Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra

Reggie Watkins

Born: August 24, 1971

Trombonist, pianist, arranger and composer Reggie Watkins has released five recordings as leader. The March 28th 2025 release of Rivers (BYNK Records) features Watkins on trombone with his quartet playing all of his original compositions and arrangments. In addition to composing and performing with his own groups, he is a member of the 3X Grammy nominated group Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band, The Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, Steeltown Horns and Keystone Jazz Collective. Watkins has toured and recorded extensively with artists such as trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, Jason Mraz, The Temptations, Postmodern Jukebox, Dumpstaphunk, and saxophonist Richie Cole.

Thomas Wendt

Born: November 26, 1978

Thomas Wendt has been playing the drums professionally since the age of 14. A graduate of The Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, he has studied with master drummers Roger Humphries, Joe Harris, and Kenny Washington. Thomas maintains a busy freelancing schedule with Pittsburgh��s top jazz artists such as Dwayne Dolphin, Joe Negri, Sean Jones, David Budway, Kenia, the Latin jazz group, Salsamba, and the newly re-formed Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra. He has also played with many visiting international artists like David ��Fathead�� Newman, Donald Byrd, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Phil Woods, Freddy Cole, Monty Alexander, Bill Watrous, Paquito D��Rivera, Curtis Lundy, Wycliffe Gordon, Ann Hampton Calloway and Javon Jackson

Joyful Jazz

By Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra

Label: MCG Jazz
Released: 2015
Track listing: Jingle Bells; Jingles, the Christmas Cat; Carol of the Bells; A Cradle in Bethlehem; Do You Hear What I Hear?; It��s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year; White Christmas; Merry Christmas, John Coltrane; Snowfall; Sleigh Ride; The Christmas Song; Joy to the World.

Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra: Joyful Jazz

by Jack Bowers
November 5, 2015

One way in which to launch an appraisal of this outstanding seasonal album, the first ever by the world-class Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, is to check out its candid--and uncommonly accurate--title. Joyful? Most definitely. Jazz? Without a doubt. For five years, the orchestra's annual holiday celebration has been a welcome tradition for families in the greater Pittsburgh ...