Guitarist Dan Wilson (Photo by Brent Veverka)
The 15th Annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival
Co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Presents An All-star Tribute Honoring
Pittsburgh’s Own GEORGE BENSON
Led by Jazz Guitarist DAN WILSON
and Special Guest JONATHAN BUTLER
Friday, September 19, 8:00 pm
at The August Wilson African American Cultural Center
The Celebration Continues at 9:00 pm
with the TASTE OF JAZZ PARTY,
An Unforgettable Evening Where Foodies and Jazz Lovers Unite
PITTSBURGH, PA, May 16, 2025 – Foodies and jazz enthusiasts unite at the 15th Annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF) co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield on Friday, September 19, at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC), for a very special tribute honoring Pittsburgh’s own George Benson followed by the Taste of Jazz Party, one of the city’s most highly anticipated events of the year.
Kicking off the evening at 8:00 pm will be an all-star tribute honoring guitarist/vocalist George Benson. Leading the salute is jazz guitarist Dan Wilson with special guest guitarist Jonathan Butler.* Following the concert will be the festival’s annual Taste of Jazz Party held at the AWAACC at 9:00 pm. The party features dancing, live music and performances by gospel/jazz/soul-inspired pianist Theron Brown, the soulful vocalist T. Marie, dance music by Selecta and more.
The hottest restaurants in Pittsburgh are setting up shop in one of the country’s largest multidisciplinary art centers for a tasting party unlike any you’ve ever experienced. A feast for the senses, the Taste of Jazz Party features a diverse potpourri of flavors from 17 restaurants: Alihan’s, Barcelona Bar, Bistro to Go, Braddock’s Rebellion, Con Alma, Eddie Merlot’s, FL. 2, Fogo de Chão, Joinery, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Pizzaiolo Primo, Ritual House, Spirit and Tales, Talia, Taj Mahal, Vallozzi’s and Whisper.
“The fusion of the Friday night concert and the Taste of Jazz Party is a perfect reflection of the city’s rich cultural tapestry, combining world-class music with culinary excellence,” said Janis Burley, AWAACC President/CEO and PIJF founder. We are excited to kick off the festival’s 15th anniversary with the tribute to George Benson and are excited to hear what Dan Wilson and Jonathan Butler cook up to celebrate Pittsburgh’s renowned living legend.”
TICKETS
Tickets to the George Benson Tribute and Taste of Jazz Party are $94 - $100 and are available here. Tickets to the Taste of Jazz Party only are $78 and are available here. For tickets and more information about concerts at AWAACC, The Jazz Train™ and VIP packages for the free concerts on Liberty Avenue, please log on to pittsburghjazzfest.org. All tickets are on sale now.
The 15th edition of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, produced by the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, takes place September 18 – 21, 2025 inside AWAACC with free concerts on Saturday and Sunday in front of the Center. In addition to Friday evening performances, featured artists include Branford Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jazzmeia Horn, Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Tarbaby, Bilal, Obed Calvaire, Keith David, Be’la Dona, Kandace Springs, Ella Bric, Nathan-Paul Davis, Michael Mayo, John Shannon, Ekep Nkwelle and more.
SPONSORS
The 2025 Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival is co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, with generous support from the Mellon Foundation. Additional sponsors include UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, BMW of Pittsburgh, Visit Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Presenting Sponsor for the Libation Station Tent is Bacardi.
August Wilson African American Cultural Center's presentation of the Jazzmeia Horn Quartet is supported through a Chamber Music America Presenter Consortium for Jazz grant in collaboration with Jazz House Kids and DC Jazz Festival. A component of the Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles Project, Presenter Consortium for Jazz is funded by the Doris Duke Foundation.
Major support for AWAACC’s operations is provided by Richard King Mellon Foundation, Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Heinz Endowments, and the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD).
AWAACC’s programming is made possible by generous support from its donors. For a complete list, visit awaacc.org.
ABOUT HIGHMARK INC.
An independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Highmark Inc., together with its Blue-branded affiliates, collectively comprise the fifth largest overall Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated organization in the country with approximately 7 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and western and northeastern New York. Its diversified businesses serve group customer and individual needs across the United States through dental insurance and other related businesses. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.
The Highmark Bright Blue Futures program‘s goal is to ensure healthier, brighter, stronger futures for all, and it focuses on improving access to care, quality of life, and economic resilience in the communities the enterprise serves. For more information, visit Highmark Bright Blue Futures.
