Results for "Pittsburgh"

Jun Iida: Bellflower

by Paul Rauch
June 19, 2026

Jun Iida is a stylish trumpeter who has moved around a bit, in the process taking interpretive fragments of the jazz culture in each city he has inhabited. From his native Pittsburgh, to stops in Los Angeles, Seattle and New York City, he has remained connected to each through personal relationships with the local jazz communities ...

James Blood Ulmer: February 8, 1940 - June 3, 2026

June 8, 2026

With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of James Blood Ulmer, a boldly innovative guitarist, singer, composer, and beloved family member. James died peacefully on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the age of 86. Born on February 8, 1940, the eldest of eight children, Blood grew up in rural, deeply segregated St. Matthews, ...

In Circuses and Carnivals, Sideshows Brought Black Music To The Heartland

by Arthur R George
May 30, 2026

Black musicians in circus and carnival sideshow bands from the late 1800s well into the Twentieth Century brought ragtime and what would become jazz and rhythm and blues to white audiences deep into Midwest agricultural regions. Trumpeter Lester Bowie, later known for the avant-garde Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), ...

Matt Hill and the Classics

Active since: 2017

Matt Hill & The Classics bring the feel-good, real-deal sound of New Orleans jazz, swing, and soul to every stage they hit. Based in Pittsburgh and the Ohio Valley, the band ranges from an intimate trio to a full eight-piece brass band — reading the room and matching the moment, whether it’s a cocktail hour that sets the tone or a dance floor that doesn’t quit.

Led by flugelhorn player Matt Hill, the group draws on the traditions of New Orleans brass bands, the Great American Songbook, Motown, and classic R&B — then delivers it all with the kind of energy that gets people out of their seats. From weddings and corporate galas to swing dances and festivals across Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, and West Virginia, the band has built a reputation for making every event feel effortless for the people who hired them.

Pittsburgh's Con Alma Hosts Gala And Asks For Help To Keep Club Active

January 21, 2026

Back in 2019, musician John Shannon envisioned establishing a premier jazz venue in Pittsburgh—a city with a deep and storied history of exceptional musicians. Partnering with executive chef Josh Ross and manager/beverage director Aimee Marshall, the trio opened Con Alma in the Shadyside neighborhood. The club quickly earned national recognition as one of the country’s top ...

Chad Taylor: Smoke Shifter

by Carl Medsker
December 24, 2025

Smoke Shifter leans toward tradition, which is perhaps a bit surprising given the exploratory, cutting-edge music previously produced by everyone in this quintet. Led by master percussionist Chad Taylor, the album is a diverse program of well-crafted, contemporary songs performed by an egalitarian collective. Taylor co-founded the Chicago Underground bands with Rob Mazurek, celebrated ...

The Attucks Jazz Club: Fall 2024

by Mark Robbins
February 23, 2025

In 2008, under the auspices of the Virginia Arts Festival and the leadership of professor/pianist John Toomey, the Attucks Jazz Series was born in the historic Attucks Theater. Before becoming a full-time jazz professor at Old Dominion University, Toomey spent time on the road with jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, singers Mark Murphy, Rene Marie, and others. ...

Tania Grubbs: The Sound of Love

by John Chacona
January 16, 2025

Meet a person from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and you are likely to get a Chamber of Commerce-worthy commendation of their city's greatness. When it comes to jazz, the civic pride is more than warranted; the Steel City was home to immortals such as Earl Hines, Mary Lou Williams, Art Blakey and Kenny Clarke. Vocalist Tania Grubbs grew ...

Sam Blakeslee Large Group at BLU Jazz+

by John Chacona
January 12, 2025

Sam Blakeslee Large Group BLU Jazz+ Akron, OH December 20, 2024 In December, flowers bloomed in northeast Ohio, but climate change had nothing to do with it. The sudden blossoming was the work of Sam Blakeslee who returned to his home state to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, 18 ...

Kyle Beck

Born: August 27, 2001

Hello! I'm a freelance musician operating out of Western Pennsylvania. Currently on the work-week grind we all know and "love," I write percussion ensemble and steelband music, and (hopefully someday) play live jazz.

My primary instruments are drum set and vibraphone, and I also play bass guitar and am learning trumpet.