This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show, hosts Marty Ashby and Renée Govanucci celebrate Black History Month with a focus on Pittsburgh Jazz artists who contributed greatly to the very course of jazz in America and the world.

Out of the many legends to choose from, the show features nine musicians who were spotlighted in the Pittsburgh jazz documentary film, “We Knew What We Had” including Billy Eckstine, Erroll Garner, Ray Brown, Stanley Turrentine, Ahmad Jamal, George Benson and Roger Humphries and more. - Friday and Sunday night at 6, and 1pm, Saturday on WZUM.

Earl Hines, Lois Deppe and a Pittsburgh Focus for Black History

This time on the Scene, we focus on the major jazz figure of Earl “Fatha” Hines. Called “Fatha” because he was, early in his career, considered the father of what became jazz piano.

The Scene - Thursday at 6pm, Sundays at 4pm (special time), Friday and Saturday at noon on WZUM.

This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show, hosts Marty Ashby and Renée Govanucci offer the debut of a new MCGJazz release - “Bernstein Reimagined” by the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.

Joining Marty Ashby will be Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra’s executive director, Ken Kimery and artistic director Charlie Young to discuss the creation of the album. Also joining in will be Flavio Chamis to discuss his personal connection to the maestro. Friday and Sunday night at 6, and 1pm, Saturday on WZUM.

Pittsburgh native and Duquesne University alum Sammy Nestico died January 17th, 2021, just weeks shy of his 97th birthday in February. Sammy’s compositions and arrangements are foundational to the sounds of jazz and big bands, today. In words and music, we celebrate a life well lived, with Pittsburgh as a core part of it.

The Scene - Thursday at 6pm, Sundays at 4pm (special time), Friday and Saturday at noon on WZUM.

This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show, hosts Marty Ashby and Renée Govanucci celebrate the the birthdays and music of many jazz notables.

Featuring music from artists from Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grappelli to Lee Ritenour, plus Max Roach, JJ Johnson, Gary Burton, Milt Jackson, Joe Pass, Roy Eldridge, Antonio Carlos Jobim and more.

You bring the candles and cake, we’ll handle the music on the MCG Jazz Spotlight Show Birthday party for January. Friday and Sunday night at 6, and 1pm, Saturday on WZUM.

Jazz Endures. We check in John Shannon at Con Alma, which has returned to takeaway food, live jazz and limited reservation-only dine-in seating. We’ll hear the latest of what’s in store - including special Saturday tributes to jazz giants, and a combination of live and livestream jazz to work through the winter months.

We also visit with pianist, composer and author Deanna Witkowski, who has gone from admiring Pittsburgh’s jazz scene to getting deep into it by moving here! We also play a lot of music - especially from Mary Lou.

Thursday night at 5, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday night at 5 on WZUM

Pittsburgh native and legendary jazz composer and arranger Sammy Nestico has died in southern California, just shy of his 97th birthday. WZUM sends our love and condolences to his wife Shirley, the rest of his family and many friends and fans. Sammy’s compositions and arrangements are foundational to the sounds of jazz and big bands, today.

Sunday evening, we remember the recently passed Tony Mowod, who died January 6 at the age of 85, plus remembering more than 50 jazz artists who left us during 2020.

Music and Memories, Sunday from 5-8pm on WZUM