The 12-track recording is a deeply personal exploration of life, family, and loss, blending  jazz, ballads, gospel, and folk. Born from a place of deep friendship, starting with shared meals and wine, the gatherings evolved into a creative masterpiece. The project also includes a documentary about friendship, creativity and the power of making music together.
 
In addition, The Sistering will make their New York City debut at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street & Seventh Avenue, on Wednesday, April 1, 8:00 pm, at a performance with The Tribe Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Helm.
 
To introduce the upcoming recording, the group has released two singles:
 

• "Combat Boots and Glass Slippers"  – Composed and sung by Dr. Lenora Zenzalai Helm, the debut single showcases the group’s intricate harmonies and distinctive individual styles.

 

• "It Had to Be You" – A classic standard reimagined with a “Sistering” twist, highlights the group’s roots in the great American jazz tradition.

 
The full album, available March 20 on all major streaming platforms and digital music outlets,  includes two songs written by each of the vocalists, two plus a reprise co-written by the foursome and one jazz standard. The stories of purpose, passion and power are “River Song,” “River Song Reprise” and “Origins” (The Sistering); “A Brother Just Like You” and “Dreaming Arms” (Freelon); “Dying Season” and “Follow the Stream” (Deloatch); “The Circle” and “Tribal Download” (McGarry); “Begin Again”  and “Combat Boots and Glass Slippers” (Helm); and “It Had to Be You” (Public Domain).
 
"On this album, The Sistering, four powerhouse women (with awards and accolades too numerous to mention), come together to share their version of 'sistering' through sound vibration, words of wisdom and melodic dance,” wrote Terri Lyne Carrington, multi-Grammy winning drummer, producer, composer and educator, in the album’s liner notes. “... they present raw emotion with 'in your face' truth and honesty. The Sistering' has something for everyone.”
 
About the Artists

• Lois Deloatch: A singer/songwriter and radio host with a dynamic contralto voice steeped in Southern heritage. She is a dedicated advocate for the redemptive power of music.
• Nnenna Freelon: A seven-time Grammy nominee, North Carolina Music Hall of Fame inductee, and creator of the Great Grief podcast. She is a master storyteller discovered by the legendary Ellis Marsalis.
• Lenora Zenzalai Helm: An acclaimed vocalist, composer, and Dean at Berklee College of Music. A two-time Fulbright Senior Music Specialist, she has released eight albums as a leader and written a textbook on singing and teaching vocal jazz.
• Kate McGarry: A Grammy-nominated vocalist and educator known for her "lithe, nuanced voice." A former Jazz Ambassador to 16 countries, she has been recognized as a "Rising Star" by DownBeat magazine.

 
Explore The Sistering – four voices, one vision in a bold and beautiful collaboration.  For more information, please visit sisteringproject.com.

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​Media Contact: Carolyn McClair
Carolyn McClair Public Relations
(212) 721-3341 | Info@CarolynMcClairPR.com

NEWARK, NJ, January 20, 2026 – From music and movies to politics and the human stories behind public life and everything in between, Conversations with Secretary Johnson is the newest podcast to join the WBGO 88.3 roster. Hosted by Jeh Johnson, former Secretary of Homeland Security and host of All Things Soul (the program where the interviews originated), the podcast features substantive conversations with  leading national figures from all walks of life.  To listen, log on here.
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The latest round of these podcasts will be posted on the WBGO website beginning Friday, January 23.  They include conversations between Secretary Johnson and MS NOW host Rachel Maddow, Human rights activist Kerry Kennedy, former New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, CNN Journalist Wolf Blitzer, host of MS Now's The 11th Hour Stephanie Ruhle, retired federal judge Joseph Greenaway, journalists Rosanna Scotto and Curt Menefee, retired Army colonel Chris Kolenda, former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Google's President of Global Affairs Kent Walker, commentator and author Juan Williams and PBS NewsHour co-anchor Amna Nawaz.
 
Other guests have included former President Bill Clinton, Senator Cory Booker, civil rights icon Andrew Young, NYPD homicide detective and9-11 hero Roger Parrino, MS NOW host Jonathan Capehart, BET founder Robert Johnson, Martin Luther King III, Harvard historian Henery Louis Gates, and the late actor and film director Rob Reiner.
 
“At WBGO, we believe in amplifying voices that shape our culture and our understanding of the world. Conversation with Secretary Johnson reflects our commitment to meaningful dialogue and diverse perspective, said Steven A. Williams, WBGO President & CEO. This series isn’t just about music; it’s about the rhythm of ideas that move society forward.”

Secretary Johnson said, "I have been a supporter and listener of WBGO for over 30 years, even during my years in Washington.  In my post-government life, I now enjoy donating my time to share with the WBGO audience my favorite classic R&B hits on my new show All Things Soul, once a month on Saturday mornings.  I also include on my show interviews with many fascinating people I have met in public life.  I am pleased WBGO is now preserving those interviews by converting them to podcasts.” 
 
Williams added,  “We are exceptionally fortunate to have someone as distinguished and universally respected as Jeh Johnson contributing to the fulfillment of our mission to entertain and inform our constituents.”
 
A former member of WBGO’s Board of Trustees, Johnson joined the station in 2022 as host of All Things Soul, part of the station’s Rhythm and Song Weekend programming lineup, which also includes the highly popular program Rhythm Revue with Felix Hernandez.
 
Johnson was Secretary of Homeland Security and General Counsel of the Department of Defense in the Obama Administration, General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force in the Clinton Administration and an Assistant U.S. Attorney earlier in his career.  He is currently the co-chair of the board of trustees of Columbia University.   Johnson is a graduate of Morehouse College and Columbia Law School and the recipient of 13 honorary degrees. 
 
WBGO 88.3 FM / Newark Public Radio is a non-profit, publicly funded arts and cultural institution, dedicated to the curation, presentation, and preservation of music created out of the African American experience. The station is committed to providing the community with independently-produced music programming and journalism for the purpose of public enrichment, entertainment, and insight. WBGO accomplishes its mission through creating and distributing relevant, high-quality content, engaging diverse audiences and providing an inclusive workplace.
 
