Thursday Night Jazz: Paul Thompson Directs the CAPA Jazz Orchestra

Photo Credit: David Roth. Photo Courtesy: Paul Thompson.

Representing the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School, the 20-piece CAPA Jazz Orchestra presents their spring concert under the direction of Paul Thompson. They are joined by special guest Dan Meunier on steelpan. 

Music Director Paul Thompson, known by the Thursday Night 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. 

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, Michael 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. More at: http://www.youtube.com/pdbass 

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.