Music Notes for April - Jazz Appreciation Month

April is the month of rebirth, warmer weather, rising spirits and at St. Paul’s, as always, wonderful music both in worship and in concert.

As you may know, April is Jazz Appreciation Month, a month to honor Jazz, “America’s Classical Music.” Created by John Edward Hasse, PhD, curator of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, this month-long celebration “pays tribute to jazz as both a living and as an historic music.” Here at St. Paul’s we have a Jazz Artist in Residence, Saxophonist and composer, Lee Robinson who with his small ensemble named, “Iska” plays here, on college campuses and in the community. Lee holds a summer jazz camp at St. Paul’s so stay tuned for registration information. We also have parishioner Michael Plaskett, a jazz scholar and Jazz radio host of “Rhythms Sweet and Hot” aired on WESA, 90.5 FM every Saturday evening from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Periodically, I have the honor of being his pianist in a small ensemble that takes these hot tunes on the road. Recently the Pittsburgh community has restored Jazz programming to the radio airwaves. The Pittsburgh Jazz Channel (Pittsburghjazz.net) has initiated a full time all jazz station at WZUM AM 1550. Currently heard in the South Hills, WYZR-FM 88.1 is on the air with major power increase coming to extend jazz programming into the region. So this month and every month, tune in and turn on to Jazz!

In the month of April and May our Youth Praise band under the direction of Bryan Sable will twice be providing music at the 8:45 liturgy. On April the 24th and May15th these young singers and instrumentalists will uplift your singing and welcome the Bishop on May 15th, both Pentecost and Confirmation