Reggie Pittman, a Musical Chameleon

By Ronald E. Scott
NJ Urban News

Reggie Pittam has worked for the Teaneck public school system for over 30 years, but within that landscape, he has enjoyed a flourishing career as a professional musician, producer, and real estate realtor/investor.

But when you love what you do, it’s not considered work, and the Grammy award winner agreed: “I love everything I am doing; it’s a blessing.” 

As a music teacher at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Teaneck, he’s busy with the school choir and teaching classes like music theory, music technology, creating videos and writing music on computers.

“I enjoy teaching music to inquiring minds,” stated Pittman. “Music sharpens spatial reasoning, math, and science.” 

Over the years, his educational commitment has kept him occupied teaching 95% of the music classes in Teaneck public schools. His students have won national and state competitions. 

He has taken students on educational trips as far as China.

Oh, there’s also his volunteer position as mentoring band leader/artistic director for Junior One Hundred Jazz Band (JOHJASZ); that duty results from Pittman being a member of 21 years and a board member of One Hundred Black Men (OHBM), Inc.    

Ironically, his young students and perhaps their parents may not be aware of the musical depth of Pittman. 

Yes, it’s usual to point out he has a Masters Degree in Music Technology from New York University. 

But his musical astuteness becomes apparent once it’s mentioned that he won a Grammy Award in the jazz category while playing with the Lionel Hampton band. 

His eclectic musical journey defies category. He has performed with a cross-section of renowned artists, from R&B singers Babyface, The Temptations, O’Jays, and Gladys Knight to the jazz rhythms of Branford Marsalis, Natalie Cole, Sarah Vaughan, and Joe Williams, the Latin side of Eddie Palmieri, rockers like Queen, John Mayer, Jaimoe’s Jazz Band, and the hip hop beats of Queen Latifah. 

Most recently, I caught the trumpeter at Jazz at Lincoln Center performing with the Chris Bergson Band (a contemporary jazz blues rock group). He noted that was one of his regular gigs. 

Of course, such acknowledgments are restricted to parent conversations and used only when attempting to alert others of the acclaimed teacher at your child’s middle school. 

Pittman’s professional experience as a first-call trumpeter and bandleader in his own right offers his young students a similar learning experience as his renowned fellow musicians, who are professors at such prestigious institutions as Berklee School of Music in Boston or the New School in New York City. 

He, too, is equipped with a wealth of experience on and off the bandstand, an inside look at the business of music, which is a component in helping students to become responsible individuals.  

For Pittman, music is an ongoing soulful conduit to his life experiences; it is the fabric that connects the sum of his musical roles as a music teacher and professional musician. 

”I don’t consider myself a full-time musician, but I do consider myself a professional musician because I’m full-time in the music,” he said. 

During his four years at Kent State University, the Cleveland native was totally immersed in the music, playing in the jazz band, concert band, marching band, and briefly in the orchestra. 

Even with all that activity and his studies, he still found time to form a jazz and R&B band with Kevin Conwell (councilman), Niles McKinney (a legendary pianist in Cleveland), Steve Cost, and Darryl Crosby (son of Dr. Crosby, chairman of KSU Black Studies).

“I went to college for music education because no one needs a degree to perform. You need a degree to teach. I knew I wanted to move to New York from Ohio,” said Pittman during our phone conversation. 

“I knew it was expensive, and there were a lot of great musicians. An education degree would help solidify my life in NY. I’ve been able to perform at a high level, teach, and buy houses, all in the quad-state area (NY, NJ, CT, PA).”

After graduating from Kent State, he became a member of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra thanks to his college professor, Chas Baker. 

As a member of the orchestra, he and a friend founded the Ohio Jazz Orchestra for Youth, which led to their performance with the great Sarah Vaughan. 

It just so happened that his first gig after graduation was with the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. “That was a memorable first gig. There was a big money dispute, and somehow, I had to broker the deal,” Pittman explained with a chuckle. 

“That was my introduction into the music business, and I went on to play with Arethea many times over the years that followed.”  

While residing in Brooklyn early on, Pittman had the opportunity to work on Broadway in “the pit” once again, thanks to his professor, Chas Baker. 

His horn was heard in such shows as; “Five Guys Named Moe,” “Jelly’s Last Jam,” and “Wedding Singer” among others. These pit performances allowed him to buy properties in New Jersey. 

“My favorite genre is jazz, but I would say I play R&B better, only because I’ve been doing it more and longer,’ explained Pittman. “I’m a musician who loves music and is always trying to learn.”