To listen and learn more about WBGO 88.3, please visit  www.wbgo.org. 
 
 
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Media Contact: Carolyn McClair
Carolyn McClair Public Relations
(212) 721-3341 | Info@CarolynMcClairPR.com
 

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​NEW YORK, NY, December 22, 2025  – The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (LAEF) will present the world-renowned tenor saxophonist, bandleader and educator George Coleman with the 15th annual Satchmo™ Award for his spectacular seven decades of jazz musicianship and education at Dizzy’s Club, Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 7:00 pm.

​The Satchmo™ Award is a testament to Louis Armstrong’s enduring legacy, celebrating artists who, like him, have dedicated their lives to jazz. Coleman joins a list of renowned past award winners, including Ron Carter, Jimmy Heath, Herb Alpert, Sheila Jordan and Reggie Workman.
 
The event, held during the yearly Jazz Congress, a two-day series of workshops, panels and networking opportunities organized by Jazz at Lincoln Center, will feature the George Coleman Quintet with guitarist Peter Bernstein, drummer George Coleman, Jr., pianist Steve Myerson and bassist John Webber,  Throughout the concert will be special guest performances by saxophonists Eric Alexander, Adam Brenner, Sarah Hanahan, Alexander McCabe,  Gideon Tazelaar and Camille Thurman.
 
ABOUT GEORGE COLEMAN
Born in Memphis on March 8, 1935, he grew up in one of the most musical cities in the world, with its vibrant blues, gospel, country, R&B and jazz scenes. His first instrument was the alto saxophone, and his first inspiration was Charlie Parker. He was proficient in all of styles of Black music, but it was in the jazz idiom where he would devote his talents for the rest of his life.
 
Coleman established lifelong friendships with fellow jazz inspired classmates at Memphis’ Manassas High School, including trumpeter Booker Little and saxophonists Hank Crawford and Charles Lloyd. Coleman also played with several hometown musicians including bassist Jamil Nasser and pianist Phineas Newborn. At the age of 17, his first major gig was with Ray Charles, and he later worked with B.B. King. By that time Coleman switched to the tenor saxophone, and he later moved to Chicago, with Little in 1956, and worked with Max Roach, trumpeter Kenny Dorham and a host of other Chicago musicians.
 
Coleman moved to New York City in 1958 and established himself as one of the premier musicians on his instrument. He replaced John Coltrane and preceded Wayne Shorter in Miles Davis’ band, and recorded on Davis’1963 and 1964 LP’s, Seven Steps to Heaven, Miles Davis in Europe, My Funny Valentine and Four & More, and on Herbie Hancock’s 1965 album Maiden Voyage. Those recordings solidified his reputation as a major saxophonist in the sixties.
 
Coleman’s recordings as a sideman feature his work with Ahmad Jamal, Charles Mingus, Lee Morgan and Nicholas Payton. He recorded nearly 20 albums as a leader, including Amsterdam After Dark, Manhattan Panorama, A Master Speaks and Big George. He was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2015. He also served as a consultant and teacher at the New School University, Long Island University, New York University, Mannes School of Music.
 
ABOUT THE GEORGE COLEMAN QUINTET
New York City guitarist Peter Bernstein has played with everyone from Coleman, Lou Donaldson, Sonny Rollins and David Fathead Newman to Bobby Hutcherson, Etta Jones and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Mentored by guitar master Ted Dunbar and the Prince of jazz piano Kenny Barron at Rutgers University, Bernstein represents the past, present and future of jazz guitar as a sideman, or as a leader with over 20 recordings, including his latest, Live at Smalls.
 
Tutored by Max Roach, Harold Mabern, Michael Carvin and Jamil Nasser, drummer producer and filmmaker George Coleman, Jr. provides his father with the down home drumbeats that propels the saxophonist’s improvisational flights. In addition to his work with Coleman Sr, and his mother, composer, organist and vocalist Gloria Coleman, the drummer has been a sideman with an impressive array of musicians including Steve Myerson and saxophonist T.K. Blue. Coleman’s latest CD is entitled Resurgence and in 2019, he produced the documentary, Another Kind of Soul: The Coleman Family Legacy.
 
Philadelphia pianist/keyboardist and William Paterson University jazz professor Steve Myerson plays with a swinging pianism that encompasses the straight ahead sounds of Harold Mabern and the soulful R&B of the Stylistics. In addition to his superb work in George Coleman’s rhythm section, Myerson has also worked with Christian McBride and Grover Washington, Jr. He’s released two albums as a leader: Ready or Not and In Your Absence.
 
St. Louis-born, Chicago-reared bassist John Webber’s basslines rhythmically recall  the greatness of bass masters Ray Brown and Paul Chambers. A student of Von Freeman and Brad Goode at Roosevelt University, Webber has been a sought-after sideman, as evidenced by his work with Coleman, Jimmy Cobb, Diana Krall and Eric Alexander. Webber’s 2014 album as a leader, Down for the Count is a rarity: it features George Coleman as a sideman and Webber on the six-string guitar.
 
ABOUT SPECIAL GUESTS
Chicago tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander was educated at William Patterson College, under the tutelage of Rufus Reid, Harold Mabern and Joe Lovano. In 1991, he finished in second place behind Joshua Redman at the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition. Alexander has recorded nearly 40 recordings as a leader. He’s released five albums in 2025: Leap of Faith, Like Sugar, Split Decision with alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, Chicago to New York and Lilac Wine - a Tribute to Helen Merrill, with vocalist Alma Micic. A worthy successor to George Coleman, Alexander’s raw-boned tenor sound is shaping the modern sound of the saxophone.
 
