Your Summer Soundtrack Is Here:
MCG Jazz's 2026 Summer Concert Lineup
Summer in Pittsburgh just got a whole lot better.
MCG Jazz has put together a lineup that covers every angle: intimate evenings in our Music Hall, free outdoor concerts in the parks, live music brunch parties at City Winery, JazzLive (now at the new Arts Landing!), and a few genuinely one-of-a-kind events you'll be talking about long after the last note fades and the stage lights go down.
Whether you're a lifelong jazz devotee, a casual music fan looking for a great night out, or someone who just wants to spread a blanket on the grass with a beer and soak in a free show under the stars, there's something here with your name on it.
Here's your complete guide to our MCG Jazz Summer:
U.S. Navy Band Commodores
Thursday, June 18 | 7:00 & 9:30 PM | MCG Jazz Music Hall
FREE — but advance registration is required (max 4 tickets per order)
We're kicking off summer with two shows in one night from one of the most storied big bands in the country. The U.S. Navy Band Commodores have been performing the very best of big band jazz for more than 50 years. Formed in 1969, this 18-member ensemble carries on the jazz big band tradition with some of the finest musicians in the world. Their mission goes beyond performance: the Commodores serve veterans and communities through education clinics, ceremonial appearances, national concert tours, and protocol performances for high-level government officials. Learn more about this show here.
This fantastic show is being supported by the National Endowment for the Arts in recognition of Freedom 250.
Two sets, one incredible band, zero dollars. Just be sure to register early– this one is filling up fast, and there's a maximum of four tickets per order.
Register for free tickets here.
Jamie Baum Septet+
Friday, June 26 | 7:30 PM | MCG Jazz Music Hall
This one is a Pittsburgh debut– and it is a big deal. World-renowned flutist and composer Jamie Baum has appeared in the DownBeat Critics’ Poll every single year since 1998 and has been nominated by the Jazz Journalists Association for "Flutist of the Year" 14 times. Jamie’s bringing her award-winning New York City band (described in her own words as a "take no prisoners" ensemble) to our stage for the first time,performing music from their recently released recording What Times Are These, which earned five stars in DownBeat and has been called "thrilling" and "a revelation." The New York Times described Baum as having "an elegantly persuasive composing hand." They were not wrong.
The full Septet+ roster is a who's who of the modern jazz world! Musicians in the Septet+ are among the most exciting NYC-based, top level versatile players and have performed with renowned musicians ranging from Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, Kenny Barron, Jim Hall, Red Rodney & Ira Sullivan to Leonard Bernstein, Barbara Streisand and The Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group.
The band features JAMIE BAUM - flutes/composition, JONATHAN FINLAYSON - trumpet, GREG WARD - alto sax, CHRIS KOMER - French horn, BRAD SHEPIK - guitar, LEO GENOVESE - piano, IKE STURM - bass. JEFF HIRSHFIELD - drums, SARAH ELIZABETH CHARLES - voice and RICH STEIN - percussion.
This is a ten-piece band at the top of its game, in an intimate room: MCG’s highly-regarded music hall. Don't miss it.
*Note: This presentation is supported through a Chamber Music America Presenter Consortium for Jazz grant in collaboration with the Rochester International Jazz Festival, and is a component of the Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles Project funded by the Doris Duke Foundation.
Etta Cox: Jazz Favorites Brunch
Saturday, June 27 | Doors 11:00 AM | Show 12:00 PM | City Winery Pittsburgh
In Partnership with City Winery Pittsburgh
If you know Pittsburgh jazz, you know Etta Cox. And if you don't, this is your introduction— and boy are you in for a treat!
Originally from St. Joseph, Missouri, Etta Cox has spent decades building one of the most celebrated careers in Pittsburgh's music history. She has been voted "Best Jazz Vocalist" in Pittsburgh for eight consecutive years. Her career spans music, theater, television, and film, from Broadway productions to standout performances at Pittsburgh Public Theater and City Theatre. And her longtime collaboration with renowned jazz trombonist Al Dowe further cemented her place as a true cornerstone of the Pittsburgh jazz community. She’s the recipient of many accolades including the Harry Schwalb Award for Excellence in the Arts and the YWCA Arts and Letters Award, and more.
