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Pittsburgh Jazz Musicians

The lists on this page are not comprehensive and mostly serve to inspire further research and exploration into the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Music Department's collection.

Also, saying that an artist is a "Pittsburgh musician" might mean various things:

  • he or she was born here but raised elsewhere (e.g., Paul Chambers),
  • was born elsewhere but raised here (e.g., Mary Lou Williams)
  • is from a Pittsburgh suburb or exurb (e.g., Vinnie Colaiuta or Slide Hampton)
  • attended college here (e.g., Geri Allen or Guy Klucevsek)
  • lived here for just a short while (e.g., Lena Horne), and so on.

But all of the artists listed here have contributed to Pittsburgh's reputation as one of the most important cities in the history of jazz.

Internationally Known Pittsburgh Jazz Musicians
More Pittsburgh Jazz Musicians
Further Research

Internationally Known*
Pittsburgh Jazz Musicians

Accordion

  • Guy Klucevsek (1947- )

    Bass

  • Mickey Bass (1943- )
  • Ray Brown (1926-2002)
  • Paul Chambers (1935-1969)
  • Sonny Dallas (1931-2007)
  • Dwayne Dolphin (1963- )
  • John Heard (1938- )
  • David Izenzon (1932-1979)
  • Carl Pruitt (1918-1977)
  • Wyatt Ruther (1923-1999)
  • Eddie Safranski (1914?-1974)

    Composers/Arrangers

  • Henry Mancini (1924-1994)
  • Billy May (1916-2004)
  • Sammy Nestico (1924- )
  • Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967)

    Drums

  • Allen Blairman (1940- )
  • Art Blakey (1919-1990)
  • Cecil Brooks III (1959- )
  • Kenny Clarke (1914-1985)
  • Vinnie Colaiuta (1956- )
  • Beaver Harris (1936-1991)
  • Joe Harris (1926- )
  • Roger Humphries (1944- )
  • J. C. Moses (1936-1977)
  • Jeff "Tain" Watts (1960- )

    Guitar

  • George Benson (1943- )
  • Ray Crawford (1924-1997)
  • Barry Galbraith (1919-1983)
  • Jimmy Ponder (1946- )
  • James "Blood" Ulmer (1942- )
  • Piano/Organ/Keyboards

  • Geri Allen (1957- )
  • Sonny Clark (1931-1963)
  • Johnny Costa (1922-1996)
  • Erroll Garner (1921-1977)
  • Darrell Grant (1962- )
  • Earl "Fatha" Hines (1903-1983)
  • Ahmad Jamal (1930- )
  • Dodo Marmarosa (1925-2002)
  • Horace Parlan (1931- )
  • Shirley Scott (1934-2002)
  • Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981)

    Reeds (oboe, Eng. horn, clarinet, soprano saxes, etc.)

  • Bob Cooper (1925-1993)
  • Paul McCandless (1947- )

    Saxophone

  • Nathan Davis (1937- )
  • Joe Eldridge (1908-1952)
  • Steve Grossman (1951- )
  • Eric Kloss (1949- )
  • Babe Russin (1911-1984)
  • Stanley Turrentine (1934-2000)

    Trombone

  • Slide Hampton (1932- )
  • Grover Mitchell (1930-2003)

    Trumpet

  • Al Aarons (1932- )
  • Roy Eldridge (1911-1989)
  • Tommy Turrentine (1928-1997)

    Vibraphone

  • Steve Nelson (1954- )

    Vocals

  • Billy Eckstine (1914-1993)
  • Lena Horne (1917- )
  • Eddie Jefferson (1918-1979)
  • Dakota Staton (1931-2007)
  • Maxine Sullivan (1911-1987)
  • *The criteria used here to determine whether a jazz musician listed above is "internationally known" is whether he or she receives an entry in either Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler's Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz or the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed., edited by Barry Kernfeld (also available online under the title Grove Music Online).

