Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival

The Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival is a four-day celebration held Sept. 19-22, 2024, with live music events held at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) and on the streets of Liberty Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh. With Pittsburgh's rich jazz history, it's a party you won't want to miss!

Presented by the AWAACC, this unique festival showcases Pittsburgh's jazz legacy and brings the music to life. With performances from national and international artists, along with more than 140 local musicians, the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival welcomes everyone to celebrate jazz in the city.

Entertainment Lineup

Links and more information to all of these artists available on their website.

Sept. 19, 2024 | New York to Pittsburgh

The Jazz Train leaves the station in New York with stops in Newark and Philadelphia with performances from Vanisha Gould and Orrin Evans
Concerts at area Pittsburgh clubs

Sept. 20, 2024 | AWAACC

Maysa concert
Taste of Jazz party featuring:
- Selecta
- Howie Alexander
- Thomas Wendt Quintet
- Reagan Gray & Black Vitaminz.
- Dancing
- Food & Beverage Tastings

Sept. 21, 2024 | Liberty Ave. - Downtown Pittsburgh

FREE
- DJ Big Phill
- Howie Alexander
- Dan Wilson
- Endea Owens
- Shemekia Copeland
- Cimafunk
- Robert Glasper

TICKETED
- Chris Coles ft. Sean Jones

Sept. 22, 2024 | Liberty Ave. - Downtown Pittsburgh

Vanisha Gould
Emmet Cohen
Average White Band
Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band
Luedji Luna
Sean Jones
Marsha Ambrosius

Jazz History in Pittsburgh

Did you know? Pittsburgh was a jazz hub in the 20th century. The city's Hill District was known as “Little Harlem” and attracted jazz legends including Miles Davis, Billy Eckstine, Lena Horne, Duke Ellington and others. Earl “Fatha” Hines was a local pianist and bandleader from Duquesne, PA who influenced Pittsburgh jazz for decades to come. He mentored jazz legend and Pittsburgh native Billy Eckstine who continued to grow jazz in the city. Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn were also major contributors to the success of Pittsburgh jazz. Learn more about jazz in Pittsburgh on our #LovePGH blog.

More Pittsburgh Jazz

You can hear jazz in Pittsburgh at restaurants, breweries and other locations throughout the city. For example, Con Alma is a restaurant and jazz bar that returns jazz to the forefront of the local music scene, showcasing current Pittsburgh musicians with live jazz seven nights a week.

Eddie V's Downtown also has live jazz seven nights a week, plus keep an eye on the events calendars at Sullivan's, Golden Age Beer Co and Muddy Waters Oyster Bar, as well as summer music series like Reservoir of Jazz. For an up-to-date list of upcoming jazz events, check out the WZUM website so you never miss a note.

Con Alma. Credit: @BurghNosh

Jazz-centric Theatres

Located on Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh's August Wilson African American Cultural Center showcases performing and visual art programs that celebrate Black culture. The building is named after American playwright and Pittsburgh native August Wilson whose film adaptations Fences and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom were nominated for multiple Academy Awards, with the latter winning two. The 490+ seat theatre is in a modern building that offers multiple exhibition galleries, an education center, gift shop and café.

The Kelly Strayhorn Theater, named after two Pittsburgh legends, Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, in East Liberty is an innovative theatre space that highlights the Pittsburgh renaissance era. Encouraging diverse, inclusive, artistic and educational performances, the KST continues to grow Pittsburgh's jazz and theatre culture.