A 1982 Rutgers University alum, tenor/alto saxophonist Adam Brenner honed his jazz skills playing in Newark, NJ with that city’s top musicians including drummer Eddie Gladden, vibraphonist Johnny Lytle and organist John Patton. Brenner has also worked with Lionel Hampton, Elvin Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Philly Joe Jones, Barry Harris and saxophonists Clifford Jordan and James Spaulding. He was a member of George Coleman’s Nonet, and he recorded on Coleman 1996 recording, Danger Hi Voltage.
 
Alto saxophonist and Massachusetts native Sarah Hanahan was named the Number One Rising Star on Alto Saxophone in DownBeat’s 2025 International Critic’s Poll. Her debut album, Among Giants, earned a Five Star rating from that magazine, and was named Album of the Year. Hanahan was featured on the NPR-distributed series Jazz Night in America, and she worked with a wide variety of musicians including the Mingus Big Band, Peter Martin and Joe Farnsworth.
 
Another alto saxophonist, Boston’s Alexander McCabe, has been based in New York City since the 80’s, McCabe’s fiery and finessed alto sounds are at home in a myriad of sonic settings including  the Ray Charles Orchestra, Arturo O’ Farrill’s Afro-Cuban Big Band and George Coleman’s Octet. McCabe also worked with The Pointer Sisters, Mario Bauza and George Coleman, Jr. His music is featured in the films, The Diplomat, Succession and  Nonnas. McCabe’s latest album is a five-tune EP, Children‘s Song.
 
Dutch tenor saxophonist Gideon Tazelaar was a child prodigy who started playing the saxophone at the age of seven. Four years later, he turned pro, performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and was admitted to the Amsterdam Conservatoire at 14, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude four years later. Tazelaar moved to New York City in 2017 to attend Juilliard and study with Coleman and Wynton Marsalis. A budding saxophone master on two continents,  Tazelaar has played with saxophonists Eric Alexander, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Dick Oatts. His 2020 release, Volume 1, features a quicksilver sextet with bassist Jorge Rossy.
 
Tenor saxophonist/vocalist and New York City native Camille Thurman is one of the most inventive and resourceful musicians on the scene. An alumnus of the world-renowned Fiorello H. La Guardia High School of Music and Art and the Performing Arts, Binghamton University, and a finalist in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition, Thurman worked with Terri Lyne Carrington, Alicia Keys, Lalah Hathaway, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu. Thurman’s 2024 recording, Confluence, Vol. 1: Alhambra with the Darrel Green Quartet, her fourth as a leader, is
her latest project that documents Thurman’s double threat as an invigorating improviser and engaging singer.
 
This evening is more than a musical event – it is a celebration of an enduring artist and the living legacy of musicians who follow in his footsteps.
 
Tickets are $25.00-$55.00 and are available at ticketing.jazz.org.
 
ABOUT LOUIS ARMSTRONG
Hailed as one of the most influential and popular musicians in modern music, trumpeter Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) rose out of poverty in New Orleans and became, in the words of music and cultural critic Albert Murray, “the Prometheus of jazz,” as the genre’s first major soloist and vocalist, who invented scat-singing. Growing up in the Crescent City, Armstrong heard music from the Caribbean – especially Cuba – and was greatly influenced by the exceptional Cuban trumpeter Manuel Perez of the Olympia Brass Band. In 1930, Armstrong’s recording of the Cuban standard “El Manisero” (The Peanut Vendor)” sold a million copies and was a precursor to the birth of modern Latin jazz in the 1940’s by Bebop Pioneer Dizzy Gillespie, arranger/trumpeter Mario Bauza and percussionist Chano Pozo. Through the years, Louis entertained millions from heads of state, royalty to the kids on his stoop in Corona, NY. Despite his fame he remained a humble man and lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood. To this day, everyone loves Louis Armstrong, and just the mention of his name makes people smile.
 
ABOUT THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc. was founded and funded by Louis and Lucille Armstrong in 1969 to “give back to the world some of the goodness he received.” The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating the legacies of Louis and Lucille Armstrong throughout the world. Its mission includes supporting musicians, Jazz education, performances and programming. LAEF is a living legacy to “Satchmo” Louis Armstrong, the most important creative force in the early development and perpetuation of America’s music, Jazz. His influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. www.louisarmstrongfoundation.org.
 
 
SATCHMO™ AWARDS
The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation awards represent a tribute to the life and legacy of Louis Armstrong's passion for jazz and excellence, matched only by his joyous love of life and children.  Previous recipients are selected for their important and lasting contributions in the world of jazz education. They reflect the spirit of Louis Armstrong and his inspiring belief in the power of the language of jazz music, essential in making a “wonderful world.” Past Recipients: Herb Alpert, 2010; Barry Harris, 2011; Clark Terry, 2012; Jon Hendricks, 2013; David Baker, 2014; Norma Miller, 2015; Jimmy Heath, 2016; Kidd Jordan, 2017; Shelia Jordan, 2018; Dick Hyman, 2019; Ron Carter, 2020-2021; Ran Blake, 2022; Reggie Workman, 2023; JoAnne Brackeen, 2024.
 
For more information, log on to: https://louisarmstrongfoundation.org, https://jazzcongress.org; https://jazz.org.
 
 

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​Media Contacts:
Carolyn McClair Public Relations
(212) 721-3341 | Info@CarolynMcClairPR.com
 

Calvin Jonson: Photo by James Demaria

​NEWARK, NJ, November 10, 2025  – The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (LAEF) and WBGO’s Kids Jazz Concert Series present tenor saxophonist, composer, vocalist, bandleader and educator Calvin Johnson leading an entertaining, engaging and informative, family-friendly program. The free, not “for kids only” concert is entitled Who is Louis Armstrong? and is also a program of New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s (NJPAC) annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival at The Newark Museum of Art, 49 Washington Street, on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 1:00 pm.

​A superb saxophonist and scientist of sound, Calvin Johnson swingingly tells the story of his hometown hero and musical father, Louis Armstrong, introducing young people to the wonderful world of jazz. His group, Native Son, named after Richard Wright’s groundbreaking novel,  consists of trombonist/vocalist Jeffery Miller, trumpeter Antoine Drye, drummer Errold Lanier, bassist Nori Naraoka; and pianist Andrew McGowan.
 
