The Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival celebrates the 15th anniversary of the opening of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and the festival’s return to the Cultural District.
The 14th annual festival kicks off with concerts at area clubs on Thursday, followed by ticketed concerts and the popular Taste of Jazz Party on Friday at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, and then takes the music to the streets on Saturday and Sunday.
The PIJF attracts music lovers from all over the country. Pittsburgh is the home and birthplace of jazz legends like Mary Lou Williams, Jeff “Tain” Watts, George Benson, Earl “Fatha” Hines, Roger Humphries, and a proving ground for somany great jazz musicians. Pittsburgh’s rich jazz legacy flows through the city, connecting neighborhoods and spreading jazz culture worldwide.
Hear some of the people still living and jazzing in our city as the festival showcases local greats at the Jazz Crawl on Friday at restaurants and venues around the city. After the jazz crawl, we honor the great vocalist, Maysa Leakat, with a ticketed concert at the AWAAC’s theater. Maysa started her career with Stevie Wonder, then, after auditioning over the phone for the UK musician/producer Bluey, became the voice of the groundbreaking group Incognito, which started the acid-jazz movement. With numerous solo projects, awards, and music that have moved us for over 30 years, the festival honors Maysa with the 2024 PIJF Luminary Award. Following the concert, celebrate the 15th anniversary of the building with the Taste of Jazz Party, with 15 restaurants and live jazz throughout the building.
There is a free street party on Saturday and Sunday with live music on outdoor stages. Bring your chair, grab a meal from the variety of food trucks, enjoy a cold craft beer at our bars curated by Barrel & Flow, and let the kids play at the KidZone. Jam to live performances by some of the people leading jazz ahead; Robert Glasper, Sean Jones, Endea Owens & the Cookout, Orrin Evans, Emmet Cohen and more.
Blues diva Shemekia Copeland will rock the stage, and we will bid farewell and honor the Scottish soul legends, the Average White Band, on their final tour as a group after 51 years. Travel musically to Cuba with CimaFunk and to Brazil with Luedji Luna.
“This year we celebrate RESILIENCE. We’ve emerged from a pandemic and artists are forging ahead with tenacity, some at their most creative. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear new sounds and jam with your favorite artists. Our mission is to preserve the legacy of jazz and amplify the creativity of artists sharing their stories through music.” Janis Burley Wilson, PJIF’s President & CEO/Artistic Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
The Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival 2024 runs from September 19th – 22nd at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and the Cultural District . For more information visit: https://pittsburghjazzfest.org
For tickets to select events click here.
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Show Previews
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