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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)
  • Mickey Tucker (1941- )
  • 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 (1917-2010)
  • 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 through library-provided databases under the title Oxford Music Online).

    More Pittsburgh Jazz Musicians

  • Lilly Abreu - vocals
  • Max Adkins - arranger, conductor
  • Howie Alexander - piano
  • Don Aliquo, Jr. - saxophone
  • Don Aliquo, Sr. - saxophone
  • Scott Anderson - piano
  • 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
  • Sheryl Bailey - guitar
  • Eugenie Baird - vocals
  • Kay Marie Baird - vocals
  • Ann Baker (a.k.a. Ann Hathaway) - vocals
  • Chelsea Baratz - saxophone
  • Roger Barbour - trumpet
  • Edward "Rabbit" Barnes - vibraphone
  • Ron Bartol - guitar
  • Donald L. Bates - trombone
  • 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, vocals
  • J. Spencer Bey - keyboard
  • Keith Bishop - saxophone
  • Kenny Blake - saxophone
  • James (Jimmy) R. Blakemore - drums
  • Andy Bianco - guitar
  • Bobby Boswell - bass
  • Alvin (Lou) Brock - organ, vocals
  • Cecil Brooks II - drums
  • Dick Brosky - drums
  • Dave Brown - guitar
  • Leroy Brown - saxophone
  • David Budway - piano
  • Maureen Budway - vocals
  • Benny Burton - clarinet
  • 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, trumpet
  • Paul Cohen - piano
  • Danny Conn - trumpet
  • Janice Coppola - clarinet
  • Andrew Cosentino - trumpet
  • Jay Cosentino - trombone
  • 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
  • Daniel Davisson - banjo
  • 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
  • Douglas Drown - promoter, writer
  • Elmer "Buddy" (or "Bunny") Drown - saxophone
  • Beverly Durso - piano
  • Brian Edwards - drums
  • Richard Engel - guitar
  • Tim Eyermann - saxophone
  • Marty Faloon - guitar
  • Matt Ferrante - saxophone
  • Lisa Yvonne Ferraro - vocals
  • Jerry Fielding - composer, conductor
  • Judy Figel - vocals
  • Kenny Fisher - saxophone
  • Daryl Fleming - guitar
  • Kenan Foley - drums
  • Raynard Ford - flute
  • Ed Friedenberger - saxophone
  • Emmett Frisbee - piano
  • Ron Fudoli - bass
  • Gerry Gagnon - trombone, tuba
  • Rick Gallagher - piano
  • Carlo Galluzzo - saxophone
  • Linton Garner - piano
  • Victor Garzotto - piano
  • Randy Gelispie - drums
  • Reva George - vocals
  • Lenny Glick - piano
  • Richie Goods - bass
  • Ian Gordon - trumpet
  • Sylvester Goshay - drums
  • Bill Greco - bass
  • Bert Green - saxophone
  • George Green - saxophone
  • Greg Grenek - saxophone
  • Lee Gross - saxophone
  • Hal Grossman - trumpet
  • Ralph Guzzi - trumpet
  • Colter Harper - guitar
  • Ernie Harper - piano
  • Nate Harper - saxophone
  • Walt Harper - piano
  • Dr. Nelson Harrison - trombone, piano
  • Steve Hawk - trumpet
  • Gerald Haymon - guitar
  • Marion "Boonie" Hazel - trumpet
  • Bill Heid - organ, piano
  • George Heid - drums
  • Len Hendry - trumpet
  • Royce Hetrick - trumpet
  • Cliff Hill - bass
  • Lisa Hindmarsh - vocals
  • Jason Hollar - bass
  • Campbell "Scotty" Hood - bass
  • Mike Houlis - bass
  • Kevin Howard - piano
  • Ghost Howell - bass
  • Reid Hoyson - drums
  • Paul Hubinon - trumpet
  • John Hughes - piano
  • Greg Humphries - drums
  • Sam Hurt - trombone
  • Tiny Irvin - vocals
  • Billy James - drums
  • 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
  • Marva Josie - vocals
  • Ken Karsh - guitar
  • Marcus Kelly - bass
  • Lee Kelton - trumpet, bandleader
  • Kenia - vocals
  • Joe Kennedy, Jr. - violin
  • Joe Kennedy III - piano
  • Noreen Kennedy - vocals
  • Will Kimball - trombone
  • Howard Kimbo - saxophone
  • Cal King - guitar
  • Carl King - trombone
  • Robbie Klein - saxophone
  • Mark Koch - guitar
  • John Korpiel - drums
  • Mike Kosmala - trombone
  • Mark Kotishion - piano
  • Ken Kovach - bass
  • Billy Kuhn - drums
  • Dr. Jeffrey Kuhn - bass
  • Ralph Kunkle - bass
  • Shawnee Lake - vocals
  • Dave LaRocca - bass
  • Gene Laus - trumpet
  • Max Leake - piano
  • Harold Lee - drums
  • 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
  • Louise Mann - piano, vocals
  • Lisa Marinacci - vocals
  • Lynn Marino - vocals
  • Mike Marracino - trumpet
  • Danny Mastri - bass
  • Rick Matt - saxophone
  • Ernie Matteo - saxophone, clarinet
  • Jay Matula - drums
  • Peter Matz - piano, composer, arranger
  • Skip McAuliffe - trumpet
  • Ernest McCarty - bass
  • Rodney McCoy - violin
  • Terry McCoy - drums