WBGO’s Shelia Anderson, host of Weekend Jazz Overnight and co-host of NightByrds, a new evening program with Awilda Rivera, will serve as MC for the Kids Concert.
 
“Like Pops, Calvin Johnson is a proud product of The Crescent City. Through his musical genius, he can convey Armstrong’s down home warmth and humanity to the young receptive minds, who will hopefully go home with a greater appreciation of jazz as well as of Louis Armstrong,” said Jackie Harris, LAEF Executive Director.
 
“To see and hear these young people experience jazz and one of the most important figures in this genre, is what this series is all about,” And to present this concert with the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, well, it doesn’t get any better than that,” added Kids concert producer, WBGO co-founder and NEA Jazz Master, Dorthaan Kirk.
 
Born on November 21, 1985, Johnson comes from a musical family that played gospel, funk, classical and jazz for three generations. His sister played piano, and his paternal grandfather, George Augustus “Son” Johnson was an educator as well as a saxophonist, pianist, arranger and composer who led a WPA band during The Great Depression. Johnson first started playing the saxophone at the age of seven and was playing with professional musicians five years later.
 
Johnson was a student of the late saxophonist Edward “Kidd” Jordan at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation’s School of Music and the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp. He is an alumnus of the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA), Dillard University and the University of New Orleans, where he earned a B.S. in Business. He has performed with Trombone Shorty, Irvin Mayfield, Christian Scott, Jon Batiste, Harry Connick, Jr., The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Aaron Neville.  He recorded his debut recording Jewel’s Lullaby in 2012, followed by his eponymously titled 2013 release, Native Son. Johnson led a funk band, Chapter: SOUL in 2015. He’s appeared in the HBO series Treme and the motion picture, Bolden. Johnson currently serves as a faculty member of the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, sits on the Board of Directors of MaCCNO (Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans) and is producing his first documentary; a film about New Orleans music entitled TRAD.
 
Over the years, WBGO and LAEF have presented Kids concerts at Flushing Town Hall (New York), Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture at Hostos Community College/CUNYBronx (New York), Symphony Hall (Newark, NJ), and the Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts | Middle and High School (East Orange, NJ).
 
Admission is free. Contact: https://newarkmuseumart.org
 
ABOUT LOUIS ARMSTRONG
Hailed as one the most influential and popular musicians in modern music, trumpeter/vocalist Louis Armstrong (1901-71) rose out of poverty in New Orleans, and became, in the words of music and cultural critic Albert Murray, “the Prometheus of jazz,” as the genre’s first major instrumental soloist and singer, who invented the art of scat-singing.
 
ABOUT WBGO CHILDREN’S CONCERT SERIES/NEWARK PUBLIC RADIO
The WBGO Children’s Concert Series brings world-renowned jazz musicians to concert halls and venues throughout New York and New Jersey. These free concerts give young listeners the chance to discover the enjoyment of jazz, improvisation and musical collaboration. WBGO-FM/Newark Public Radio is a non-profit, publicly funded arts and cultural institution, dedicated to the curation, presentation, and preservation of music created out of the African American experience. The station is committed to providing its world-wide jazz community with independently produced music programming and journalism for the purpose of public enrichment, entertainment, and insight. https://www.wbgo.org

ABOUT THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG EDUCATION FOUNDATION (LAEF)
The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (LAEF) was founded and funded by Louis and Lucille Armstrong in 1969 to give back to the world “some of the goodness he received.” The mission of the organization is to preserve and promote the cultural legacy of Louis Armstrong by fostering programs, lectures, and other educational events to assist those interested, gifted and talented in the field of music, primarily jazz. Today the Foundation is a major source of funding for programs to expose and educate adults and children in the history of American jazz and has provided solid financial support to institutions across the nation. In October 2021 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of LAEF, Verve Records, in conjunction with LAEF, released A Gift to Pops, a CD by The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong All-Stars with special guests Wynton Marsalis and Common. https://louisarmstrongfoundation.org

ABOUT THE TD JAMES MOODY FESTIVAL and NJPAC
Named for Newark’s great saxophonist/flutist James Moody, The TD James Moody Jazz Festival presents dozens of free and ticketed events, including Dorthaan’s Place, Jazz Vespers and the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. NJPAC is a nonprofit arts organization that is the cultural institution for the city of Newark that presents audiences with world-class performances, and nurtures students through a comprehensive arts education, and engages the community with free cultural events across the city. https://www.njpac.org/  |
https://www.njpac.org/series/james-moody-jazz-festival/
 

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Media Contact: Carolyn McClair Public Relations
(212) 721-3341 | Info@CarolynMcClairPR.com
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​PITTSBURGH, PA, October 28, 2025 — In recognition of the 15th anniversary of the opening of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) and in honor of what would have been August Wilson’s 80th birth year, the Pittsburgh community is invited to celebrate at the Fuel the Future: Take Center Stage Gala on Friday, November 21, 2025, 6:00 pm, at the iconic facility at 980 Liberty Avenue, the gateway to downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. Guests will enjoy an unforgettable evening featuring live performances, exclusive gallery tours, a seated dinner and more.

​This year’s Gala, with generous support from Presenting Sponsor UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, AWAACC will present Luminary Awards to Tamara Tunie, Antoine Fuqua and Lamman Rucker, three nationally renowned artists with roots in Pittsburgh. To be honored with Trailblazer Awards for their tireless work in strengthening Pittsburgh's arts and culture sector are Ayisha A. Morgan-Lee, EdD, Monica Malik, Tenel Dorsey and Marlon Gist.
 
