ON THE UPBEAT
MCG Jazz subscriptions sell at impressive 85% of capacity
Pittsburgh’s jazz scene has found its groove. (May the muses forgive that god-awful pun.) For the curious and the casual, there’s Con Alma, the Downtown jazz club and restaurant that puts local talent onstage most nights. There’s the Cultural Trust’s weekly JazzLive concerts, also mainly local “cats,” and performances at wineries and distilleries in the area.
Then there’s MCG Jazz at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild on the North Side, which brings top talent from all over the world to the Steel City.
MCG recently announced its programming for its 38th season, a series of first-time performances by new artists and familiar faces trying new works or combinations. There will also be an artist-in-residence, pianist and composer Ray Angry, who will participate in community programming.
On the business side, MCG has bounced back faster than some other arts organizations in the city. Its $1.6 million budget is about the same as before the pandemic. Its subscriptions sell out about 85% of the 350-seat hall.
It’s a smaller number of seats but a much higher percentage than other arts organizations.
“Ticket sales only cover 40% of the nut, so it’s a big lift on the side,” said Marty Ashby, vice president and executive
producer of MCG Jazz,
There’s plenty of synergy between MCG and other venues that showcase jazz. MCG’s unofficial house band, Aurora Jazz Fusion, has a standing gig at Con Alma. And Ashby, who founded the MCG series 37 years ago, programs both MCG and JazzLive shows.
They also share audiences: “Con Alma’s audience definitely shows up here sometimes,” Ashby said.
“They’re turning people onto jazz — the quality of music they present is top notch.”
The MCG series consists of 12 programs, two concerts each. Most concerts are on Saturdays, but this year four performances will take place on Fridays due to audience requests.
Of particular note are international names like the Amina Figarova Sextet and Matsiko World Orphan Choir, which raises money for children. There’s also Abdullah Ibrahim, a famous South African pianist and composer, who will be 90 when he comes to Pittsburgh.
“We’re holding prices steady because we want people to subscribe,” Ashby said.
“The rumor is that we’re always sold out, but if you wanna come to a show, I guarantee I’ll get you in,” he said.
Subscriptions start at $210 for four concerts. Additional information is at www.mcgjazz.org.
The MCG 2024-25 season lineup is as follows:
Oct. 4-5: Artist-in-residence Ray Angry with the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra
Oct. 18-19: Amina Figarova Sextet and the Matsiko World Orphan Choir
Oct. 26: Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin
Nov. 9: Abdullah Ibrahim Trio
Nov. 23: DIVA Jazz Orchestra celebrates Jazz Legends of 1924 featuring Kim Nazarian
Dec. 7: Christian Sands Christmas Stories
Jan. 31-Feb. 1: “Beyond Stolen Moments” with the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra conducted by Oliver Nelson Jr.
Feb. 15: An evening with artist-in-residence Ray Angry and special guests
Feb. 28-March 1: WDR Big Band directed by
Bob Mintzer
March 15: Bria Skonberg Quintet
April 5: Joshua Redman Group featuring Gabrielle Cavassa
April 19: Jazz Funk Soul — Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber, and Paul Jackson Jr.
Jeremy Reynolds: jreynolds@post-gazette.com. His work at the Post-Gazette is supported in part by a grant from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Getty Foundation and Rubin Institute.