The Keystone Jazz Orchestra PA 250 “Our Jazz Story” Tour will kick off in Erie on November 1, celebrating Pennsylvania’s influential role in the history and evolution of jazz music.
Courtesy of The PA Jazz Alliance, Inc.
Presented by the PA Jazz Alliance, Inc. in partnership with Pennsylvania Creative Industries, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Mercyhurst University School of the Arts, the performance will take place at 6 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst University.
Under the direction of Marko Marcinko, the 20-piece Keystone Jazz Orchestra will take audiences on a musical journey through Pennsylvania’s rich jazz legacy. The concert highlights the commonwealth’s contributions to the genre, from early jazz and swing to bebop, post-bop, and modern fusion.
Pennsylvania is home to deep jazz roots and connections to legendary musicians including John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Art Blakey, George Benson, Nina Simone, Henry Mancini, and Benny Golson.
The performance will also feature narration by Pennsylvania lawmakers, including State Representative Joe Ciresi and State Representative Eddie Day Pashinski, accompanied by projected images that help tell the story of jazz throughout the state. The production supports the mission of America250PA to educate, preserve, and celebrate Pennsylvania history.
Following the Erie debut, the tour will continue with performances in Huntingdon Valley, Dallas, Hershey, and Pittsburgh throughout November.
Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, $20 for non-Mercyhurst students, and free for Mercyhurst students. Additional ticketing fees apply. Tickets can be purchased through the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture box office or online here.