“We are pleased to honor these seven cultural visionaries whose achievements embody Pittsburgh’s enduring legacy of innovation while serving as inspiration to future generations of artists,” said Janis Burley, AWAACC President/CEO and Artistic Director. “We present amazing artists on our stages, incredible art in our galleries and outstanding programs and events throughout the Center. To continue to do this, we need the support from our community to help us Fuel the Future. Join us at the Gala next month as we celebrate 15 years of creativity and commitment, and a future filled with the promise of building a stronger cultural legacy for us all.”
 
The Gala will include live performances by 2025 BUILD Artist-in-Residence Dan Wilson, returning to AWAACC with selected highlights from his sold out George Benson tribute concert, and music from the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival All Stars Student Band, who made their debut at this year’s festival.  Guests also can enjoy guided gallery tours featuring the highly anticipated return of Peju Alatise’s Flying Girls sculpture installation. The Gala dinner menu takes its inspiration from Dr. Jessica B. Harris, the celebrated culinary historian recently featured in the Center’s A Seat at Our Table series, honoring the traditions and creativity that shape Black cuisine.
 
“UPMC and UPMC Health Plan are proud to partner with the August Wilson African American Cultural Center to honor the enduring legacy of August Wilson,” said James E. Taylor, PhD, Senior Vice President & Chief Culture, Community, and Talent Management Officer at UPMC “As presenting sponsor of the Fuel the Future: Take Center Stage Gala, we celebrate 15 years of artistic excellence and community impact while helping to ensure that this world-class institution continues to inspire generations to come.”
 
ABOUT THE HONOREES
 
Tamara Tunie has a distinguished body of work that encompasses stage, television and film. She stars as Anita Dupree, matriarch of  Beyond the Gates, the new daytime television drama and first soap opera to center on an affluent Black family.  She portrayed Cissy Houston, mother of the iconic Whitney Houston, in I Wanna Dance with Somebody and made her mark  with memorable roles in Wall Street, City Hall, The Devil’s Advocate and Flight, opposite Denzel Washington, with whom she also starred on roadway as Calpurnia in Julius Caesar, Law & Order: SUV and As the World Turns.  She is a director of film and theatre, an acclaimed vocalist, who launched her debut CD, Dreamsville, at the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival. Ms. Tunie is the founder of Black Theatre United and sits on the boards of Harlem Stage/The Gatehouse and Pittsburgh’s The City Theatre Company.  She holds a BFA Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University and now serves on the Executive Committee of its Board of Trustees.
 
Antoine Fuqua is the director behind the films Training Day, The Magnificent Seven, The Equalizer series, Southpaw, Olympus Has Fallen, Brooklyn’s Finest, and King Arthur. He directed and executive produced the documentary American Dream/American Knightmare on the legendary Marion “Suge” Knight and directed the blues documentary Lightning in a Bottle. Through his production company, Fuqua Films, he generates content for both film and television including serving as executive producer on medical drama The Resident. He directed and executive produced the critically acclaimed documentary What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali, for HBO and produced the Roku Original Series #FreeRayshawn, starring Laurence Fishburne and Stephan James, which won two Emmy® awards and a 2021 NAACP Image Award.  Fuqua’s other projects include  Infinite  Emancipation, Bullet Train, The Terminal List, The Guilty, as well as the recently announced Mike Tyson limited series and Michael, the 2026 biographical musical film on Michael Jackson.
 
Lamman Rucker is an actor, educator, activist and entrepreneur. He played Jacob Greenleaf in the OWN scripted television series Greenleaf and is known as the star of Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? film sequels and hit film/sitcom Meet the Browns. Rucker also made his mark in The Man in 3B, Black Coffee, Where is The Love? and daytime dramas As The World Turns and All My Children.  A passionate activist, Rucker is a spokesperson for several charities and community action initiatives including American Heart Association, Art Creates Life, The Black AIDS Institute, The Magic Johnson Foundation and his non-profit The Black Gents, an all-male ensemble of actors driven to resurrect the positive images of Black males through thought-provoking, high-quality entertainment, youth empowerment initiatives, and community service.
 
Ayisha A. Morgan-Lee, EdD, at 21, became Founder, CEO & Artistic Director of Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT), which was named A Pittsburgh Cultural Treasure in 2021. She advocates for social justice, equity, representation, and valuing the humanity of Black artists. Dr. M organ-Lee is the national board Chair of The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD), a recipient of the 2021 National Medal of Arts. She serves on Oakland Catholic High School and Pittsburgh Public Theater boards. She  earned her Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, master’s in arts management from Carnegie Mellon University and BFA in Dance and Theatre from Howard University. 
 
Monica Malik is the Founder and Principal of Monica Malik & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in community engagement, social impact strategy, and corporate branding and storytelling. With more than 20 years of experience across finance, healthcare, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship, she is known for advancing initiatives that expand workforce opportunities, strengthen the creative economy, and build authentic connections between institutions and communities. Her career began as a restaurant franchisee, where she created workforce pathways and championed economic mobility, later expanding her impact through healthcare and philanthropy. In the financial sector, Monica directed philanthropic funds to initiatives in arts and culture, education, and equity, while also leading branding and storytelling strategies that elevated organizational reputation and measurable community impact. She serves on the boards of the Andy Warhol Museum, Allegheny Regional Asset District, Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Uptown Partners, and the Professional Women’s Network.
 
Tenel Dorsey is the visionary founder of the Dreamz Empire, a collective of businesses rooted in beauty, wellness, and community that includes Dreamz Hair Salon, Dreamz Hair Restoration, Café Asè and the Dreamz Foundation. She also leads H.E.R. (Heal, Evolve, Restore), a women’s empowerment organization offering retreats and holistic support. Since founding Dreamz Hair Salon in 2003, she has built more than a business; she has created a sanctuary where crowns are restored, confidence is sparked and lives are transformed. A trailblazer in wig artistry and hair restoration, Ms. Dorsey is one of the few salon owners with a National Provider Identifier, allowing her to accept health insurance for women battling medical-related hair loss. Through Dreamz Hair Restoration, launched in 2016, she has provided custom wigs and nationally used products that help women experiencing cancer, alopecia, and other conditions to reclaim their beauty. Her artistry extends to the stage as well, designing wigs for productions within Pittsburgh’s Cultural District and nationally.  Born and raised in the historic Hill District, she discovered her gifts early, styling hair at age nine and developing her voice as a singer. She nurtured her creativity at Vann Elementary, Rogers middle school and CAPA, where she learned to embrace her talents without limits.
 
