presentation of the music of Nathan Davis for the 50th Anniversary of the Pitt Jazz Seminar. Friday and Sunday night at 6, Saturday afternoon at 1 on WZUM and wzum.org

Pittsburgh Jazz Piano Primer on the SCENE on WZUM

Pittsburgh Jazz Piano Primer on the SCENE on WZUM

The list of jazz greats from Pittsburgh is long, and this time out, we sample four of them - Earl Hines, Mary Lou Williams, Erroll Garner and Ahmad Jamal. Each of these artists needs a special of their own - but for now, we’ll just enjoy a bit of their music and sounds from home.

A taste of Pittsburgh Piano on the Scene - Thursday at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday afternoon at 5.

Nicole Henry visits the MCG Jazz Spotlight

Nicole Henry visits the MCG Jazz Spotlight

This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show, Marty Ashby welcomes a special guest, vocalist Nicole Henry, to play music from her recordings and talk about her early beginnings as a jazz artist.

Nicole also shares music from vocal jazz greats who have influenced her music and life, including Sarah Vaughn, Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae and Ella Fitzgerald.

Friday and Sunday night at 6, Saturday afternoon at 1 on WZUM and wzum.org

A Women's Suffrage Centennial Tribute from Karrin Allyson, and Live Jazz in Lawrenceville

A Women's Suffrage Centennial Tribute from Karrin Allyson, and Live Jazz in Lawrenceville

Now that we are in the throes of election season, we take a visit with one of our favorite performers: vocalist, pianist and songwriter Karrin Allyson and her most recent project, “Shoulder to Shoulder: Centennial Tribute to Women’s Suffrage.”

Karrin will also be doing a special online project with MCG Jazz, October 17th.

Also on the show - we look ahead to October 10 when a special live Jazz event comes to Lawrenceville in a collaboration between MCG Jazz, Con Alma and Bay 41, plus the Community Fund with George Heid III, Trio, Lynn Speakman Quartet, Thomas Wendt Quintet - Jazz at Bay 41, Lawrenceville

The Scene - Thursday night at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon and Sunday afternoon at 5.

Kenny Burrell in the MCG Jazz Spotlight

Kenny Burrell in the MCG Jazz Spotlight

Sounds and Stories from guitarist and educator Kenny Burrell in the MCG Jazz Spotlight

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 has taken 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.

MCG Jazz - This Week in Jazz History

MCG Jazz - This Week in Jazz History
  • Mid-September has had notable marks on the calendar for jazz:.

  • September 1955, Pittsburgh’s Erroll Garner gave the concert that became the best-selling album, “Concert by the Sea.”

  • September 1937 was a time for groundbreaking recordings by a young Billie Holiday, and in September 1962, Duke Ellington went into the studio for a awe-inspiring recording session, “Money Jungle,” with Charles Mingus and Max Roach.

  • We also commemorate the September birthdays of Chu Berry, Charlie Parker, Charlie Byrd, Emily Remler, Joe Venutti, Cannonball Adderley and Jon Hendricks.

Join MCG Jazz Spotlight Show hosts Marty Ashby and Renée Govanucci -Friday and Sunday at 6:00 pm and Saturday at 1:00 pm.

What do Cannonball, Emily Remler, the Velvet Fog and Hank Williams have in Common?

What do Cannonball, Emily Remler, the Velvet Fog and Hank Williams have in Common?

What do Cannonball, Emily Remler, the Velvet Fog and Hank Williams have in Common?

Join Kate Borger on "Rhythm-a-ning" for a celebration of quite a few birthdays: Cannonball Adderley, Charlie Byrd, Emily Remler, Mel Torme and the great American songwriter, Hank Williams - all born this week in history

Friday morning at 10 a.m. and Saturday morning from 11 a.m. until noon on WZUM