MCG Jazz 2026/27 Single Ticket Events
Jazz Beat: Past Meets Present
Exploring Pittsburgh Jazz History Through Rare
WQED Footage, Live Music & Conversation
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 7:00 PM
MCG Jazz Music Hall
Join MCG Jazz and WQED for a special evening of Pittsburgh jazz, featuring artists from across generations.
Hosted by Classical WQED’s Jim Cunningham, the evening weaves together rare footage from WQED’s Jazz Beat with live performances by Pittsburgh jazz legends and the next generation of Pittsburgh greats. WQED produced Jazz Beat from 1964-1966 and showcased live performances by leading local and national jazz artists.
See Jazz Beat performances by Joe Negri, Harold Betters, and Benny Benack Sr. – then watch that legacy come to life as Benny Benack II and Benny Benack III, MCG Jazz 2026/27 Artist-in-Residence, take the stage together.
Rounding out the evening are performances by Jeff Bush, Bill Bonidie, Max Leake, Roger Humphries, and Anton DeFade, along with a conversation between Jim Cunningham and original Jazz Beat host Bill Hillgrove.
After the show, enjoy more music, light refreshments, and a meet and greet in the lobby.
PA250 “OUR JAZZ STORY”
Celebrating Jazz and Pennsylvania’s Role in American History
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 | 7:00 PM
MCG Jazz Music Hall
Presented by: The PA Jazz Alliance, Inc., in partnership with Pennsylvania Creative Industries and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Performed by: The Keystone Jazz Orchestra • Directed by: Maestro Marko Marcinko
In celebration of America250PA, Pennsylvania Creative Industries has awarded the PA Jazz Alliance, Inc. (PAJA), a National Endowment for the Arts grant, to present PA250 “Our Jazz Story.” This exciting program honors Pennsylvania’s rich musical heritage while highlighting jazz as one of America’s original and greatest cultural contributions.
Pennsylvania’s Role in Jazz History: Born in New Orleans, jazz traveled north along the Mississippi River and found a vibrant home in Pennsylvania’s cities and towns. Pennsylvania has played a major role in the story of jazz—hosting the nation’s first recognized jazz festival, The Cavalcade of Dixieland Jazz 1951, and producing legendary jazz artists such as: John Coltrane * Art Blakey * Billie Holiday * Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey * George Benson * Nina Simone * Henry Mancini and Many More! From early jazz and Swing to Bebop, Post-Bop, and modern fusion, Pennsylvania has remained a powerful force in jazz history.
Experience PA250 “Our Jazz Story” brought to life by the acclaimed Keystone Jazz Orchestra, a 20-piece all star ensemble performing the music of Pennsylvania’s greatest jazz masters and comprised of some of PA’s greatest jazz musicians.
In support of America250PA’s mission to “educate, preserve, and celebrate Pennsylvania’s history across all 67 counties, this five-city tour will engage and enhance audiences through: Live jazz performances * Historical narration *Projected images and storytelling * Recognition of Jazz’s impact on Pennsylvania, America, and the World. Narration will feature partnerships with Pennsylvania State Senators and Representatives.
Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra
Holiday Concert
Tuesday, December 22, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Pittsburgh Playhouse
Swing into the season with the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra Holiday Concert! This beloved Pittsburgh tradition brings the spirit of the holidays to life with dazzling big band arrangement, festive favorites, and world-class musicians. Celebrate the magic of the season with an unforgettable evening of music, joy, and holiday cheer.
In addition to new arrangements and hits from the highly praised PJO recording Joyful Jazz, the evening will also celebrate the 65th anniversary of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's The Nutcracker Suite.
Please note, all tickets for this event are through the Pittsburgh Playhouse, they can be contacted at (412) 392-8000 or in person at 350 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
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Tony Trischka’s EarlJam – A Tribute to Earl Scruggs
Saturday, February 27, 2027 | 7:30 PM
MCG Jazz Music Hall
“Tony Trischka is known as the father of modern bluegrass”
– NY Times.
Tony Trischka is considered the consummate banjo artist and perhaps the most influential banjo player in the roots music world. For more than 50 years, his stylings have inspired a whole generation of bluegrass and acoustic musicians with the many voices he has brought to the instrument.
Tony will be honoring the music of Earl Scruggs, pioneer of the three-finger banjo style and one of the most important musicians in bluegrass, or, in Tony’s opinion, in any genre.
Trischka recently came into possession of extremely rare recordings of jam sessions with Scruggs and John Hartford, and he’s transcribed and recorded Scruggs’s note-for-note solos from a number of these. Many songs that Earl had never recorded.
Together with his ace band—Michael Daves on vocals and guitar, fiddler Alex Hargreaves, and bassist Jared Engel— they will trace the story of Scruggs from his childhood to his final years. This show debuted at Joe’s Pub in New York City, which drew lots of interest, including an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, a rarity for a banjo player these days.
“Earl is my North Star, a lifetime pathway. And I’m not alone,” says Trischka, a banjo innovator and educator who has influenced everyone from Béla Fleck to Steve Martin. “Through his music, this shy kid from Flint Hill, North Carolina, went on to enrich countless thousands of lives. At the age of 13, when I first heard 16 notes of Scruggs-style banjo playing, I put down my folk guitar and mercilessly pestered my parents to buy me a banjo. Once in my hands, that 5-string became my obsession and has been for 60 years.”
For groups of 10 or more, please contact the box office at (412)322-0800.