Soojin Park and Members of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra Perform Afternoon Concert at the Carnegie Carnegie

Trombonist Reggie Watkins, percussionist Soojin Park, Bassist Paul Thompson and Dr. Alton Merrill on keyboard.

 Soojin Park, percussionist, performed this evening with three members of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie. The percussionist was the featured artist in the Carnegie's Emerging Artist Series, which closed out the current season this evening. There'll be more to come next year.

Trombonist Reggie Watkins, Bassist Paul Thompson, percussionist Soojin Park and Dr. Alton Merrill on keyboard.

In concert with her were Dr. Alton Merrill on keyboard, Paul Thompson on bass and Reggie Watkins on trombone.. To warm up the audience with a holiday tune, the ensemble opened with a jazz version of "Chestnuts Roasting on an open Fire." The afternoon program was a mix of tempos and moods and included everything from Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" and Billy Strayhorn's "Rain Check" to Kenny Baron's "Seascape."

Park included a composition of her own titled, "All Saints Day," a lyrical piece dedicated to honor her husband, Jonathan's grandfather, who died on the same day as the son

g's title.

Per its website, the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall and the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra collaborates on spotlighting rising stars alongside some of Pittsburgh’s most accomplished jazz musicians. The multi-generational Emerging Artist Series celebrates the city’s rich jazz heritage while showcasing fresh voices shaping its future.

Soojin Park

Drummer and composer Soojin Park, originally from South Korea, studied at Berklee College of Music and at Duquesne University with jazz greats Bob Gullotti and Thomas Wendt. She has performed with Pittsburgh luminaries Mike Tomaro, Dwayne Dolphin, and Marty Ashby. In this concert, Park appears in The Studio, an intimate performance space, alongside members of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra—an ensemble dedicated to performing the broad scope of jazz styles and honoring Pittsburgh’s enduring legacy as a jazz hub.

The performances are an engaging jazz performance accompanied by lite brunch bites in a relaxed atmosphere.

On Friday, December 19, at 7:30 p.m., 17 musicians from the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra will take to the Point Park University stage for its annual holiday concert. For tickets, go to https://playhouse.culturaldistrict.org/.../pittsburgh.