Top Box Office Jazz Stars onstage at MCG Jazz
This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show, Marty Ashby and Nick Pesanka of the MCG Jazz Box Office discuss the best-selling concerts at MCG Jazz over the years.
Nick has selected his favorite tunes from the most popular artists who have graced the MCG Jazz stage from Nancy Wilson and Herb Alpert to the Yellowjackets and Al Jarreau.
Friday and Sunday night at 6, Saturday afternoon at 1.
Revisiting 2019 Pittsburgh Jazz Legends on WZUM
We revisit the October 2019 Jazz Legends induction and jam session from the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild on the Scene
Bill Strickland shares his good wishes. We also visited with Don Aliquo Jr, Max Leake, Lou Stellute, George Jones, Anton DeFade, Jim Guerra, Rich Zabinski, Dwayne Dolphin, Kenny Blake, Chuck Spatafore, and a delightful interaction between Scott Hanley, Roger Humphries and Michele Bensen. Plus, memories of the Pittsburgh Jazz Scene from Mark Strickland, and sounds with Mark, Lou Stellute and Gene Ludwig.
Thursday at 6pm, Friday and Saturday at noon and Sunday at 5.
Bill Strickland and Marty Ashby play favorites on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Hour
Manchester Bidwell's Founder and Executive Chairman Bill Strickland reunites with Marty Ashby on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show.
Bill recounts some of his favorite jazz artists, including vocalists Sarah Vaughan and Astrud Gilberto, guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, Pittsburgh’s own Stanley Turrentine, and others.
Also, hear some important updates on MCG Jazz from Marty Ashby. Friday and Sunday nights at 6, Saturday afternoon at 1 on WZUM
Catching up with friends - Gene Bertoncini on the Scene and on the Radio
This week, the show is a reprise of the one from the spring - our NY interview with Gene Bertoncini from in January (before COVID, and a week that became warm and beautiful), Gene’s recordings, some things he and I recorded, together, and an update from Gene on New York in November.
The Scene - Thursday night at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5pm on WZUM
And remember - call your friends and family. Don’t think about it. Call!
Unique Jazz Sounds from Iconic Jazz Labels on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show
The Sounds of Jazz have been shaped by great artists, and also by the producers and record labels who preserved those sounds on to legendary recordings that spread those sounds to the world.
This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show, Marty Ashby and MCG Jazz production manager, David Sykut, discuss the sound and feel of a diverse collection of labels, including Blue Note, Verve, DMP, CTI, Telarc, Impulse, and ECM.
Friday and Sunday night at 6, Saturday afternoon at 1.
Autumnal Jazz in Distanced times - Thomas Wendt, John Shannon, Benny Benack III, the USAF Airmen of Note and Seth McFarlane
This week, we speak with two members of the jazz scene on how they have been working through the challenges - and working with others in the midst of a very different landscape from last year - Guitarist and partner in the club Con Alma, John Shannon, and drummer and jazz advocate Thomas Wendt. We’ll also hear some music from Benny Benack III who will be back in Pittsburgh this weekend for live and online performances.
Plus, a new release from US Air Force Airmen of Note, and a big band date from vocalist, actor, and TV/Film producer Seth McFarlane. Thursday at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday at 5pm
Jazz Around the Globe on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show
This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Radio Hour, we hear sound for the spread of jazz around the globe.
Marty Ashby and MCG Jazz staff member, Natalie Larsen share music from incredible jazz artists from Cuba, Canada, Israel, Japan, Poland, South Africa, France and more. Original works and reworking of standards with the likes of Avishai Cohen, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Django Reinhardt, Michal Urbaniak, Abdullah Ibrahim, Machito and others who have mixed their native culture’s musical traditions with jazz to create something new and further the evolution of jazz.
Friday and Sunday night at 6, Saturday afternoon at 1.