In Earnest

MCG Jazz has a long history of creating world-class, award winning jazz recordings. We’re excited today to be announcing the release of our latest production with the musician Alton Merrell. The album is called “Withholding Nothing” and represents years of Alton’s musical explorations and personal experiences coming together. I had a chance to sit down with him recently in anticipation of this release to hear about his journey up to this point. But in talking, we also found our way into his thoughts and reflections on everything that has gone into discovering his own style and identity at the intersection of—and maybe sometimes the tension between—different communities and cultures, and discovering how he and his music can bridge a divide.

A former MCG Youth & Arts student, Eva Funderburgh, is now a professional ceramic artist whose sculptural works are currently on display in our gallery. There will be a closing reception for her show, "Celestial Beasts," on March 3, 2022. Her work can be viewed at @evafunderburgh on Instagram or at mcgyouthandarts.org in the Digital Gallery. Jonathan and Eva discuss creativity, inspiration, craft, and process.

Jonathan goes in-depth with MCG Jazz's executive producer, Marty Ashby, tracing his life and the creation of the unique performance hall and recording venue in Pittsburgh.

Justin Mazzei is the Executive Director of MCG Youth & Arts. He joins Jonathan to discuss art, creativity, youth development, and more.

Dr. Kim Rassau, the executive director for Bidwell Training Center, sits down with Jonathan to talk about her journey through many versions of education both as a student and as an educator.

The second President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation, Kevin Jenkins, sits down with Jonathan to talk about what led him to MBC and his vision for the future of workforce development, art as a vehicle for youth & community development, and more.