Dec 15, 2003 6 min read

By Mark O’Keefe Herald-Standard

One drawback to making a Christmas CD is it has to be done months ahead of the holidays, usually in the summer.

And how do you get that holiday feel with temperatures in the 90s?

Well, it’s not easy according to Pittsburgh jazz guitarist Joe Negri, who recently released his CD “Guitars for Christmas.’

“It was little bit of a struggle,’ said Negri. “It’s kind of funny. You’re wearing a sportshirt and playing a song about Christmas. I remember one time when the air went down while we were recording “Jingle Bells’ and it got hot in there.

“But somehow the music gets hold of you and you start to get the feeling of Christmas. It didn’t take too long,’ added Negri.

It’s a feeling that Negri said he’d been hoping to capture for quite some time.

“I’ve wanted to do a holiday CD for a long, long time, at least 20-30 years,’ said Negri. “I’ve always loved Christmas and the holidays, and I’ve always loved Christmas music.

“I mentioned it a couple of years ago to Jay Dudt at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, and he’s the one who really took me up on it. Everything just came together after that,’ added Negri.

The CD is the latest accomplishment in a stellar musical career for Negri, who is better known to a lot of people for his various musical performances over the years on local television and his role as “Handyman Negri’ for over 30 years on Fred Rogers’ classic PBS children’s series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.’

Negri, 74, was a child prodigy, growing up in the Mount Washington section of Pittsburgh. He was only 3 when he began singing weekly on the “Uncle Henry’ children’s radio show in the 1930s.

As a teen, he was introduced to jazz recordings by guitarists Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and Les Paul and got hooked on the music. At the age of 16, he crisscrossed the country with the Shep Fields band.

After a stint in the Army, he returned to Pittsburgh and formed the Joe Negri Trio, which played countless gigs in the area. He then attended Carnegie-Mellon University as a music composition major. He attributed the schooling to both becoming a better musician and a more-rounded person.

He moved into TV in the early 1950s, leading a trio on the popular “Buzz ‘N’ Bill Show,’ which ran daily on WDTV-TV, the forerunner to KDKA. He later moved to “The John Reed King Show,’ before becoming music director of WTAE-TV’s live programs, a position he held for over 20 years before retiring.

At one point in the mid-1950s, Negri said he was hired by the Uniontown Chamber of Commerce to come up with a jingle for the city.

“”Everything That’s Going on is Going on in Uniontown,’ is the way it went,’ said Negri. “That was a lot of fun. I’ve always enjoyed that area. I still like going through there on Route 40 on my way up to the mountains.’

In the late 1960s, he entered the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, joining the cast of characters there. Negri said he and Rogers were good friends and he still misses the TV legend, who died several years ago.

“It was a great thrill to be part of the show. Fred was a great guy and a great friend’ said Negri. “Fred was always a big supporter of music on the show. Music was always one of the uppermost things about the show. He liked jazz, and he had a lot of jazz artists on the show over the years.’

Negri said he brought his many years of experience with jazz to the “Guitars for Christmas’ CD. A mellow but lively project, Negri said he and fellow guitarist Marty Ashby played nine guitars, ranging from six-string electric and classical guitars to 12-string acoustic guitars.

“We were looking for a mixture of sounds,’ said Negri. “We were looking for something a little different, and I think we achieved that. ‘

Negri said he it was a pleasure performing with Ashby, who also serves as the executive producer for jazz at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, where the CD was recorded. Ashby also served as co-producer for the CD.

“At first I thought of just playing solo,’ said Negri. “But it was so much easier with Marty. He’s wonderful guitarist and a great accompanist. I thought there was so much more energy with two guitarists, and it worked out great.’

Ashby said he was honored to play with Negri.

“Joe is one of the finest guitarists in the world, and it was a real thrill playing with him,’ said Ashby. “When I came to Pittsburgh over 20 years ago, Joe was one of the first jazz cats I met and I got to know him as a jazz guitar player. I didn’t find out until later about Mr. Rogers. I’ve played with him a lot over the years and we always have a lot of fun. This was special. It was a real testament to his talent.

“He just keeps getting better and better with age. He’s one of those musicians who’s always looking to grow and find new ways of playing,’ added Ashby. “Pittsburgh has had a lot of great jazz musicians over the years, and he ranks up there with them.’

The songs on the CD are a mixture of the secular and spiritual, ranging from “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,’ and “Jingle Bells’ to “Silent Night’ and “Away in a Manger.’

Negri said the he wanted different types of songs on the CD, noting they all have special meaning to him.

“I have a personal relationship with all these songs. They all mean a great deal to me,’ said Negri. “Tu Scendi Dalle Dalle Stelle’ is an Italian folk song which means you descend the stars. “The Secret of Christmas’ is from an old Bing Crosby movie and I just always liked the message of that song.

“I remember singing “Angels We Have Heard on High’ back in the second grade and being really impressed with the harmony. “Away in a Manger,’ is another song that I’ve always loved,’ added Negri. “These were all songs that I had a lot of feeling for and I think that comes through on the CD. ‘

Anyone interested in buying the CD, can do so by calling MCG Jazz at 412-322-1773 ext. 140 or by visiting www.megjazz.org

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