Heading to the SF Funk Fest, feeling grateful for Pittsburgh

Fred heads west his week for the San Francisco Funk Festival, after being honored and thoroughly jazzed to be with jazz greats and a great actor as part of the 46th University of Pittsburgh Jazz Seminar and Concert.

In San Francisco, Fred will return Friday night to The Mezzanine to reunite with old friend Clyde Stubblefield and new friend Elise Testone as guests with The James Brown Dance Party. Click here for tickets.

In Pittsburgh, Fred got to show his professorial side in an excellent seminar about "The Role of Jazz in Funk."

He especially enjoyed the interaction with participants including S. Epatha Merkerson ...

... and vocalist Cassandra Wilson ...

... saxophonist David McMurray and New JBs bassist and Pittsburgher Dwayne Dolphin ...

... and Jazz Studies Director and pianist Geri Allen, with whom he left his mouthpiece as an artifact for the program, and from whom he received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

On Thursday night, Fred got a chance to play with fellow Count Basie veteran Dr. Nelson Harrison at legendary drummer Roger Humphries' weekly jam session at James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy. Harrison brought his trombetta.