    More Pittsburgh Jazz Musicians

  • Lilly Abreu - vocals
  • Howie Alexander - piano
  • Don Aliquo, Jr. - saxophone
  • Don Aliquo, Sr. - saxophone
  • Bashir Ansari - vocals
  • Carl Arter - piano, saxophone
  • Jay Ashby - trombone
  • Marty Ashby - guitar, producer, promoter
  • Chuck Austin - trumpet, historian
  • George Bacasa - flute, saxophone
  • Donna Bailey - vocals
  • Roger Barbour - trumpet
  • Edward "Rabbit" Barnes - vibraphone
  • Ron Bartol - guitar
  • Jeanne Baxter - vocals
  • Charles Bell - piano
  • Poogie Bell - drums
  • Benny Benack, Sr. - trumpet
  • Benny Benack, Jr. - clarinet, saxophone
  • Benny Benack III - trumpet
  • Flip Benack - drums
  • H. B. Bennett - drums
  • Dick Berosky - drums
  • Harold Betters - trombone
  • Jerry Betters - drums
  • Kenny Blake - saxophone
  • James (Jimmy) R. Blakemore - drums
  • Andy Bianco - guitar
  • Bobby Boswell - bass
  • Cecil Brooks II - drums
  • David Budway - piano
  • Maureen Budway - vocals
  • Harry Bush - bass
  • Jerry Byrd - guitar
  • Wendell Byrd - organ
  • Tony Campbell - sax
  • Chris Capizzi - piano
  • Bobby Cardillo - piano
  • Harry Cardillo - piano
  • Bill Carmichael - trumpet
  • Gene Casciola - saxophone
  • Flo Cassinelli - saxophone
  • Delano "Volcano" Choy - trumpet
  • Kevin Clark - trombone
  • Hershey Cohen - piano
  • Paul Cohen - piano
  • Danny Conn - trumpet
  • Paul Cosentino - clarinet
  • Etta Cox - vocals
  • Murray Crewe - trombone
  • Ray Crummie - piano
  • Frank Cunimondo - piano
  • John D'Amico - piano
  • Roger Dannenberg - trumpet
  • Craig Davis - piano
  • Roger Day - tuba
  • Eric DeFade - flute, saxophone
  • Ray DeFade - saxophone
  • Luther DeJarunett - guitar
  • Jimmy DeJulio - bass
  • Don DePaolis - piano
  • Nick Dialoiso - saxophone
  • Leon Dorsey - bass
  • Al Dowe - trombone
  • Richard Engel - guitar
  • Tim Eyermann - saxophone
  • Matt Ferrante - saxophone
  • Lisa Yvonne Ferraro - vocals
  • Jerry Fielding - composer/conductor
  • Judy Figel - vocals
  • Daryl Fleming - guitar
  • Raynard Ford - flute
  • Ed Friedenberger - saxophone
  • Emmett Frisbee - piano
  • Ron Fudoli - bass
  • Rick Gallagher - piano
  • Carlo Galluzzo - saxophone
  • Linton Garner - piano
  • Victor Garzotto - piano
  • Randy Gelispie - drums
  • Sylvester Goshay - drums
  • George Green - saxophone
  • Greg Grenek - saxophone
  • Lee Gross - saxophone
  • Hal Grossman - trumpet
  • Ralph Guzzi - trumpet
  • Colter Harper - guitar
  • Nate Harper - saxophone
  • Walt Harper - piano
  • Nelson Harrison - trombone
  • Steve Hawk - trumpet
  • Gerald Haymon - guitar
  • Bill Heid - organ, piano
  • George Heid - drums
  • Royce Hetrick - trumpet
  • Lisa Hindmarsh - vocals
  • Jason Hollar - bass
  • Mike Houlis - bass
  • Kevin Howard - piano
  • Reid Hoyson - drums
  • Paul Hubinon - trumpet
  • Greg Humphries - drums
  • Tiny Irvin - vocals
  • Lynda Jamison - vocals
  • Reid Jaynes - piano
  • Timothy Jenkins - piano
  • Curtis Johnson - saxophone
  • Eric Johnson - guitar
  • James Johnson, Jr. - piano
  • James Johnson III - drums
  • Bobby Jones - organ
  • Bobby Jones, Jr. - saxophone
  • George Jones - percussion
  • Sean Jones - trumpet
  • Hill Jordan - trombone
  • Ken Karsh - guitar
  • Kenia - vocals
  • Joe Kennedy, Jr. - violin
  • Joe Kennedy III - piano
  • Will Kimball - trombone
  • Robbie Klein - saxophone
  • Mark Koch - guitar
  • John Korpiel - drums
  • Mike Kosmala - trombone
  • Ken Kovach - bass
  • Billy Kuhn - drums
  • Shawnee Lake - vocals
  • Dave LaRocca - bass
  • Gene Laus - trumpet
  • Max Leake - piano
  • Jessica Lee - vocals
  • Pat Leone - guitar, vocals
  • Elise Letourneau - vocals
  • Douglas Levine - piano
  • Bert Logan - drums
  • Nick Lomakin - clarinet
  • Gene Ludwig - organ
  • Greg Lutz - saxophone
  • Jennie Luvv - vocals
  • Craig Madge - saxophone
  • Frank Malla - trombone
  • Jeff Mangone - bass
  • Lisa Marinacci - vocals
  • Lynn Marino - vocals
  • Mike Marracino - trumpet
  • Danny Mastri - bass
  • Rick Matt - saxophone
  • Jay Matula - drums
  • Peter Matz - piano
  • Skip McAuliffe - trumpet
  • Rodney McCoy - violin
  • Terry McCoy - drums
  • Tommy McDaniel - bass
  • Marshall McDonald - saxophone, flute, clarinet
  • Larry McGee - guitar
  • Carl McVicker, Jr. - bass
  • Tom Meston - saxophone
  • Ravish Momin - drums
  • James Moore - trumpet
  • Joe Moran - percussion
  • Tracy Mortimore - bass
  • Tony Mowod - vibraphone, DJ, historian
  • Rich Muckle - drums
  • Art Nance - flute, saxophone
  • Kim Nazarian - vocals
  • Bobby Negri - piano
  • Joe Negri - guitar
  • Clarence Oden - flute, saxophone
  • Ben Opie - saxophone
  • Milt Orkin - trombone
  • John Orsini - saxophone
  • Richard Paul - cornet
  • Dave Pellow - bass
  • James Pellow - saxophone
  • Michael Pellow - guitar
  • Carlos Peña - guitar, vibraphone
  • Mark Perna - bass
  • Carl Peticca - drums
  • Bill Price - drums
  • Randy Purcell - trombone
  • Bill Purse - guitar
  • John Rampolla - drums
  • Bobby Rawsthorne - drums
  • Burd "Buzzy" Renn - saxophone
  • Bob Riddle - trombone
  • Tom Roberts - piano
  • Janice Robinson - trombone
  • Lee Robinson - saxophone
  • Lenny Rogers - drums
  • Spider Rondinelli - drums
  • Vince Ruffini - saxophone
  • Jevon Rushton - drums
  • Eddie Russ - piano
  • Ray Russell - bass
  • Lori Russo - vocals
  • Ray Ryan - drums
  • Rodger Ryan - drums
  • Mike Sakash - saxophone
  • Jimmy Sapienza - vocals
  • Henry Sciullo - drums
  • John Schmidt - drums
  • Lou Schreiber - clarinet, piano
  • Al Secen - vibraphone
  • Tommy Sewell - bass
  • Henry Shapiro - guitar
  • Alan Skwarla - trumpet
  • John Smith - drums
  • Willie Gonzales Smith - percussion
  • Erin Snyder - cello
  • Mark Snyder - trombone
  • Chuck Spatafore - drums
  • Brian Stahurski - bass
  • Sandy Staley - vocals
  • Keith Stebler - piano
  • Lou Stellute - saxophone
  • Tim Stevens - vocals
  • Eugene Stovall - vocals
  • Jeff Stringer - bass
  • Justin Surdyn - trumpet
  • Eric Susoeff - guitar
  • Hosea Taylor - saxophone
  • Mike Taylor - bass
  • Ronnie Thomas - bass
  • Dave Thompson - drums
  • George Thompson - saxophone
  • Paul Thompson - bass
  • David Throckmorton - drums
  • Ken Toman - drums
  • Mike Tomaro - saxophone
  • Steve Trettel - drums
  • Ron Tucker - drums
  • Tommy Turk - trombone
  • Horace Turner - piano, trumpet
  • Chauncey Upson - saxophone
  • Johnny Vance - bass
  • Bruce Wallace - bass
  • Virgil Walters - bass
  • Jon Walton - saxophone
  • Joe Waslousky - drums
  • Olga Watkins - vocals
  • Reggie Watkins - trombone
  • Tom Wendt - drums
  • Edgar Willis - bass
  • Jay Willis - saxophone
  • Donald Woods - trombone, trumpet
  • Jacob Yoffee - saxophone
  • Harold Young - saxophone
  • Lenny Young - oboe
  • Ruby Younge - organ
  • Pittsburgh Jazz Music Groups

