Courtesy. Integrity. Perseverance. Self-Control. Indomitable Spirit. 

These are the five tenets of the dynamic, Korean martial art of Taekwondo. With origins as a defensive practice, Taekwondo is a discipline that focuses on unity between the body and mind, encouraging the development of spiritual, mental, and physical techniques. This January,  Jazz musician and Taekwondo practitioner Jason Kush returns to City of Asylum to share a preview of his forthcoming album Tenets, a tribute to the practice of Taekwondo. The six-track album of Jason’s original compositions will showcase songs that correspond with each tenet, reimagining the discipline through jazz interpretations that have been years in the making. Tenets will be released by MCG Jazz in the spring of 2025. 

Featured Musicians:

Jason Kush: saxophone

Alton Merrell: piano

Jeff Grubbs: bass

David Glover: drums

About the Artist:

Dr. Jason Kush is an acclaimed saxophonist, educator, and scholar. Jason has performed as a leader, soloist, and ensemble member in a wide variety of musical settings in the United States, Europe, and Central and South America. Skilled and accomplished in multiple genres, Jason is a member of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra and has performed fourteen seasons with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, including a European tour. Prior to relocating to Pittsburgh, he performed five seasons with the New World Symphony, including an extended tour of France and Spain. Jason has appeared with ensembles including the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Russian National Orchestra, and the Miami Sax Quartet, as well as with artists Maceo Parker, Arturo Sandoval, Eddie Daniels, Christian McBride, Common, and Hugh Jackman, among many others. His solo discography includes Finally Friday (MCG Jazz), Intersecting Lines (New Focus Records/Naxos), and Sonate (Armazi Productions). The Jason Kush Quartet appears regularly at premier jazz venues and Jason’s saxophone talents can be heard on albums by the Mike Tomaro Big Band, Alton Merrell, the South Florida Jazz Orchestra, the Nathan Douds Ensemble, and the Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra. Jason is a Professor of Music at Slippery Rock University and an Artist Lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University. He is endorsed by the Conn-Selmer and Selmer Paris companies, and plays the mouthpieces and ligatures of Belgian craftsman François Louis.

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.