by Rossano P. Stewart
For New Pittsburgh Courier
The August Wilson Center for African American Culture paid tribute to Pittsburgh native, the late Chuck Cooper, graduate of Duquesne University and the first African-American to be drafted by a National Basketball Association, with a concert of music, song and dance.
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| CHUCK COOPER III |
The third annual concert was called “Synthesis,” representing a masala of music popular in the African-American community, said Don Bell, who works as a consumer loan program officer at PNC Bank and was the show’s producer.
“You will see soul, dance and jazz. I envisioned the show as a multi-generational collage of talent and spirit. The night will be for individuals and families alike,” said Bell. “Filling in for Rex Rideout, a native son of Pittsburgh, who had provided musical direction and arranging for the past two years, was Alex Bugnon. Bugnon, a native of Montreux, the city that hosts the famed jazz festival, has an impressive background in jazz.
A product of Berkley School of Music in Boston, Bugnon has worked with some of the great luminaries in music. He has worked with vocalists such as Freddie Jackson, Patti Austin, Najee and the legendary Earth, Wind and Fire. As a band leader, his first major hit in 1989 was “Love Season” and he is also known for such hits as “Okra,” “Around 12:15 AM” and the popular “107 Degrees in the Shade.” Many are still being played on smooth jazz radio stations around the nation. Twelve other performers joined Bugnon on stage at the concert. Among those were neo-soul artist Angela Johnson, hot off of her Grammy winning work with the Tedeschi Trucks Band; trumpeter Maurice Brown, and on the trap drums was Poogie Bell. Also on stage were saxophonist Roby Edwards, up-and coming keyboardist young Brett Williams and rapper Cameron Bell, aka Charlie Slum, son of the show’s producer Don Bell.
The evening’s music sizzled with fire from original tunes by Angela Johnson and popular classics by the Synthesis Band, which included favorites by the Crusaders, War, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder. The audience was blown away by a wide array of music rendered by the talented mix of artists and music. This fact was evident by the demand for an encore by the crowd, of which the musicians and vocalist gladly reciprocated. Overall, the evening was a brilliant success and a wonderful tribute to Chuck Cooper.