The 2009 Pittsburgh Jazz Society/BNY Mellon Scholarship Packet is Now Available
Click HERE to download the packet in PDF format.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust celebrates National Jazz Appreciation Month:
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust celebrates National Jazz Appreciation Month with a series of concerts celebrating the art of vocal jazz called “VOCAL-EASE”. Playing on the name of the style of singing called Vocalese, the name signifies the vast vocal richness that is coming out of this region and beyond. The series is presented by the Trust’s department of Education and Community Engagement. VP, Janis Burley Wilson says, “ We, at the Trust, are looking forward to musical history being made here in the Cultural District in April, with the presentation of up-and-coming artists like Carolyn Perteete and Andrea Capozolli, the hard driving jazz from Sean Jones, and the legendary Vocalese master, Jon Hendricks. All of these artists are celebrating Pittsburgh jazz in their own way through performance.” VOCAL-EASE is supported by Bank of New York Mellon and the Multicultural Arts Initiative, and is a part of the regular ongoing jazz series, JAZZLIVE at the Trust. The performances will take place at the Cabaret Theater and Backstage Bar.
The Smithsonian launched National Jazz Appreciation Month in 2001 to pay tribute to jazz as a both a living and historic art form. It has grown to include celebrations in all 50 states and 40 countries.
Carolyn Perteete has been described as “Pittsburgh best kept secrets” in the local jazz community. She is known internationally now, after she toured with trumpeter, Sean Jones in 2007 to the London Jazz Festival and Monterey Jazz Festival. She can handle a classic standard, as well as neo-soul, and has become an accomplished bilingual singer, with a vast repertoire of songs in Portuguese. Carolyn completed her degree in music education at Duquesne University. Her one official teacher, Maureen Budway, of the musical Budway family introduced Carolyn to a wide range of improvised singing styles.
Andrea Capozolli is a Pittsburgh native, and faculty member at the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Massachusetts. Her solid performance, combined with outstanding songwriting has earned her the winning spot for FEMALE R&B ARTIST OF YEAR at the New York International Music Festival, and she is frequently called on recording and live performance work across the country. Andrea has established a reputation for performing straight-ahead jazz as a trumpeter, or vocalist. Andrea played with SLIDE HAMPTON and ERIK KLOSS at the CARNEGIE-MELLON JAZZ FESTIVAL, and was a member of NIGHT RHYTHM. Local favorite, Maureen Budway, was also her vocal teacher while studying voice in Pittsburgh and preparing to Berklee as a student.
Sean Jones has developed into one of jazz's top young trumpeters, known for both his lyrical fluidity and high-tier technical facility. Sean Jones has established an international reputation as the future of jazz, either as lead trumpet with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, his own touring band, or as a professor of jazz studies at Duquesne University. Sean has also revamped the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra. On Jones' fifth album, The Search Within, Sean’s focus turns inward. "This is a journey inside my soul that's taken place over the past 10 years," Jones says. "It's an assessment of where I am in the present as well as how I've learned from my mistakes and triumphs as a way of looking into the future. This album goes very deep for me. It's a spiritual and sonic journey for me."
The superb band includes Orrin Evans on piano and Fender Rhodes, saxophonists Brian Hogans (alto) and Walter Smith (tenor), bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Obed Calvaire, all of whom have been mainstays in Jones' band. Special guests on the CD include Gregoire Maret on harmonica, Erika Von Kleist on flute, Kahlil Bell on percussion and vocalist Carolyn Perteete.
Jon Hendricks is one of the world's favorite jazz vocalists and considered to be the "Father of Vocalese" or "scatting". Founder of the legendary trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, they took the VOCALESE tradition around the world to great acclaim, influencing generations of jazz musicians. This performance will be one of the most important JAZZLIVE SPECIAL SESSIONS yet. Mr. Hendricks will perform two master classes while in Pittsburgh; one for student musicians at the Afro American Music Institute in Homewood, and one for local professional musicians. His professorship at the University of Toledo has established him as a superb educator, specializing in the history and art of vocal jazz. Mr. Hendricks will be performing two shows at the Cabaret on April 28th. He will also pay special tribute to the creator of the Vocalese style, Pittsburgh jazz legend, Eddie Jefferson.
The “Early Set” takes place at the Backstage Bar at 5pm and there is no cover charge. “Late Set” begins at 8pm and tickets are available at the Box Office at Theater Square.
Early Set, 5pm Late Set, 8pm
Backstage Bar Cabaret,
No Cover TICKET REQUIRED
4/7 Jevon Rushton Group Carolyn Perteete, “Pure and Clear”, $10
4/14 Etta Cox Andrea Cappozoli, “Live from Berklee”, $10
4/21 Kenia Sean Jones, CD Release for “The Search Within”, $20
“Bahia and Beyond”
4/28 Michele Bensen & Friends Vocalese legend, Jon Hendricks, $30-35
2 SHOWS, 7:30 & 9:30 PM
For tickets call the Box Office at Theater Square at (412) 456-6666, or visit www.pgharts.org
MCG and Pittsburgh Jazz Society Members receive 10% off of their ticket price.
Every Sunday the Pittsburgh Jazz Society presents Jazz Concerts from 7 - 10 PM at the Rhythm House Cafe in Bridgeville. Here is the upcoming schedule:
April - Jazz Appreciation Month (Jam)
12th - Harold Betters
19th – ‘Burgh Big Band
26th – Jimmy Sapienza’s 5 Guys Named ‘Mo’
May
3rd – Roger Humphries Big Band
10th – Sandy Staley
17th – Weekend Guitar Clinic And Concert
featuring Ron Anthony /w the Roger Humphries Trio
24th - Benny Benack Big Band
31st - Kenny Blake Trio
June
7th - Lisa Yvonne Ferraro
14th – ‘Burgh Big Band
21st – Tim Stevens Project
28th – Roger Humphries Big Band
July
5th – Frank Cunimondo Trio Featuring Patty Skala
12th – Salsamba
19th – Roger Humphries RH Factor
26th – Benny Benack Big Band
The fourth sunday of each month is sponsored by: 
Membership Details
Members receive quarterly newsletters, and advance notice on concerts. The newsletters contain timely information on upcoming jazz events, biographies of local jazz personalities, and notices of jazz societies and events in the surrounding region. PJS members also receive discounts at participating area businesses.
Membership is open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. The Pittsburgh Jazz Society, a non profit (501) (c) (3) organization, is dedicated to the promotion, preservation and perpetuation of all jazz. This is accomplished through education, performance, partnering and community outreach for members and the general public. Membership is $25 per year. Students join for $10.00 with student ID. 1/3 of membership fees goes towards scholarships.
To join, send your name, address, and telephone number along with check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Pittsburgh Jazz Society
PO Box 1333
Pittsburgh, PA 15230, USA
Live Jazz news feed from AllAboutJazz.com
In our on-going efforts to upgrade the website, we bring you live news feeds from the "All About Jazz" Website. As the new website is rolled out there will be a choice of live news feeds to browse as well as a way to search for specific "keywords". Keep coming back to see the new site evolve.
Click HERE to browse the news stories.