![]() ![]() “Intuition” was galvanized by some leaps into the upper register of her horn, not for a shrill effect but as an extension of her line. At times, Aldana recalled Charles Lloyd, using a tone that felt gentle as she explored melodic territory with aggression. The tenor saxophonist’s set, drawn from her recent 12 Stars album, presented the ideal opening act, balancing a pensive delivery with the palpable urge to stretch out within the music. But the excitement level was high from the moment Melissa Aldana led off the day’s program at Highmark. Or the feeling of community generated by sharing space with fellow jazz fans. Maybe it was something to do with sitting on a 360-foot-wide field with a great view of the city behind the stage. This might be personal preference, but the opportunity to be among a crowd seeing live performances in an open-air venue on Saturday afternoon (Sept. ![]() Jimmy Greene (tenor saxophone) and Payton Crossley (drums) completed the group, which seemed to be communicating on a higher wavelength.įollowing the set, Janis Burley Wilson, president and CEO of the AWAACC and driving force behind the PIJF, presented Carter with the festival’s 2022 Luminary Award, thanking him for “85 years of light.” The festivities continued at the Wilson Center all night with A Taste of Jazz, which included jam sessions led by pianist Orrin Evans and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Frank Lacy. Pianist Renee Rosnes sounded especially fiery throughout the evening, angular and aggressive one moment, digging deep into “My Funny Valentine” the next. When Carter hit a double-stop that slid up the neck, the weight and clarity of his tone were breathtaking. It sounded as fresh as ever, coming amid a set that flowed from one tune to the next. The esteemed bassist, still looking youthful at 85, clearly hasn’t grown tired of the iconic bassline he created for “Seven Steps to Heaven” with Miles Davis in 1963. On September 16, the 12th Pittsburgh Jazz Festival kicked off at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) with a sold-out concert by Ron Carter Foursight. The sound was fine for anyone sitting in the stadium seats, but most attendees opted to get closer, setting up their own folding chairs on the field, shifting between the stages with each act. Admission was no longer free, but a one- or two-day pass granted access to seven acts each day. Last summer, the festival came back with a twist: The two-day event moved across the Monongahela River to Highmark Stadium, with multiple stages set up on the artificial turf field that serves as home to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer team. While the festival, which began in 2011, also featured some indoor ticketed concerts, the outdoor events were free to anyone lured in by the music. ![]() Over one weekend in June, Downtown thoroughfares Penn Avenue or Liberty Avenue were closed off to traffic to make room for three stages. You can find the extensive and full lineup here.JazzTimes: A post-pandemic move from the street to the stadium is paying dividendsįor years, the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF) took place on the street. In its previous 29 years, EFG London Jazz Festival has established itself as the biggest pan-city Festival in Europe and the highlight of the jazz calendar in the UK, with over 300 shows, more than 70 venues drawing over 100,000 in live audiences. This year’s Elements Series shows are the Festival’s opening Gala Jazz Voice, legendary bassist Ron Carter’s 85th Birthday celebration, outstanding singer-songwriter Melody Gardot and the premiere of new special commissions of Guy Barker’s Guitar and Clarinet Concertos, through a collaboration between Barker himself, guitarist Eugene Pao, clarinettist Giacomo Smith and talented youth orchestra Southbank Sinfonia. The Festival's title sponsor EFG celebrates the richness and depth of the Festival line-up with highlighting four shows hand-picked by the EFG Elements Series. The festival is thrilled to announce a new slew of shows to add to its impressive roster: a lively festival gathering with Nubiyan Twist and Secret Night Gang at KOKO, venturing into new spaces with Moment’s Notice in the Wilds and a second show of Lady Blackbird at The Broadway both in the borough of Barking & Dagenham, and free shows presented by Total Refreshment Centre, J to Z Live and Kinetika Bloco amongst others. ![]()
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