Thursday Night Jazz: Paul Thompson’s CAPA Jazz Orchestra

City of Asylum welcomes The CAPA Jazz Orchestra, led by Pittsburgh bass icon Paul Thompson, for an evening of inspired performance by the future jazz heroes of Pittsburgh. The CJO features 27 students from Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts School (grades 9-12) playing the music of jazz greats including Jaco Pastorius, Chick Corea, Duke Ellington, and Bob James. The group uses an expanded instrumentation that adds flutes and a string section to the more traditional jazz ensemble. 

Music Director Paul Thompson, known by the Thursday Nigh Jazz crowd for his incredible talent on the bass, shares a new side of himself in this performance: that of a dedicated educator and director. Paul writes original arrangements for the group, tailored to the unique strengths and instrumentation of each year’s cohort of student musicians. This delightful winter concert is complete with guest soloist Scott Boni, who will join the CJO on saxophone.

Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 is a Creative and Performing Arts Magnet school located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s downtown cultural district. In 2009, CAPA was awarded the Blue Ribbon as a school of Distinction by the Department of Education. The mission of Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 is to provide every student in grades 6-12 with a comprehensive academic program rooted in a superior quality arts education experience that encourages excellence and success in their personal development as artists and cultural leaders. CAPA 6-12 offers a challenging and integrated curriculum that equally provides world-class preparation for college and university study, and conservatory-level preparation for artistic careers.

About the Artist:

Paul Thompson has been playing bass professionally for over 30 years, including recording and touring stints with trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. Recent playing credits include Hubert Laws, Geri Allen, Micheal Feinstein, and Bob James. Currently, he can be seen playing around the Pittsburgh area with Salsamba!, THOTH Trio, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, in pit orchestras at the Byham and New Hazlett Theaters, or performing with some of our city’s rich jazz community. An active educator, Paul currently teaches Jazz Bass at Duquesne University and West Virginia University and is an Adjunct Instrumental Music teacher at his alma mater, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 Performing Arts School. http://www.youtube.com/pdbass

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant Cucina Alfabeto is open for dinner from 5-10pm. Please visit Open Table or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.