Venues for Jazz
Manchester Craftsmen's Guild
1815 Metropolitan Street
Pittsburgh
412.322.1773
Since 1987, the nonprofit Manchester Craftsmen's Guild has carried out their mission to "preserve, present and promote jazz" with an annual concert series of renowned jazz masters presented in an intimate theatre setting. Education programs include internships, master classes and opportunities for students to attend concerts at low or no cost. MCG also produces and distributes recordings with its jazz label, MCG Jazz. MCG has won GRAMMY's for recordings by the Count Basie Orchestra with the New York Voices, Paquito D'Rivera with the New York Voices, and Nancy Wilson.
Cabaret Backstage Bar at Theater Square
655 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh
412.456.6666
Pittsburgh's Cultural District provides a variety of live performers, occasionally bringing national acts to the Benedum Center, Byham Theatre, Heinz Hall, and other venues. But the Cabaret at Theater Square and the Backstage Bar often provide jazz acts two or three times a week, including the long-running Tuesday night "JazzLive" series. In the summertime, JazzLive moves outdoors to Katz Plaza, right out side the Backstage Bar.
Colleges and Universities with Jazz Studies Programs
California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania Music Department
250 University Avenue
California, PA
724.938.4242
California University offers two jazz ensembles, the Tuesday and Thursday Jazz Bands. The groups perform around the California area and are featured in the annual Cal U Jazz Experience. The experience is a two-day jazz clinic featuring performances from several local high schools as well as instruction from jazz musicians and teachers.
Carnegie Mellon University
School of Music
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh
412.268.2372
With a mission of creating new knowledge and innovative means for making music, the School of Music presents the CMU Jazz Ensembles, directed by David Pellow, as part of their yearly concert series.
Duquesne University
Mary Pappert School of Music
Duquesne University
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh
412.396.6080
The Mary Pappert School of Music has a longstanding tradition of presenting jazz through big bands and small ensembles. Jazz studies are directed by Michael Tomaro. For the past 20 years, the school has offered a week-long Summer Jazz Workshop, which includes lectures, performances and instruction for students at all levels, from age 13 to adult.
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock University Music Department
1 Morrow Way
Slippery Rock, PA
724.738.2444
The SRU Jazz Ensemble, directed by Stephen Hawk, tours the globe to participate in several jazz festivals the world over. Besides visiting Canada, Asia and Europe, the ensemble performs frequent concerts on campus and also records CDs of their performances.
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Music
University of Pittsburgh
Music Building 110
Pittsburgh
412.624.4187
Under the stewardship of Dr. Nathan Davis, the University's Jazz Studies Program includes an Academy of Jazz Hall of Fame, Sonny Rollins International Jazz Archives, The International Jazz Archives Journal and the weeklong Annual Jazz Seminar and Concert every fall with many jazz innovators and legends.
Regional Jazz Societies
Pittsburgh Jazz Society
PO Box 1333
Pittsburgh
412.343.9555
The Pittsburgh Jazz Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation and perpetuation of jazz. Now a long-established tradition, every Sunday evening the PJS hosts a free-to-the-public jazz party featuring local and nationally known jazz musicians at Rhythm House in Bridgeville. The PJS also maintains a Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame and sponsors the PJS Big Band, which was founded by DUQ's own Tony Mowod. Each year, the PJS awards educational scholarships to young student musicians.
Allegheny Jazz Society
283 Jefferson Street
Meadville, PA
814.724.2163
Throughout the year, the Allegheny Jazz Society presents nationally known jazz performers at the Gardner Theatre in Meadville. Each September, they organize Jazz at Chautauqua at western New York state's famous Chautauqua Institute.
Westmoreland Jazz Society
Westmoreland Museum of Art
221 North Main Street
Greensburg, PA
724.837.1500
The Westmoreland Jazz Society was established by the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. The WJS is committed to providing high quality and diverse jazz performances. The jazz performances take place at the museum on the third Thursday of every month.
Jazz Educational Organizations
African American Jazz Preservation Society of Pittsburgh
6 Spruce Street
Pittsburgh
412.766.4969
The AAJPSP is the only nonprofit African American organization created by retired and still performing African American musicians, who were former members of Local 471, the segregated musicians union. Since 1996, the organization has incorporated intergenerational performances with its oral history research and music education/advocacy.
Afro-American Music Institute
7131 Hamilton Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
412.241.6775
Founded in 1982 by Dr. James T. Johnson, AAMI helps musicians in greater Pittsburgh find their musical voices in jazz, gospel and blues. The nonprofit institute's music curriculum includes directing, improvisation and ear training, computer music labs, vocal technique, church music, basic music reading and theory and the music industry. AAMI has purchased the old post office building around the corner from its present location in Homewood. After minor renovations, the building will serve as the institute's new home later this year.
The Jazz Workshop, Inc.
Carnegie Library
7101 Hamilton Avenue
Pittsburgh
412.731.3080
Founded in 1973 by Harold Young, the nonprofit Jazz Workshop is based at the Homewood branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. It's educational programs include jazz instruction, Talent Night, jazz performances, a jazz ensemble, improvisation instruction, Jazz for Tots, Jazz Family Night and a jazz outreach program in which musicians teach children in underserved housing communities.
Library Resources
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Music & Art Department
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh
412.622.3105
The main library in Oakland and its branches provide the public with a major collection of books, albums, CDs, videotapes, musical scores, magazines, archives and other jazz resources through the Music & Art Department. The collection includes both reference materials and materials available for lending. The Library's web site provides an online catalog of available materials and also a list of links for regional, national and international jazz resources.
