For the first time in nearly 13 years, the city of Wilkes-Barre will host The Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz throughout multiple venues the weekend of May 3rd-5th, 2024. The F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts will host two festival events: the opening ceremony and reception on May 3, as well as an intimate performance by 10-time Grammy award winner Arturo Sandoval.
Tickets and Information
Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz’s 5:30pm Friday, May 3rd opening ceremony and reception is free and open to the public. Guests will be treated to a performance by Joe Michaels Trio.
Jazz legend Arturo Sandoval’s 6:30pm Saturday, May 4th performance takes place live in our Chandelier Lobby. Sandoval will perform with the Cavalcade of Jazz Big Band, under the direction of Marko Marcinko.
General admission seating for Sandoval’s performance is $50 a ticket, while a limited number of standing room only tickets are available for $35 each. The standing room section is located behind general admission seating. Tickets can be purchased at the F.M. Kirby Center box office or at Ticketmaster.com.
About Arturo Sandoval
Born on November 6th, 1949, Arturo Sandoval is a Cuban-American jazz trumpeter, pianist, timbalero, and composer. Influenced by jazz luminaries Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, and Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval’s remarkable journey led him to meet and be mentored by Gillespie, ultimately defecting from Cuba in 1977.
A naturalized American citizen since 1998, Sandoval’s illustrious career has garnered him 10 Grammy Awards, Billboard Awards, and an Emmy Award. His life inspired the film For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000) starring Andy GarcÃa. Sandoval has performed at prestigious venues including the White House and the Super Bowl (1995).
About Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz
On May 3, 4, and 5, 2024, The Wilkes Barre Cavalcade of Jazz comes to downtown Wilkes-Barre, bringing a focus to restaurants, coffee houses, and bars.
The festival starts on Friday, May 3rd, with a free concert and happy hour at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. Then, all attendees can find great meals and live jazz music in downtown bars and restaurants throughout the night.
On Saturday, May 4th, Abide Coffeehouse will host a morning Jazz and Java performance; that evening will feature the festival’s headline artist: 10-time Grammy-winning jazz legend Arturo Sandoval with the Cavalcade of Jazz Big Band under the direction of Marko Marcinko in a ticketed concert at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts.
Sunday morning will round out the festival weekend with a jazz brunch at the Stegmaier Mansion with Scott Edmunds and The Jost Project performing.
A plaque on Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square reads: On February 23, 1951 history was made in Wilkes-Barre. Eight jazz bands got together for “The Cavalcade of Dixieland Jazz” which became the country’s first jazz festival. On this occasion, April 29, 1994, the City of Wilkes-Barre acknowledges and pays tribute to those early jazz musicians and promoters who initiated the tradition which continues today, not only here in its birthplace, but throughout the country.
Lee A. Namey
Mayor of Wilkes-Barre
In the spirit of perpetuating this tradition, the Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz Committee, in partnership with Visit Luzerne County, The City of Wilkes-Barre, and Diamond City Partnership, proudly presents this year’s festival.
The Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz Committee consists of Bob Borwick, Maria Edmunds, AJ Jump, John Maday, Gina Malsky, Marko Marcinko, Shelby Monk, Neil Prisco, Michael Slusser, and Alan Stout.
Leave a Reply