Marlon Gist is the co-owner and curator of Art & Soul Café and Gallery in downtown Pittsburgh. A talented artist native of Sewickley, who now calls Aliquippa his home, he was introduced to the world of art at a young age by his late father, David Gist Sr., who also was an exceptional artist. Mr. Gist’s passion for art led him to pursue a degree at The Columbus (Ohio) College of Art and Design. During his time there, he honed his craft in a wide range of mediums and styles, from abstract to realism. Now recognized as one of Pittsburgh's premier emerging artists, his artwork is on display across the United States. His unique style and attention to detail make his pieces truly remarkable, drawing in viewers from all walks of life. The artist’s work reflects his passion for art, his commitment to perfecting his craft and his love for creativity and expression. His unique perspective and diverse range of mediums and styles make him a standout artist in the Pittsburgh art scene. His dedication to his craft has earned him recognition as one of the top emerging artists in the region, and his work is sure to continue to captivate audiences for years to come.
 
TICKETS
 
Individual tickets for dinner, performances and the awards ceremony are $550; performance and awards only tickets are $150. 
 
A limited number of tables and sponsorship packages are still available ($1500 - $25,000). Click here for details or contact Amanda Brandes, VP, Institutional Advancement for more information at abrandes@awaacc.org | 412-567-2956
 

​2025 FUEL THE FUTURE: TAKE CENTER STAGE GALA HOST COMMITTEE:
 
Co-Chairs
Derrick and Kelle Wilson, The Wilson Group
 
Corporate Chair
Kevin Walker, CEO, Duquesne Light Company
 
Aerion and Tamara Abney
Makayla & Emmai Alaquiva
Curtis Aiken
Khamil Bailey
Arthur L. Baldwin and the Honorable Cynthia A. Baldwin
Alison & Andrew Beam, UPMC
Jerad Bachar
Barata and Tammy Bey
Janis Burley and Erwin Campbell
Kanika and Jeff Capel
Debra Caplan
Jackie Dixon
Malesia Dunn
Dr. Edmund D. Effort DDS
Gretchen & William Generett Jr.
Keri Harmicar and David Benjamin Seman
Denise & Cain Hayes
Anna Hollis & Gregg Kander
Andrea T. & Glenn R. Mahone
David and Luci Massaro
Tracey McCants Lewis
Crystal McCormick Ware
Kenneth and Pamela McCrory
Sabrina Saunders Mosby and Brandon Mosby
Danielle Parson
Andre Perry
Herky Pollock and Lisa Acquaviva Pollock
Darlene L. and Robert J. Powell
Rex Rideout
Howard and April Russell
Shiv K. Sethi
Nia Sioux
Felicia E. Snead, MD
Neicy and Mark Clayton Southers
Morton Stanfield
Denise Turner
Jeremy Waldrup
Mike Walker
Dr. Wayne Walters
Geovette Washington and Jeffrey Robinson
Doris Carson Williams
Bobby and Deborah Wilson
Constanza Romero Wilson
Elise and Charles Yanders
 
Graphic Design by Landesberg Design
 

ABOUT UPMC
UPMC is a world-renowned, nonprofit health care provider and insurer committed to delivering exceptional, people-centered care and community services. Headquartered in Pittsburgh and affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC is shaping the future of health through clinical and technological innovation, research, and education. Dedicated to advancing the well-being of our diverse communities, we provide nearly $2 billion annually in community benefits, more than any other health system in Pennsylvania. Our 100,000 employees — including more than 5,000 physicians — care for patients across more than 40 hospitals and 800 outpatient sites in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland, as well as overseas. UPMC Insurance Services covers more than 4 million members, providing affordable, high-quality, value-based care. To learn more, visit UPMC.com.
 
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.
 
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 the website: awaacc.org
 
For more information on programs at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and the Fuel the Future: Take Center Stage Gala, log on to www.awaacc.org .
 
                                                  #  #  #
 

 

​Media Contacts:
Khalil Waldron, Director - Marketing and Communications, AWAACC
(412) 742-4771 | Kwaldron@awaacc.org
 
Carolyn McClair PR
(212) 721-3341 | CMcClair@awaacc.org
 

PITTSBURGH, PA, September 11, 2025 – Jazz Crawl is Back at the 15th Edition of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival and the August Wilson African American Cultural Center has added Jazz Around Town to give music lovers multiple options to support live music. Special thanks to sponsors Carnegie Libraries, the Pittsburgh International Airport and the City of Pittsburgh for supporting regional artists. 
​
For more information, see the list below or visit: https://pittsburghjazzfest.org/lineup/jazz-crawl/
​

JAZZ CRAWL
SEPTEMBER 15-21, 2025
CHECK OUT LIVE MUSIC AROUND TOWN
 
AUGUST WILSON AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER
980 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA  15222
Awaacc.org
Thursday, 9/18, 6-10p INTERMISSION ft. Anita Levels
HOSTS: Emmai Alaquiva & Friends (Dr. Edda Fields-Black; Damon Young)
 
BURN by ROCKY PATEL PITTSBURGH
346 North Shore Drive
Pittsburgh, PA  15212
(412) 586-5854
Burnbyrockypatel.com
Friday, 9/19, 7p-10p (band); 10p-2a (DJ)
Saturday, 9/20, 7p-10p (band); 10p-2a (DJ)
 
CITY WINERY
1627 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 246-1000
citywinery.com/pittsburgh
Tuesday, 9/16, 7:30p | Joe Henry & Mike Reid
Wednesday, 9/17, 7:30p | SPAGA
Thursday, 9/18, 6:30p | Michael Rapp (original cast of RENT)
 
