Thursday Night Jazz: Thomas Wendt’s “Off Minor” Honors Barry Harris

Thomas Wendt’s Off Minor Series returns this fall to celebrate and honor jazz legend Barry Harris. The performance will include an iconic trio of jazz musicians, featuring local artists Paul Thompson on bass and Thomas Wendt on percussion, as well as New York based pianist Michael Weiss. Michael returns to the Alphabet City stage to perform a set full of music written by or for Barry Harris, his mentor and teacher. The trio will also perform several of Master Harris’ favorite compositions by Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell.

Barry Harris (December 15, 1929—December 8, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator who, as a musician, became known for his virtuosity, marked by complex chord structures and speed of play. An exponent of the bebop style that became popular after World War II, he played with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Yusuf Lateef, Coleman Hawkins, Cannonball Adderley, Dexter Gordon, and Sonny Stitt, among many other musicians. Thelonious Monk, a close friend, and Charlie Parker are considered to be among Harris’s chief influences.

Save the date! Tom Wendt’s “Off Minor” will be back again this fall on Thursday, November 14th and Thursday, December 12th.

About the Musicians:

Pianist Michael Weiss, grand prize winner of the 2000 BMI/Thelonious Monk Institute Composers Competition, has established a formidable reputation working in the groups of jazz legends Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Frank Wess, George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Lou Donaldson, Charles McPherson, the Jazztet, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. In addition to his demand as a sideman, Weiss’ role as bandleader, recording artist, composer, arranger and educator have earned him accolades from both audiences and critics. Born in Dallas, Michael began piano studies at age six. At 15, he discovered the world of jazz at the Interlochen academy in Michigan. There Weiss studied arranging and subsequently penned several big band scores while in high school. He continued his studies at Indiana University while gaining invaluable bandstand experience with Indianapolis jazz veterans, Al Kiger and Pookie Johnson. Weiss first gained international exposure with the release of his debut recording, Presenting Michael Weiss (Criss Cross). It was awarded Stereo Review‘s “Best Recording of the Month” and was “Jazz Pick of the Year” on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Weiss’ latest recording, his first trio outing in 25 years, was released in 2023. Homage (Cellar Live), features Weiss’ well crafted original compositions and unique treatments of time-honored standards.

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 including the sextet, Firm Roots. He is also a member of the newly reformed Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra. Thomas 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 Thomas 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, as well as traveling with alto saxophonist Jim Snidero. He has recorded with Gene Ludwig, Sandy Staley, Maureen Budway, Steve Davis and Jay Ashby, Joe Negri, David Budway, Ron Affif, Freddy Cole and Sean Jones (w/ the Pgh Jazz Orch.), 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.

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, among others. 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 5-9pm. Please visit Open Table or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.