Annie O'Neill, Post-Gazette Harold Betters plays during a tribute to Walt Harper at the Rhythm House in Bridgeville. It was a tradition for Mr. Harper to play a gig with his band the Sunday after Thanksgiving for the Pittsburgh Jazz Society. Click photo for larger image.

Walt Harper would have loved last night's party at the Rhythm House in Bridgeville.

It was an event held in his honor, with his band All That Jazz performing and people drinking and laughing and telling stories about the gravelly-voiced pianist who made "Satin Doll" into his personal calling card.

Some of his friends spoke of their first encounter with Mr. Harper. Others talked about Walt Harper's Attic, a club he opened during the late 1960s.

Still others talked about how he helped to shape their musical careers, providing jobs and a wide sense of the music business.

"I think it's wonderful," said Mr. Harper's wife, Maggi. "I'm seeing old friends and people who have followed his entire career. I know Walt is somewhere smiling.

"For the past few weeks, I've heard from Ramsey Lewis, Dr. Billy Taylor, George Wein and others. George told me that whenever he came to Pittsburgh, he knew he had a friend in Walt."

Mr. Harper, who died last month from an apparent heart attack, had many friends.

In fact, he considered everyone he met a friend, and many of those friendships lasted a lifetime.

Many of those friends attended last night's tribute celebration. The concert was sponsored by the Pittsburgh Jazz Society.

"Walt's band played the Sunday after Thanksgiving for 17 years," said Tony Mowod, president of PJS and host of the "Nightside" jazz program at WDUQ-FM. "He always made sure to be around home during Thanksgiving so he could make this gig. Walt traveled all over the world, but he was always home for Thanksgiving."

As the crowd began to fill the room, so did the sound of clinking glasses and laughter.

Mr. Harper's band, led by saxophonist Don Aliquo Sr., began to perform "I'll Drink to That," a tune associated with Mr. Harper.

The piano that normally would have been used by Mr. Harper sat idle, with the group choosing to substitute guitarist Eric Suseoff for it. The band also featured Mr. Aliquo, drummer John Smith, bassist Mark Perna and trombonists Harold Betters and Nelson Harrison. Several other musicians were scheduled to sit in with the group throughout the evening.

Most of the first set featured either Mr. Harper's compositions or tunes he arranged for the band.

Among the favorites was "Just a Taste."

"Walt never lost his enthusiasm for the music," said Mr. Aliquo. "He loved entertaining people. I think he was born to entertain people."

Mr. Harper's death and the recent death of trumpeter Danny Conn were blows to the local jazz scene.

Mr. Harper grew up in Schenley Heights and was a fixture on the scene for more than 50 years.

In 1969, he opened the famed Attic, a club in Market Square. The club, located one flight above a state liquor store, provided a healthy shot in the arm to Downtown life. It showcased groups like the Modern Jazz Quartet, Cannonball Adderley and vocalist Joe Williams.

But after seven years and a messy legal split with his partners, Mr. Harper sold the Attic to devote more time to his music.

But Mr. Harper didn't stay away from the music business too long.

In February 1983, he opened Harper's, a 148-seat restaurant below street level at One Oxford Centre. Unlike the Attic, Harper's had a high-priced chef and was open for dinner.

The restaurant, which stayed opened until 1988, drew corporate clientele for such performers as Nancy Wilson, Dave Brubeck and Max Roach.

That was in keeping with Mr. Harper's goal of removing jazz from its traditional setting of smoke-filled rooms and providing customers with consistently great entertainment.

Mr. Harrison, former sideman in Mr. Harper's band, said he learned so much for the pianist.

"I was brought up by people like Walt," said Mr. Harrison. "He taught us the business. Walt knew that his product was entertainment. He knew how to market his product successfully, and he knew how to treat his customers."

Back on the bandstand, the group launched in "It's a Pleasure," a song strikingly familiar to the theme song from "Candid Camera."

Mr. Harper's daughter, Sharynn Harper, who lives in New York City, said her father would have loved the event.

"Tonight has been very uplifting and musical," she said, "and definitely in the Walt Harper tradition."