This brunch show at City Winery brings together great food, great wine, and one of the most commanding voices you will ever hear in a live setting like this. À la carte brunch is available separately and is not included in the ticket price of the event. Food and beverage service is available directly to your table, or arrive early to dine in the restaurant. (If you’re planning on eating, table reservations encouraged via Resy app starting one month before the show.)
*All ticketing for this event is handled exclusively through City Winery Pittsburgh. Get tickets here, call (412) 246-1000, or visit in person at 1627 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
The Kings of Latin Jazz: Tito Puente, Jr. & Nestor Torres Together!
Sunday, June 28 | 7:30 PM | Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater | FREE: no tickets needed
Opener: Hugo Cruz and Caminos
Presented by the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series
Two legends, one stage, a beautiful summer Sunday evening— and it won't cost you a cent.
Tito Puente, Jr. and Nestor Torres together is exactly the kind of bill that makes you stop and do a double take. Add Hugo Cruz and Caminos, and it becomes an utterly even more of a treat. These amazing openers will surely get the rhythms going before our iconic headliners take the stage (more on Hugo Cruz below.. because you'll be seeing him again in July!)
The gate at Hartwood Acres opens at 3:00 PM, and local food trucks, Black Dog Winery, and Hop Farm Brewing Company will be on-site starting at 6:00 PM. The concert begins at 7:30 PM. Rain or shine. It’s an open-air amphitheater, with no covered seating, and no tickets required. Just show up, find a spot, and enjoy the sounds of summer!
PS: There really is something for everyone. This is an evening the whole family can enjoy! We will also be joined by MCG Youth's Guild on the Go and will be doing a fun “Instrument Petting Zoo” with Brighton Music.
Permitted: folding chairs, outside food and drinks, leashed dogs (up to date on vaccinations and licensing.) Pop-up tents and umbrellas for shade before the show must be taken down before the performance begins.
Hugo Cruz and Caminos: Cuban Jazz Party Brunch
Saturday, July 11 | Doors 11:00 AM | Show 12:00 PM | City Winery Pittsburgh
In Partnership with City Winery Pittsburgh
After his opener set at Hartwood Acres with Tito Puente, Jr. and Nestor Torres, Hugo Cruz brings the full Caminos experience to City Winery for an afternoon that is going to be absolutely electric.
Hugo Cruz is a Cuban-born, award-winning international drummer, composer, bandleader, and music educator who has performed in South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, and across the United States. A graduate of Cuba's prestigious Instituto Superior de Artes, Cruz was named Best Drummer at Havana's Festival del Tambor Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam. His group, Caminos, has appeared at major venues including the Smithsonian Museum, the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, and Carnegie Museum, as well as Havana's Fábrica de Artes.
Drawing from their acclaimed recordings Punto de Partida and Figure It Out, Hugo Cruz & Caminos blend Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz, funk, rock, and R&B into an original sound that honors traditional Cuban forms while pushing them somewhere completely new. It is described as a "musical journey without borders.” From everything we've seen, that description earns every word.
À la carte brunch is available separately, not included in show ticket pricing. There will be food and beverage service to your table, or you may dine in the restaurant before the show (but Resy reservations are encouraged starting one month out.)
*All tickets for this event are fulfilled through City Winery Pittsburgh. Get tickets here, call (412) 246-1000, or stop by 1627 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
Marion Meadows & Alex Bugnon
Saturday, July 18 | 7:30 PM | MCG Jazz Music Hall
A double bill of two artists who have each built devoted followings over decades of near-relentless touring, recording, and performing… and who, together, make for a genuinely special evening.
Marion Meadows is not easy to categorize, and that's part of what makes him great. He's a chart-topping saxophonist, an Emmy-recognized session contributor, an accomplished visual artist, and photographer, and the holder of a Doctorate in Arts and Humanities from Wilberforce University. His origin story reads almost like a jazz fairy tale: Emmy-winning Star Trek composer Jay Chattaway heard him play and introduced him to Grammy-winning pianist Bob James, who helped launch Marion's solo career. That was the beginning of a decades-long run at the top of the contemporary jazz world.
Alex Bugnon has been quietly building one of the most consistent careers in jazz piano for nearly 30 years. He has appeared at Washington D.C.'s legendary Blues Alley for 20 consecutive years, a run that surpassed even Dizzy Gillespie's record at the venue. By his account Bugnon practices piano every single day without exception… and if he's not playing, he's listening to his influences: Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Ahmad Jamal, Wynton Kelly, Keith Jarrett, and others who represent the deepest roots of the jazz piano tradition.
