JOE NEGRI PERFORMS IN WHEELING NEIGHBORHOOD

WHEELING, W.Va. (August 24, 2009)- -Most people recognize Joe Negri as the affable Handyman Negri on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." But jazz fans recognize him as an educator, composer and one of the country’s finest jazz guitarists.

Negri is coming to our neighborhood as Oglebay Institute’s Jazz at the Stifel opens its 2009-2010 season at 8 p.m. Saturday, September 12 with a performance by the Joe Negri Trio.

One of the most recognizable names in Pittsburgh music circles, Negri was a musical prodigy at age 6 and was touring nationally by age 16. He has performed with diverse artists such as Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Michael Feinstein, Wynton, Branford and Ellis Marsalis and Yo Yo Ma.

With a career spanning several decades, Negri has performed in every aspect of the music business. He is a frequent guest with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony Pops with Marvin Hamlish and is featured on the P.S.O’s recording “Cinema Serenade” with Ishtak Pearlman and John Williams.

Serving as musical director for more than 20 years at WTAE, the ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh, Negri has produced and performed on several award winning television programs. His frequent appearances as Handyman Negri on the PBS show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” provided Negri with national television exposure.

Negri also has distinguished himself as a composer, receiving critical and artistic acclaim for his compositions.

Negri continues to lead a very active life as a musician with several CDs to his credit. He also shares his knowledge and experience of jazz guitar through his teaching at the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne and his alma mater Carnegie Mellon.

Don’t miss your chance to see this award winning jazz artist in your neighborhood at 8 p.m. Saturday, September 12 at the Stifel Fine Arts Center, 1330 National Road in Wheeling. Admission is $20. Call the Stifel Center at 304.242.7700 to make reservations. Refreshments are available for purchase at all shows, and parking is free and available just behind the center.

The entire 2009-2010 Jazz at the Stifel line-up, which is proudly sponsored by Dinsmore and Shohl, LLP is as follows:

September 12, 2009 - The Joe Negri Trio
October 10, 2009 - Roger Humphries R. H. Factor
November 14, 2009 - The Phoenix Jazz Project with Curtis Johnson
January 9, 2010 - Boilermaker Jazz Band
February 13, 2010 - Catch 22
March 13, 2010 - Trio Bravo

These programs are made possible through the generous support of the members of the Institute as well as with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts.