18th Annual Scranton Jazz Festival

Downtown Scranton will serve as center stage for an award-winning music festival as the 18th Annual Scranton Jazz Festival (SJF) returns to the Electric City, Friday through Sunday, August 4, 5 and 6.

This year's event continues the tradition, reminiscent of a New Orleans style festival. New for 2023 are two ticketed main stage performances and multiple free venues throughout downtown Scranton. Featuring national, regional and local musicians, the SJF features more than 90 musicians at 23 venues, providing a unique experience that visitors have come to love. While enjoying performances by accomplished jazz, blues and world beat musicians, visitors are encouraged to explore the wonderful restaurants, pubs and cafés in the Scranton's business district.

The SJF has garnered international recognition and has been mentioned in U.S. News and World Report, for the cultural diversity and integrity it has brought to the region. In celebration of its commitment to the arts, SJF offers free admission on Friday. Two ticketed events are scheduled: Saturday at Peoples Security Bank Theater at Lackawanna College, featuring ten-time Grammy award winning vocal group Take 6, and Sunday at The Ritz Theater featuring the Emmy nominated Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band with award winning vocalist Kathy Kosins and special guests.

SJF is proud to present the legendary award-winning vocal group Take 6 on August 5, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. Take 6, heralded by Quincy Jones as the "baddest vocal cats on the planet," is the quintessential a cappella group and the model for vocal genius. With ten Grammy Awards, ten Dove Awards, a Soul Train Award, and as a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, this musical phenomenon has six virtuosic voices united in clear harmony.

The Emmy nominated, award winning Scranton Jazz Festival 16-piece Big Band, is comprised of world class jazz musicians that live in Lackawanna, Luzerne and surrounding areas. Under the direction of drummer/arranger Marko Marcinko, this large jazz ensemble performs classic big band arrangements as well as modern selections that play a monumental role in jazz history.

Award winning vocalist Kathy Kosins resides in Michigan and is steeped in the jazz tradition as well as all of the energy and intensity of soul. Kosins's most recent album release, Uncovered Soul, has garnished critical acclaim and was the natural next step in her prolific singing career.

Other musicians performing include Steve Rudolph, Nate Birkey, Bill Goodwin, Norman Taylor, Chris Rogers, Reggie Watkins, Rick Matt, John Shannon, Nelson Hill, The Merchants of Groove, Young Lion, Rogue Chimp, Nancy & Spencer Reed, The Marko Marcinko Latin Jazz Quintet, Gary Keller, Ron Oswanski, The Electric City Steel Project, and The Pa Jazz Institute Students.