CON ALMA
613 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
conalmapgh.com
(412) 932-2387
Thursday, 9/18, 7:30-10p | David Throckmorton Quartet
Friday, 9/19, 7-10p | The Boilermaker Jazz Band
Saturday, 9/20, 7-10p | Jonathan Michel and Friends
Sunday, 9/21, 7-10p | The Indestructible Sextet (tribute to Art Blakey and Horace Silver)
 
EDDIE V’S
501 Grant Street, Ste #100
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
eddiev.com
(412) 391-1714
Thursday, 9/18, 6:30-9:30p | Mary Kay Riley Trio
Friday, 9/19, 6-10:30p | Maria Becoates - Bey Trio
Saturday, 9/20, 6:30-10:30p | Grace Elliott Trio
Sunday, 9/21, 6-9p | Alex Peck Trio 
 
GENUINE PUB
111 Sandy Creek Road
Verona, PA  15147
(412) 744-15147
Tuesday, 9/16 | Genuine Soul with Howie Alexander, John Hall, Dennis Garner
 
THE JAZZ WORKSHOP PRESENTS JAZZ ON LARIMER
Village Green Amphitheatre
Corner of Larimer Avenue and Mayflower Street
Pittsburgh, PA  15206
(Rain Location: The Kingsley Center, 6435 Frankstown Avenue)
Wednesday, 9/17, 5:30-7p | Renn Woods
 
JAZZ @ THE LIBRARY
CLP-Homewood
7101 Hamilton Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
(412) 731-3080
8/30, 2p | Ericka Denae J
 
CLP-Brookline
708 Brookline Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15226
(412) 561-1003
9/2, 6p | Jacquea Mae -Brookline
 
CLP-Hill District
2177 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 281-3753
9/6, 12p | Anyah Nancy
CLP-Mt. Washington
315 Grandview Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15211
(412) 381-3380
9/13, 12p | Vii Dorsey
 
JAZZPORT @ THE PITTSBURGH NATIONAL AIRPORT
1000 Airport Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15231
(412) 472-3525
Thursday, 9/4 10a-12p | Sean Baker
Thursday, 9/11, 3-5p | Caleb Smith
Thursday, 9/18 at 3-5p | Josh Stone
 
KINGFLY SPIRITS
2613 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA  15222
(412) 392-8928
Kingflyspirits.com
Thursday, 9/18, 7-10p | RH Factor Band ft. Roger Humphries
Sunday, 9/21, 7-10p | Cuban Night ft. Hugo Cruz and Caminos!
 
OMNI WILLIAM PENN HOTEL
530 William Penn Place
Pittsburgh, PA  15222
(412) 253-4921
Friday, 9/19 | Speakeasy (Lower Level), 5-11p, limited capacity; Live Jazz (Lobby), 5-7p
 
SENIOR JAZZ CONNECTION PRESENTS JAZZING INTO FALL
FNB
626 Washington Place
Pittsburgh, PA  15219
Wear Orange and Brown
Friday, 9/19, 12-2p | Kenny Blake & The New Hip
 
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 the ticketed events featuring a Salute to George Benson with Dan Wilson and Jonathan Butler and the Taste of Jazz Party, the weekend’s artists include Branford Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Eric Benét, Bilal, Jazzmeia Horn, Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Tarbaby, 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 The Wilson Group, UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, BMW of Pittsburgh, Visit Pittsburgh, Duolingo, 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 tickets and 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.
 
                                                 # # #
 
 
Media Contacts:
Carolyn McClair PR
(212) 721-3341 | CMcClair@awaacc.org
 
Khalil Waldron, Director - Marketing and Communications, AWAACC
(412) 742-4771 | Kwaldron@awaacc.org
 

​Pittsburgh, PA, August 5, 2025 – Bilal is an artist in every sense – an independent singer, songwriter, and producer whose forward-thinking sound defies convention. His music seamlessly weaves together jazz, Afro-futurism, classic soul, alternative R&B, rock, and even classical influences, showcasing a style that’s always been ahead of its time. Bilal will perform at the 15th anniversary of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF) co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield on Sunday, September 21. The concert is free on Liberty Avenue in front of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) in downtown Pittsburgh.  VIP seating and experience is available for purchase.

After studying jazz composition and opera at The New School in New York City, he signed with Interscope Records and released his debut album, First Born Second. He quickly built a loyal following through emotionally charged live performances. Though often grouped with “neo-soul,” Bilal’s music resists labels—most notably in his unreleased yet acclaimed second album Love for Sale, and his bold 2010 comeback, Airtight’s Revenge, which earned a Grammy nomination.
He continued to evolve with A Love Surreal (2013) and In Another Life (2015), the latter following his standout contributions to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly. During the 2020 lockdown, he created the EP Voyage-19 in a live-streamed, 54-hour collaboration with over 30 musicians. He later released Live at Glasshaus (2023) and his self-released sixth studio album, Adjust Brightness, in 2024.
Don’t miss the chance to experience Bilal’s genre-bending brilliance live at the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF) co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield on September 21.
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 the ticketed events featuring a Salute to George Benson with Dan Wilson and Jonathan Butler and the Taste of Jazz Party, the weekend’s artists include Branford Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Eric Benét, Bilal, Jazzmeia Horn, Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Tarbaby, 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 The Wilson Group, UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, BMW of Pittsburgh, Visit Pittsburgh, Duolingo, 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 tickets and 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.
 
 

#  #  #

Media Contacts:
Carolyn McClair PR
(212) 721-3341 | CMcClair@awaacc.org
 
Khalil Waldron, Director - Marketing and Communications, AWAACC
(412) 742-4771 | Kwaldron@awaacc.org
​

​PITTSBURGH, PA, July 29, 2025 – Guitarist and singer Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young blues talents of his generation. Ingram, who lit up the stage at the 2018 and 2022 Highmark Blues and Heritage Festivals, makes a return visit at the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF) co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield on Sunday, September 21. The concert is free on Liberty Avenue in front of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) in downtown Pittsburgh.  VIP seating and experience are available for purchase.

