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Gala gives city's jazz stars their due
Ivan Lins
MCG Jazz
When: Reception, 6 p.m.; concert, 8 p.m., encore reception, 10 p.m. Friday
Admission: For gala, $250-$5,000; for concert, $35-$125
Where: Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave. Downtown
Details: For gala, 412-322-0800; for concert, 412-392-4900
Bob Karlovits can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7852.
Marty Ashby is taking today's Manchester Craftsmen's Guild gala at Heinz Hall beyond the level of a fund-raising celebration.
He wants it to be the beginning of a way to honor some of the area's jazz stalwarts.
"We want them to be honored just for being themselves, for being the people who have done so much for the music in the area," says the executive producer from MCG Jazz.
The gala and reception at Heinz Hall, Downtown, will feature Brazilian composer and performer Ivan Lins, the New York Voices, and trumpeter Sean Jones, who leads his own internationally touring group and performs with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra directed by Wynton Marsalis.
Singer Nancy Wilson was scheduled to appear but has fallen ill.
At the reception before the concert, which will feature food from that South American nation, nine Pittsburgh jazz stars will be honored with medallions lauding their work. Guests will receive a pack of Guild-produced "baseball cards" with pictures and information about the nine honorees,
The area performers are organist Gene Ludwig, drummer Cecil Brooks Jr., arranger-educator John Wilson, drummer Roger Humphries, trombonists Nelson Harrison and Harold Betters, trumpeter Chuck Austin, pianist-educator James Johnson Jr. and guitarist Joe Negri.
"People know all the Stanley Turrentines and George Bensons, but there are people out there who do things for the music here every day, and I want to honor them while we still have them," Ashby says. "In coming years, I want to have 30 of them."
The event marks the 40th anniversary of the Manchester Bidwell Corp., the organization comprising the Guild and the Bidwell Training Center, two post-secondary training and education programs.
It is being held in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the city of Pittsburgh and that has put it "on a larger scale for us," Ashby says.
Besides the talent performing with the symphony, the evening will feature 10 new arrangements by talent such as nationally known arranger Don Sebesky and Mike Tomaro, director of jazz studies at Duquesne University, Uptown.
For Tomaro, this is the first time he has scored for a symphony orchestra, and he says he is enjoying the opportunity.
The Guild has had such celebrations in the past to celebrate milestones or the initiation of programs, but the size of this one and has made it "a whole 'nother ballgame," Ashby says.
He also hopes it sets the direction for the future.
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