Thursday Night Jazz: Steve Ippolito Trio’s Minimalist Improvisational Roots Sounds

Photo Courtesy: Steve Ippolito

Steve Ippolito was born with a pair of drumsticks in hand—or at least that’s how he plays. And while he might not have been born playing the drums, his connection to percussion dates back as far as he can remember. In an interview with WYEP, Steve says, “I’ve been playing drums almost my whole life. I can remember as far back as age three or four at my parents’ house in New Jersey, I had a pair of Zildjian brand sticks in my hand that my grandparents bought me…I didn’t get on my first drum set until I was 12, but knew almost immediately it was something I’d have in my life forever.”

This July, Steve and his fellow trio members, Brad Fritcher and Denzel Chismar-Oliver, pull from modern jazz and electronic music to create something even greater than the sum of its parts in the form of fully improvised tunes.

Featured Musicians:

Brad Fritcher: trumpet, effects, electronics

Denzel Chismar-Oliver: bass

Steve Ippolito: drums

About the Artist:

Steve Ippolito is a drummer and composer based in Pittsburgh, PA, known for his genre-blending compositions and improvisational sound. He has established a reputation for creating music that transcends traditional genres, earning praise from the press and audiences alike for his ability to craft emotionally resonant, intricate musical landscapes. His debut album, Continuum, is an exploration of the continuous ebb and flow of life, capturing the ever-evolving nature of time, emotion, and self-discovery. The album brings together elements of modern jazz, electronic, ambient, and pop music, seamlessly woven into an intricate, multi-layered narrative that reflects the complexity of the human experience. Each track is a movement within a larger whole, inviting listeners to journey through a spectrum of moods, textures, and tempos.

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.