PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh Annual Jazz Seminar and Concert—one of the region’s premier jazz events— which was held last month, featured free lunchtime concerts, a jazz film screening, free on-campus seminars, and an outreach event in the Hill District, culminating Nov. 5 with a concert at Carnegie Music Hall.
Under the direction of renowned pianist, composer, and Pitt Jazz Studies Program Director Geri Allen, the following artists participated:
•Ambrose Akinmusire, award-winning trumpeter and composer;
•Dwayne Dolphin, a mainstay bassist on the Pittsburgh jazz scene who launched his career in the 1980s with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis;
•Perry Hughes, guitarist for Earl Klugh, Bob James, and Aretha Franklin;
•Dave McMurray, the multi-instrumentalist from Detroit who most recently performed on saxophone with Kid Rock;
•Jamison Ross, gifted drummer and vocalist and winner of the 2012 Thelonius Monk International Jazz Drums Competition;
•Fred Wesley, jazz-funk trombonist who was also music director and arranger for James Brown; and
•Cassandra Wilson, Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist.
S. Epatha Merkerson served as the emcee. An Emmy Award-winning actress, Merkerson is best known for her role as Lt. Anita Van Buren on NBC’s “Law & Order.” She also has worked extensively in the theatre; produced the award-winning documentary “The Contradictions of Fair Hope” and currently plays hospital administrator Sharon Goodwin on NBC’s “Chicago Med.”
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