Two artists combining their superstar powers, only at MCG Jazz.
Roger Humphries Presents a Jazz Celebration for Bill Strickland
Saturday, August 8 | Doors 11:00 AM | Show 12:00 PM | City Winery Pittsburgh
In Partnership with City Winery Pittsburgh
Celebrating jazz excellence and community, this tribute promises a deeply meaningful afternoon of music. Roger Humphries, a legendary drummer and educator with over sixty years of influence, has worked with icons like Ray Charles and Stanley Turrentine while mentoring countless musicians.
This heartfelt performance honors the life and legacy of Bill Strickland, the visionary founder of Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Award, whose impact on Pittsburgh’s cultural landscape continues to be felt today.
Accompanied by an elite ensemble, Humphries will explore music from Bill’s favorite artists, such as Ray Brown, Ahmad Jamal, and Cal Tjader. This tribute brings together jazz excellence, community, and celebration for a truly special afternoon of music. Come celebrate a lasting friendship and legacy during this afternoon of swing, soul, and sweet sentiment shared through song.
*All ticketing for this event is handled exclusively through City Winery Pittsburgh. Get tickets here, call (412) 246-1000, or visit in person at 1627 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
Women in Jazz Festival: Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Quartet
Friday, August 14 | 7:30 PM | South Park Amphitheater FREE | no tickets needed.
Presented by the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series
The summer closes out in style with the Women in Jazz Festival, and the confirmed lineup is already extraordinary.
Su Terry with Jazz de Barro and Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Quartet are headlining, with more female-identifiying artists still to be announced. This is a celebration of women at the forefront of jazz (including performers, composers, bandleaders alike,) and it's happening outdoors, under the summer sky, all for free.
Food trucks, the Black Dog Winery, and Hop Farm Brewing Co. on-site starting at 6:00 PM. Concert at 7:30 PM, rain or shine, open-air amphitheater. South Park Amphitheater is located at 100 Farmshow Drive, South Park Township, PA 15129.
Plus: we’re excited to share that our friends at Women Who Rock will also be tabling at this event.
One More Thing: Circle September 26 On Your Calendars!
It might be after summer comes to a close, but we encourage you to save the date for our season opener.
Before the 40th season officially kicks off, there is one standalone event that deserves its own spotlight– and honestly, its own calendar block:
Jazz Legends Event & Fallingwater 90th Celebration with the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra
Saturday, September 26 | 7:30 PM | MCG Jazz Music Hall
**Not included in season subscriber packages — standalone ticketed event
This is pretty much three milestone celebrations wrapped up into one extraordinary night.
First: MCG Jazz will be inducting the next class of Pittsburgh Jazz Legends. Since 2008, MCG Jazz has honored hometown jazz masters who have stayed rooted in Pittsburgh, kept the jazz music scene vibrant and alive, and mentored generations of musicians on and off the bandstand. The new inductees will join the previous 35 Legends in a ceremony that celebrates not just individual achievement, but the entire Pittsburgh jazz community and its living legacy.
Second and third: the evening also marks MCG Jazz's 40th anniversary and the 90th anniversary of Fallingwater. The connection between the two is real and meaningful. Our facility (the Manchester Bidwell Corporation building in Pittsburgh’s Chateau neighborhood) was designed by Tasso Katselas, a direct student and protegee of the esteemed Frank Lloyd Wright. To honor both milestones, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra will perform Andy Farber's Usonian Suite and give the world premiere of Mike Tomaro's new work, Fallingwater.
Then…after the show, it’s the after-party! Join us for a post-concert celebration with all the Jazz Legends, a jam session, and the kind of evening that only comes around once every few decades. Maybe even once in a lifetime!
This event is not part of the 40th season subscriber package. It is a one-night event here at MCG Jazz, and it will surely be something to remember.
The Full Summer at a Glance
And don’t forget about JazzLive all summer long– now jamming at Arts Landing! https://trustarts.org/pct_home/events/series/jazz
Visit mcgjazz.org for full details, and sign up for the MCG Jazz newsletter to be the first to know about shows, announcements, and updates.
It's going to be one hot summer!
See you out there! 🎶
PS: Curious about what else we have going on? Check out our Encore Experiences for Summer 2026.
