Music lovers around the area can enjoy a three-day, music-filled weekend at the 21st annual Scranton Jazz Festival from Friday, Aug. 7, to Sunday, Aug. 9, in various venues across downtown Scranton.
The Scranton Jazz Festival is a “celebration of our American culture,” said Marko Marcinko, Archbald native, artistic director and founder of the Scranton Jazz Festival.
According to Marcinko, jazz originated in America and is is one of the great gifts American gave to the world. Jazz also has roots locally in Scranton, including the band Scranton Sirens and two famous jazz musicians, Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey, according to Marcinko.
Those attending the Scranton Jazz Festival can expect an amazing social event with excitement in the streets, according to Marcinko.
“A real uplifting good time to be had by all” and “the highest quality of music seen in London, England, Paris, France and New Orleans sharing their talent with Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Marcinko.
The Scranton Jazz Festival features a free Jazz Walk with over 80 musicians playing at over 20 venues around downtown Scranton on Friday, Aug. 7, and Saturday, Aug. 8, from 6 to 10 p.m.
The Jazz Walk is like the New Orleans French Quarter coming to Scranton for the weekend, according to Marcinko. The Jazz Walk is free to attend and “is just a great vibe for the city,” he said. There will also be a free trolley service running from 6 to 10 p.m. between participating stops, according to the Scranton Jazz Festival website.
At one of the many venues, Paul Lyon of Moscow will be performing with his five-piece blues band, The Merchants of Groove.
The Merchants of Groove was formed in 1989 with musicians from Northeast Pennsylvania. Lyon plays guitar and has performed in the Scranton Jazz Festival for the last five years.
Lyon started playing music in his early 20s doing solo acoustic and class rock, according to Lyon. But after being introduced to blues, Lyon said he “was hooked” and “soaked it up and never looked back.”
The blues is an “essential ingredient in jazz,” said Lyon.
“People think blues is depressing, but it is music to have a good time to,” he said.
Lyon and The Merchants of Groove will be performing at Benny’s Downtown, 119 Jefferson Ave., on Friday, Aug. 7, from 9 p.m. to midnight.
The Scranton Jazz Festival brings “world-class talented music to our area,” said Lyon.
This year’s ticketed event headliners include performances by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band with Ron Carter.
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will perform on Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Theater at North, 539 N. Main Ave., at 7 p.m. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is from New Orleans and brings “the roots of the music to Scranton,” said Marcinko. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has a blend of brass, funk, bebop and R&B, according to the Scranton Jazz Festival website.
Jazz legend Ron Carter will perform with the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band at the 21st annual Scranton Jazz Festival at the Scranton Cultural Center on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 6:45 p.m. (COURTESY OF SCRANTON JAZZ FESTIVAL)
The SJF Big Band with Ron Carter will perform at the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave., on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 6:45 p.m. under Marcinko’s direction. The SJF Band is Emmy-nominated and Carter holds the world record for the most bass recordings in history. Carter has also played with jazzlegends including Miles Davis and Aretha Franklin. Opening the final show are students from the Pennsylvania Jazz Institute at Misericordia University Student Ensemble, according to Marcinko.
New this year, the Scranton Jazz Festival is also partnering with the Steamtown National Historic Site and Iron Horse Society to have a jazz train ride. The jazz train was something Marcinko wanted to do for many years, he said.
The festival will also have a Jazz Brunch on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at different participating restaurants throughout downtown Scranton.
To help get all these musical acts together, Marcinko said “we are always thankful and grateful to our sponsors.”
“Without sponsors we could not have such an awesome event,” he said.
For more information about the Scranton Jazz Festival and to get tickets for the headliner events, check out the festival’s website at scrantonjazzfestival.org.
If you go
The 21st annual Scranton Jazz Festival will be held Friday through Sunday, Aug. 7-9, at various venues in downtown Scranton. For a schedule of musicians, tickets and more information, visit scrantonjazzfestival.org.