Earl Hines, Lois Deppe, Madame CJ Walker and Pittsburgh - and music that changed the world

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, Sunday at 5pm, Friday and Saturday at noon on WZUM.

Teenie Harris and Pittsburgh Jazz History in the MCG Jazz Spotlight

Hosts Marty Ashby and Renée Govanucci kick off Black History Month with music inspired by Teenie Harris and his legendary photographs, with a special feature on Pittsburgh’s Jazz legacy.

Click HERE to view Teenie's photographs mentioned in this week's show.

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

The Menu has Cookers for Kente, Con Alma Records, and a new release from Hugo Cruz on the Scene

A rich menu with fine ingredients - the jazz scene in Pittsburgh - and the SCENE on WZUM - Thursday at 6, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday afternoon at 5 on the Pittsburgh Jazz Channel.

New jazz releases - Deanna Witkowski and Jared Sims - and a Cultural Trust Tuesday return.

We visit with Deanna Witkowski and Jared Sims - the new one from Deanna Witkowski is called Force of Nature, highlighting music written and played by Mary Lou Williams - and saxophonist Jared Sims has new release calls Against All Odds - with original music and a unique story behind much of it.

Plus, News from Terri Bell of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

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

Pittsburgh Jazz Piano Master Frank Cunimondo in the Spotlight

This week on the MCG Jazz Spotlight show, a broadcast of the Frank Cunimondo Trio’s live performance from September 30, 2020.

Plus, some previously unreleased music by Frank from 1958 - with rich vocal harmonies, too!

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

2022 is starting with great jazz in Pittsburgh - Much in person, and a bunch online.

We visit with Orrin Evans about the upcoming Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concert (Online), and also visit with drummer and historian Thomas Wendt about the new season of the Vinyl Report from the August Wilson Center .

Sounds of Erroll Garner, Charlie Parker, Orrin Evans and even Dr. BIlly Taylor - on the Scene.

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

"This is Triumphant Music" - Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Inaugural JazzFest Berlin, 1964.

Dr. King’s Essay on the importance of Jazz to humanity and the Civil Rights movement was not a speech, but it was written at the request of the festival organizers. The words are powerful .

An excerpt:

Much of the power of our Freedom Movement in the United States has come from this music. It has strengthened us with its sweet rhythms when courage began to fail. It has calmed us with its rich harmonies when spirits were down.

And now, Jazz is exported to the world.

Great Drummers Kenny Washington and Thomas Wendt get together with Marty Ashby to celebrate the birthdays of two legendary drummers with sounds of great jazz over the decades.

Listen to great music from Pittsburgh native Kenny Clarke and the great Max Roach, including work with the Modern Jazz Quartet, trumpeter Clifford Brown, plus Saxophonists Sonny Rollins and Dexter Gordon.

Also - sounds from Kenny Washington with pianists Tommy Flanagan and Bill Charlap.

The MCGJazz Spotlight on WZUM - Friday and Sunday nights at 6, and Saturday afternoon at 1.