#aami

4:00pm Saturday, April 26, 2025

Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.

Tickets: $35

Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of one of jazz’s greatest legends.

Born in East Liberty, legendary jazz pianist and composer Ahmad Jamal transformed the genre with his distinctive style, earning both the National Endowment for the Arts’ Jazz Master Award and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His innovative approach influenced generations of musicians, including Miles Davis.

Jamal’s roots in Pittsburgh ran deep. He first studied piano as a child at the Dawson School of Music, just blocks from where the Afro American Music Institute (AAMI) stands today. Over the years, he maintained a close connection to AAMI, forming a bond with the Johnson family after hiring their son, James T. Johnson III, to play drums for him in the 1990s at the recommendation of Dr. Nelson Harrison.

AAMI honors his legacy with an unforgettable evening of music, celebrating his artistry through performances by a stellar lineup of musicians.

@askaami

*He kind of stumbles his way down the stairs, having just woken up from his nap. His hand is pressing on his stomach, hair disheveled as his half-open eyes makes sure he doesn’t end up bumping on walls*

*When he smells the sweet scent of food, he pauses, his nose twitching. He can hear a faint sound of music coming from the kitchen and without really thinking about his actions, his feet had started to bring him towards the doorway*

*He peeks into the kitchen before a small smile forms on his lips*

Kamal’s dumbass comment about Vidya Balan bringing sexuality into Madhavikutty’s story is already confirming my feeling that it will be a pretty bloodless hagiography like Celluloid (I expect no mention of her husband’s male lovers or her same-sex desires).

So here’s Dr. Meena T. Pillai on the writer:

Ref for Aami.