  • Tommy McDaniel - bass
  • Marshall McDonald - saxophone, flute, clarinet
  • Larry "Butch" McGee - guitar
  • Carl McVicker, Jr. - bass
  • Tom Meston - saxophone
  • Don Mincher - bass
  • James "Honey Boy" Minor - drums
  • Ravish Momin - drums
  • Reni Monteverde - piano
  • James Moore - trumpet
  • Joe Moran - percussion
  • Al Morell - saxophone
  • Jon Morris - trombone
  • Tracy Mortimore - bass
  • John "Squirrel" Mosley - trumpet, flute
  • Tony Mowod - vibraphone, DJ, historian
  • Rich Muckle - drums
  • Richard Munoz - bass, trombone
  • Carl Murphy - drums
  • Art Nance - flute, saxophone
  • Kim Nazarian - vocals
  • Bobby Negri - piano
  • Joe Negri - guitar
  • Tommy Noll - drums
  • 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
  • Kenny Powell - flute, saxophone
  • Bill Price - drums
  • Jimmy Pupa - trumpet
  • Randy Purcell - trombone
  • Bill Purse - guitar
  • John Rampolla - drums
  • Bobby Rawsthorne - drums
  • Burd "Buzzy" Renn - saxophone
  • Coleman Richardson - saxophone
  • Bob Riddle - trombone
  • Pola Roberts - drums
  • Tom Roberts - piano
  • Janice Robinson - trombone
  • Lee Robinson - saxophone
  • Lenny Rogers - drums
  • Clem Rolin - trombone
  • Spider Rondinelli - drums
  • Vince Ruffini - saxophone
  • Jevon Rushton - drums
  • Eddie Russ - piano
  • George W. Russell, Jr. - piano
  • Ray Russell - bass
  • Lori Russo - vocals
  • Ray Ryan - drums
  • Rodger Ryan - drums
  • Mike Sakash - saxophone
  • David Sanford - composer/conductor
  • Jimmy Sapienza - vocals
  • Henry Sciullo - drums
  • John Schmidt - drums
  • Lou Schreiber - clarinet, piano
  • Al Secen - vibraphone
  • Tommy Sewell - bass
  • Henry Shapiro - guitar
  • Vladimir Simosko - reeds, percussion
  • Alan Skwarla - trumpet
  • John Smith - drums
  • Will Smith - bongos
  • Willie Gonzales Smith - percussion
  • Erin Snyder - cello
  • Mark Snyder - trombone
  • Chuck Spatafore - drums
  • Scipio Spencer - piano
  • Arnold Stagger, Sr. - bass
  • Brian Stahurski - bass
  • Sandy Staley - vocals
  • Keith Stebler - piano
  • Lou Stellute - saxophone
  • Tim Stevens - vocals
  • Eugene Stovall - vocals
  • Mark Strickland - guitar
  • Jeff Stringer - bass
  • Richard Strong - drums
  • Justin Surdyn - trumpet
  • Eric Susoeff - guitar
  • Hosea Taylor - saxophone
  • Mike Taylor - bass
  • Edwin Thomas - bass
  • Ronnie Thomas - bass
  • Dave Thompson - drums
  • George Thompson - saxophone
  • Paul Thompson - bass
  • David Throckmorton - drums
  • Bill Tole - trombone
  • Ken Toman - drums
  • Mike Tomaro - saxophone
  • Teenie Trent - piano
  • Steve Trettel - drums
  • Ron Tucker - drums
  • Tommy Turk - trombone
  • Horace Turner - piano, trumpet
  • Chauncey Upson - saxophone
  • Johnny Vance - bass
  • Bruce Wallace - bass
  • Joe Wallace - bass
  • Virgil Walters - bass
  • Harry Walton - piano
  • Jon Walton - saxophone
  • Delores Ware - vocals
  • Cecil "Cecilio Valdez" Washington - percussion
  • Joe Waslousky - drums
  • "Deacon" Dan Wasson - bass
  • Olga Watkins - vocals
  • Reggie Watkins - trombone
  • Deb Weible - drums
  • Tom Wendt - drums
  • Joe Westray - piano, organ, guitar
  • Edgar Willis - bass
  • Jay Willis - saxophone
  • Dr. John H. Wilson - arranger
  • Leroy Wofford - vocals, drums
  • 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
  • Beethoven Bebops
  • Boilermaker Jazz Band
  • Burgh Big Band
  • Cadillac Jazz
  • Cap Gun Quartet
  • Carnegie-Mellon University Jazz Ensemble
  • Cavaliers of Rhythm
  • Charles Wallace
  • Cool Breeze
  • [Duquesne University's] Catch 22
  • Debonaires
  • Deuces Wild
  • The Dodge Kids
  • Gypsy
  • Iron City Six
  • Jazz East
  • Jimmy Sapienza's Five Guys Named Moe
  • Leisure Monkey
  • Manchester Craftsmen's Guild Orchestra
  • Modern Times
  • Opek
  • Pittsburgh Jazz Allstars
  • Pittsburgh Jazz Giants
  • Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra
  • Pittsburgh Steelers Jazz Group
  • Professional Men in Jazz
  • Real Silk Band
  • RH Factor
  • Royalist Jazz Quintet
  • Salsamba
  • Silhouettes
  • Silvertones
  • Soirée
  • Symphony Jazz Quartet
  • Syria Shrine Band
  • Thoth Trio
  • Three Rivers Jazz Orchestra
  • Trinity Jazz Orchestra
  • Trio Bravo
  • Trio Grandé
  • Tuesday Night Big Band
  • University of Pittsburgh Jazz Ensemble
  • Watershed 5tet
  • Will Hitchcock's Big Dream Band

    (Group names that simply contain artist names plus the type of group 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.

    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.