  • 21st Century Swing Band
  • Algo Latino
  • Balcony Big Band
  • Beam
  • Boilermaker Jazz Band
  • Cadillac Jazz
  • Cap Gun Quartet
  • Carnegie-Mellon University Jazz Ensemble
  • [Duquesne University's] Catch 22
  • Deuces Wild
  • The Dodge Kids
  • Gypsy
  • Iron City Six
  • Jazz East
  • Jimmy Sapienza's Five Guys Named Moe
  • Modern Times
  • Opek
  • Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra
  • Real Silk Band
  • Salsamba
  • Silhouettes
  • Soirée
  • Symphony Jazz Quartet
  • Thoth Trio
  • Trinity Jazz Orchestra
  • Trio Bravo
  • Trio Grandé
  • University of Pittsburgh Jazz Ensemble
  • Watershed 5tet

    (Group names that obviously contain artist names such as the Ahmad Jamal Trio or Roger Humphries Big Band are not listed.)

    Further Research

    Research on the above individuals and groups is a multi-faceted process and might involve using:

    Further web research should start with the Pittsburgh Jazz Society and the African American Jazz Preservation Society of Pittsburgh. Many currently active Pittsburgh jazz musicians can be found on trombonist and jazz historian Nelson Harrison's Pittsburgh Jazz Network.

    WDUQ - 90.5 FM provides a jazz page with links to regional jazz resources and a calendar of Pittsburgh jazz events.

    The Manchester Craftsmen's Guild hosts performances, produces live recordings, and provides educational programs to promote Pittsburgh jazz.

    Questions, comments or additions may be e-mailed to the Music Department.

    Finally, music librarians are eager to assist you in your research. Don't hesitate to ask.