ABOUT AUGUST WILSON AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is a nonprofit cultural organization located in Pittsburgh’s cultural district that generates artistic, educational, and community initiatives that advance the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson. One of the largest cultural centers in the country focused exclusively on the African American experience and the celebration of Black culture and the African diaspora, the non-profit organization welcomes more than 100,000 visitors locally and nationally. Through year-round programming across multiple genres, such as the annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, Black Bottom Film Festival, AWCommunity Days, TRUTHSayers speaker series, and rotating art exhibits in its galleries, the Center provides a platform for established and emerging artists of color whose work reflects the universal issues of identity that Wilson tackled, and which still resonate today.
For more information on the 15th Anniversary edition of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival Co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, log on to https://pittsburghjazzfest.org.
# # #
* Please note: The 8:00 pm concert on Friday is a tribute performance; George Benson will not be in attendance.
The hottest restaurants in Pittsburgh are setting up shop in one of the country’s largest multidisciplinary art centers for a tasting party unlike any you’ve ever experienced. A feast for the senses, the Taste of Jazz Party features a diverse potpourri of flavors from 17 restaurants: Alihan’s, Barcelona Bar, Bistro to Go, Braddock’s Rebellion, Con Alma, Eddie Merlot’s, FL. 2, Fogo de Chão, Joinery, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Pizzaiolo Primo, Ritual House, Spirit and Tales, Talia, Taj Mahal, Vallozzi’s and Whisper.
“The fusion of the Friday night concert and the Taste of Jazz Party is a perfect reflection of the city’s rich cultural tapestry, combining world-class music with culinary excellence,” said Janis Burley, AWAACC President/CEO and PIJF founder. We are excited to kick off the festival’s 15th anniversary with the tribute to George Benson and are excited to hear what Dan Wilson and Jonathan Butler cook up to celebrate Pittsburgh’s renowned living legend.”
TICKETS
Tickets to the George Benson Tribute and Taste of Jazz Party are $94 - $100 and are available here. Tickets to the Taste of Jazz Party only are $78 and are available here. For tickets and more information about concerts at AWAACC, The Jazz Train™ and VIP packages for the free concerts on Liberty Avenue, please log on to pittsburghjazzfest.org. All tickets are on sale now.
The 15th edition of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, produced by the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, takes place September 18 – 21, 2025 inside AWAACC with free concerts on Saturday and Sunday in front of the Center. In addition to Friday evening performances, featured artists include Branford Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jazzmeia Horn, Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Tarbaby, Bilal, Obed Calvaire, Keith David, Be’la Dona, Kandace Springs, Ella Bric, Nathan-Paul Davis, Michael Mayo, John Shannon, Ekep Nkwelle and more.
SPONSORS
The 2025 Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival is co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, with generous support from the Mellon Foundation. Additional sponsors include UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, BMW of Pittsburgh, Visit Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Presenting Sponsor for the Libation Station Tent is Bacardi.
August Wilson African American Cultural Center's presentation of the Jazzmeia Horn Quartet is supported through a Chamber Music America Presenter Consortium for Jazz grant in collaboration with Jazz House Kids and DC Jazz Festival. A component of the Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles Project, Presenter Consortium for Jazz is funded by the Doris Duke Foundation.
Major support for AWAACC’s operations is provided by Richard King Mellon Foundation, Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Heinz Endowments, and the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD).
AWAACC’s programming is made possible by generous support from its donors. For a complete list, visit awaacc.org.
ABOUT HIGHMARK INC.
An independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Highmark Inc., together with its Blue-branded affiliates, collectively comprise the fifth largest overall Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated organization in the country with approximately 7 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and western and northeastern New York. Its diversified businesses serve group customer and individual needs across the United States through dental insurance and other related businesses. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.
The Highmark Bright Blue Futures program‘s goal is to ensure healthier, brighter, stronger futures for all, and it focuses on improving access to care, quality of life, and economic resilience in the communities the enterprise serves. For more information, visit Highmark Bright Blue Futures.
ABOUT AUGUST WILSON AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is a nonprofit cultural organization located in Pittsburgh’s cultural district that generates artistic, educational, and community initiatives that advance the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson. One of the largest cultural centers in the country focused exclusively on the African American experience and the celebration of Black culture and the African diaspora, the non-profit organization welcomes more than 100,000 visitors locally and nationally. Through year-round programming across multiple genres, such as the annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, Black Bottom Film Festival, AWCommunity Days, TRUTHSayers speaker series, and rotating art exhibits in its galleries, the Center provides a platform for established and emerging artists of color whose work reflects the universal issues of identity that Wilson tackled, and which still resonate today.
For more information on the 15th Anniversary edition of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival Co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, log on to https://pittsburghjazzfest.org.
# # #
* Please note: The 8:00 pm concert on Friday is a tribute performance; George Benson will not be in attendance.
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