Thursday Night Jazz: Thomas Wendt’s Jazz at the Philharmonic (Norman Granz, the Jazz Jam Session & the Struggle for Equality)

This special installment of Thomas Wendt’s Off Minor series brings a multi-generational band to the Alphabet City stage to celebrate Norman Granz and the jazz masters who participated in his iconic Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts.

More than eight decades ago, jazz impresario Norman Granz had the idea to present informal jazz jam sessions on a formal concert stage. He began his musical experiment at Philharmonic Hall in Los Angeles in 1943 and was quickly met with great success. As his idea and organization grew, he soon found himself face-to-face with the nation’s Jim Crow culture. Bearing witness to the ways Black American artists were affected by the restrictions and manipulations of Jim Crow–era America, Granz leveraged his power as a successful and shrewd businessman to ensure all Jazz at the Philharmonic artists traveled first-class and were treated first-class. This Thursday Night Jazz performance celebrates not only Norman Granz, but the incredible musicians he supported in these historic jam sessions. 

About the Artist:

Thomas Wendt is a graduate of the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and has been a professional musician since the age of 14. Based in Pittsburgh, Thomas is an active member of the current jazz scene, playing with groups led by Joe Negri, Dwayne Dolphin, Mark Strickland, Kenia, and the Latin jazz group Salsamba, in addition to leading his own groups. Thomas is also a member of the newly reformed Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra. He has played with many visiting international jazz greats, including Clark Terry, Donald Byrd, David “Fathead” Newman, Benny Golson, Monty Alexander, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Christian McBride, Curtis Lundy, and Geri Allen. Recently, he has played with NEA Jazz Master Hubert Laws at several major Jazz festivals and with pianist Alan Broadbent for the Nyack, NY library jazz series. He has recorded with Gene Ludwig, Sandy Staley, Maureen Budway, Steve Davis, Jay Ashby, Joe Negri, David Budway, Ron Affif, Freddy Cole, Sean Jones (with the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra), Gloria Reuben, and Brazilian vocalist Kenia. Thomas has been on the faculty of The Afro-American Music Institute since 1998 and Duquesne University since 2015, where he teaches drums, chamber jazz ensemble, and jazz history.

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant, Cucina Alfabeto, is open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Please visit OpenTable or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.