Scranton Jazz Festival 2010
History of The Jazz Festival
The Scranton Jazz Festival began in 2005 at the Hanlon’s Grove Amphitheatre at Nay Aug Park, Scranton, Pa. After a major snowstorm damaged the facility in 2007, the festival’s organizers moved the event to its present home at the historic Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel in downtown Scranton where it has become a permanent fixture on the northeastern Pa. arts and culture scene. Presented in August for a three day weekend, the festival has attracted some of the finest international, national, and regional jazz/blues and world beat artists to showcase their world class talent. Combined with an outstanding staff of artisans, technicians, administrators and volunteers, the SJF literally transforms downtown Scranton in to a vibrant three days of high quality entertainment that has attracted thousands over the years. As a result not only has the festival been a high quality musical event, but it has also had a positive effect on the Scranton region’s economy. Scranton has had a rich history in jazz dating back to the 1930’s where jazz legends, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, performed regularly with the famous Scranton Sirens Jazz Band.
Our area is also credited with hosting the first known recorded jazz festival, “The Cavalcade of Dixieland Jazz”, in 1951. Since its premiere in 2005 the festival has drawn audiences from the entire Mid-Atlantic region, resulting in tremendous notoriety and exposure to the international jazz world. The SJF can help revive our region as a cultural epicenter, spreading the arts throughout the northeast, no different than such festivals as Newport, Rhode Island; Saratoga Springs, Florida; and Monterey, California.
The Scranton Jazz Festival simply wants to carry on this rich tradition while becoming a recognized contributor to the world of jazz/blues and world beat music in its own right. Last year, the Scranton Jazz Festival celebrated its first decade. It is the hope and desire of everyone involved that the festival will continue for decades to come. The Scranton Jazz Festival will celebrate its 17th year at various Downtown Scranton venues August 5-7, 2022.
Historic Digs
The historic Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel in Downtown Scranton provides the Annual Jazz Festival with newly remodeled Hotel rooms, a covered outdoor amphi-theater, indoor facilities for the late night jazz crowd, as well as the finest food and drink. This beautiful historic building and amphi-theater provides the ideal location for a world-class event.
“Class” Act
Chiaroscuro presents the PA Jazz Institute at WVIA
Scranton Jazz Festival student ensemble.The PA Jazz Institute, hosted by WVIA/Chiaroscuro Jazz, is a one week intensive course that will pass on the great tradition of jazz music, history, theory and improvisation to our area’s next generation. With the cooperation of the Scranton Jazz Festival, our students will study and rehearse with world class jazz educators and performers in preparation for a featured performance at the Scranton Jazz Festival, “main stage”. The Annual SJF takes place at the Historic Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel in downtown Scranton, PA. Why music education? To instill a rich sense of culture in the community. To support a student that may not have the opportunity without your generosity. To promote creative thinking in the future leaders of our region.
To learn more or enroll your student musician, please visit: PAJazzInstitute.com
Faculty members are: James Buckley (jazz history, ensemble instruction) Tom Hamilton (saxophone and woodwinds) Marko Marcinko (artistic director, drum set and jazz piano) Tony Marino (acoustic and electric bass) Dave Jumper (camp organizer, jazz trumpet and brass) Bill Washer (jazz guitar, ensemble instruction)