​At just 26 years old, Ingram – a GRAMMY Award winner for his 2021 album 662 – has taken the music world by storm, earning widespread acclaim for his masterful guitar work, soulful vocals, and electrifying stage presence.  His 2023 release, Live in London, is a powerful showcase of his performance energy, but fans are waiting for his newest venture, Hard Road, scheduled for release on his own Red Zero Records just five days after he leaves Pittsburgh. The first single from the new record, “Voodoo Charm,” is streaming now.
 
According to Guitar.com, “When someone of the stature of Buddy Guy starts telling anyone who will listen that you are “the next explosion of the blues,” then it’s safe to assume you are doing something right.” In addition to his red hot concert performances, Ingram also worked on the score and made a cameo appearance in the hit movie “Sinners.” Don’t miss this chance to experience Christone “Kingfish” Ingram live in Pittsburgh for an unforgettable performance by one of the most powerful voices shaping the future of blues.
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 the ticketed events featuring a Salute to George Benson with Dan Wilson and Jonathan Butler and the Taste of Jazz Party, the weekend’s 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 The Wilson Group, UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, BMW of Pittsburgh, Visit Pittsburgh, Duolingo, 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 tickets and 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.
 

​# # #

​Media Contacts:
Carolyn McClair PR
(212) 721-3341 | CMcClair@awaacc.org
 
Khalil Waldron, Director - Marketing and Communications, AWAACC
(412) 742-4771 | Kwaldron@awaacc.org
 
 

​“It seems that every 20 years or so, that song comes back to me,” Adderley says. “And I want everybody to know that Luther is still my buddy, still my boy, and I can't imagine him not having been a part of my life. And this song was so important. So, it's just kind of fun that this is my first single.” Accompanied by two long-time friends, bassist Belden Bullock and drummer Steve Johns, Adderley’s fleet-fingered version of “Superstar” changes the sonic zip code of the composition from its moody aura to a festive, Brazilian samba dance.
 
On Adderley’s new record scheduled for release in October, the pianist is also augmented by bassist Chris Berger and drummers Tommy Campbell, Dwayne Cook Broadnax and Vince Ector, playing a pleasing potpourri of standards arranged by the leader. Forthcoming tunes on the CD include “Old Devil Moon,” Dizzy Gillespie’s “Con Alma,” Stevie Wonder’s “You and I (We Can Conquer the World)” and Carole King’s “You Make Me Feel Like (A Natural Woman). The title track is an intricate, Burt Bacharach style selection. “It’s the only original song I have on an album full of covers,” Adderley remarks. On all the tracks, Adderley's protean and profound pianism is informed by Herbie Hancock’s masterful harmony, Chick Corea’s hypnotic touch and Joe Zawinul’s earthy grooves.
 
But the question remains: Why did it take so long for Adderley to record his first album as a leader? “When Luther passed away, and I started figuring out what I was going to do, Mary J Blige’s management called me around 2009-2010 to be her music director,” Adderley says. “I really listened to her whole output from the beginning, and I fell absolutely in love with her and all her music, but at the same time, I realized that I would be miserable running around the country on tour… If I don't want to work for Mary J. Blige, obviously, I'm not trying to stay in R&B at all, and I figured out that I'm going to go after jazz for the rest of my life.” To that end, Adderley led trios and quartets in a slew of gigs over the last 15 years in the metropolitan New York area, honing his improvisational skills.
 
Adderley’s road to jazz was more circuitous than direct, given his lineage. Born on May 23, 1955, in Quincy, FL, he briefly lived in Queens, NY until he was five, and relocated to Teaneck, NJ, where he and his sister grew up. Although his father did not pressure his children to pursue music, Adderley studied classical music heavily as a child, and at the age of 11, at the urging of Olga Adderley, Cannonball’s wife, Nat started taking advanced studies at the Juilliard School of Music Prep Division. Later, Nat enrolled at the High School of Music and Art.  “I was in a group in high school called Natural Essence and we released one record, In Search of Happiness, in 1973 before I went off to college.” Adderley had already gained valuable experience working with singer-songwriter Valerie Simpson, along with drummer Buddy Williams and bassist Francisco Centeno, and performed with Simpson at the Troubadour nightclub.
 
During his time at Yale University, where he majored in African-American Studies, Adderley played in a few local groups, performed with The Brothers Johnson on a West Coast tour produced by Quincy Jones, and opened for Natalie Cole in North Carolina, but he grew tired of the road, moved to Houston, where he worked as an accountant and played in a piano bar. Then Adderley got a call from an old high school friend named Luther Vandross, with whom he had worked in Listen My Brother, an ensemble composed of New York City kids who sang together at the Apollo Theater and on Sesame Street.
 
Vandross wanted Adderley to work on material for his eponymously named group, Luther, and that collaboration produced a minor hit, “The Second Time Around” in 1976. Five years later, Vandross sang his first major hit, “Never Too Much” on the Epic label debut. From 1981 to 2005, Adderley was an indispensable music director for Vandross. Adderley’s compositions include “Stop to Love,” “Wait for Love, “Make Me a Believer,” “Other Side of The World” and the Grammy-nominated “Give Me the Reason.” His arrangements include “Here and Now,” “So Amazing,” “If Only for One Night,” “If This World Were Mine,” “There’s Nothing Better Than Love” and “Anyone Who Had a Heart.” Adderley produced “My Favorite Things,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Going Out of My Head” and “The Closer I Get To You” (a Grammy-winning duet with Beyonce). Adderley has also worked with Johnny Gill, Aretha Franklin, Kirk Whalum and Jay Hoggard.
 
But as that door to Vandross has closed, a whole new world has opened for Nat Adderley Jr. “Jazz,” he says, “There’s nothing like it!”
 
                                                             #  #  #

​Media Contact: Carolyn McClair, McClair PR
(212) 721-3341 | Info@CarolynMcClairPR.com