JAZZ PICNIC - Indian Echo Caverns - Hummelstown PA  Free parking - lots of activities for the whole family - four great bands perform from 1-6 p.m. - food available for purchase - ticket price includes beverages. 

1:00 PM  Mark Swartzbaugh Quartet Mark Swartzbaugh - drums, Jimmy Wood - piano, Steve Meashey - bass, Simon Crosby-Arreaza - alto sax    2:15 PM  CPFJ Youth Band Directed by Ronnie Waters   3:30 PM  Amy Banks w/ Andy Roberts (p) John Gingerich (b) and Fred Griggs (dr)

4:45PM  TEEN TOWN - Connor Rohrer/Gabriel Severn/ Logan Bedard                       CPFJ THANKS PREMIER WEALTH MANAGEMENT FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR FESTIVAL!

The Central PA Friends of Jazz will return to Mt. Gretna's Playhouse again 1n 2019 for the main Festival Concert - this year's special guest performer is master jazz pianist GEORGE CABLES!  His trio features heralded drummer Victor Lewis and bassist Ed Howard.             

Born in New York City in 1944, Cables was classically trained as a youth and when he started at the “Fame” Worthy High School of Performing Arts, he admittedly “didn’t know anything about jazz.” But he was soon smitten with the potential for freedom of expression he heard in jazz.  Cables attended Mannes College of Music for two years. Gigs around New York attracted attention to Cables’ versatility and before long he had played on Max Roach’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and earned a brief 1969 tenure at the piano bench with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. A 1969 tour with tenor titan Sonny Rollins took Cables to the West Coast. By 1971 he became a significant figure in the jazz scenes of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Perhaps the most pivotal turn came when hard-bop legend Dexter Gordon invited Cables into his quartet in 1977. The two years he spent with the tenor giant ignited Cables’s passion for the acoustic piano and immersed him in the bebop vocabulary.  The longest standing relationship Cables developed in the late seventies was with alto saxophonist Art Pepper. Cables, who Pepper called “Mr. Beautiful,” became Art’s favorite pianist, appearing on many quartet dates for Contemporary and Galaxy, and joining Art for the extraordinary duet album, Goin’ Home.  He has performed and recorded with some of the greatest jazz musicians of our time, including: Joe Henderson, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughn, Tony Williams, Bobby Hutcherson and Dizzy Gillespie. He is noted for his fresh Interpretations of classic compositions and for his innovative style of writing.

Ed Howard - bass                 Victor Lewis - drums   PRODUCED BY THE CENTRAL PA FRIENDS OF JAZZ AND GRETNA MUSIC

Our Festival Jam Sessions are occurring on Saturday, July 13th in two locations - the Holy Hound in York and the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center in Harrisburg.  Come out and enjoy the fun - great for player ans audiences alike! After the jam sessions, come to Gretna for the evening concert with legendary pianist George Cables...

  CPFJ co-hosts a jam session on the second Saturday of every month - Jam Sessions are open to all aspiring jazz musicians.  Featured musicians include Chris Loser, Kris Kostoff, Mark Holman and others.

Our Festival Jam Sessions are occurring on Saturday, July 13th in two locations - the Holy Hound in York and the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center in Harrisburg.  Come out and enjoy the fun - great for players and audiences alike! After the jam sessions, come to Gretna for the evening concert with legendary pianist George Cables... Food and drink available, no cover charge! If you're coming to the lecture/performance with Jimmy Wood and Ronnie Waters at Susquehanna Art Museum, walk down the street and have some lunch with us at the jam session.  

Longtime friends and legendary Central PA musicians Ronnie Waters and Jimmy Wood perform and talk about the music & their memories of the jazz scene in Harrisburg.  

FESTIVAL JAZZ PARTY

Come out and celebrate 39 years of GREAT JAZZ with us!    Live jazz from 7:30- 11PM - featuring The River City Big Band with special guests Ali Ryerson & Marko Marcinko

  Food and drink available - FREE PARKING - Tickets $20 / Friends of Jazz $15 / Students $10 The Greystone Brew House is a newly remodeled facility located on the Range End Golf Course that is owned by the Greystone Restaurant in Harrisburg and the food and atmosphere are top notch!  ALI RYERSON is a renowned international musician/educator with many recordings and credits.  MARKO MARCINKO was formerly with Maynard Ferguson and Dave Liebman and directs the jazz program at Penn State Univ. in State College. RIVER CITY BIG BAND: Led by pianist Steve Rudolph & trumpeter Bill Perbetsky, the River City Big Band originated 5 years ago when Bill retired as Director of Bands at  Susquehanna H.S. in Harrisburg.  Both Steve and Bill were veterans of the Tommy Dorsey Band under Buddy Morrow and decided to form an ensemble to keep the big band jazz tradition alive in Central PA.  The band is made up of the finest players within driving distance and performs the music of Ellington, Kenton, Basie, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones and many other notable band leaders with additional arrangements and originals from members and friends.   Featured players this evening include:CATHY CHEMI (vocal), STEVE RUDOLPH (piano), STEVE MEASHEY (bass) Trumpets - SKIP STINE, BILL PERBETSKY, BARRY LONG, DALE ORRIS Saxes - DARRYL BRENZEL, RYAN KAUFFMAN, DAVE YINGER, OLIVER FAIRLEY, MICHAEL DRUCK Trombones - DAN TOMASONNE, BILL SMITH, STEVE SHIFFER & JAY VONADA

38th Annual Central PA Jazz Festival Event   THURSDAY, JULY 11TH   --  RIVERBOAT JAZZ CRUISE 

Dave Stahl's Quintet  Tickets are only available from the Riverboat Society's Website

Join us for the always entertaining Festival Jam Session - all aspiring jazz musicians are welcome to sit in! There is a keyboard, bass amp, and drums available.  FRED GRIGGS (dr) PATRICK McGEE (keys) & JOHN GINGERICH (bass) are the "house" rhythm section...

FREE FESTIVAL EVENT: “JAZZ: What, Why & How” Woodwind master Tom Strohman discusses the intricacies of jazz, its influences, and the life of a professional musician.  Our thanks to the Hershey Library for supplying the space for this event.  

     Dr. Paul Haidet (avid jazz fan and Board Member of CPFJ)  Feeling like you just don't “get” jazz?  Come listen and have the good doctor give you some insight into the how’s and why’s of America’s Music.  Dr. Haidet, a doctor at Hershey Medical Center, is also a teacher who lectures to student doctors on how to think and react more like jazz musicians - join him for an enlightening experience.   Questions welcomed.........for all levels of jazz fans.   No admission charge.

JAM SESSION:   All aspiring jazz musicians are welcome to sit in.  Food and drink available - no cover charge.     Kirk Reese's Trio (Kirk - piano; Pete Lazorcik - drums; John Gingerich - bass) will host the jam set!  Come by for dinner on your way to the evening concert in the Gretna Playhouse - it's a nice walk.   CPFFJ thanks the Mt. Gretna Hide-a-way for supporting our Festival

 Tickets for the Jazz Cruise are $10 and are available only through the Harrisburg Riverboat Society's website - CLiCK HERE to go to their site.   Dave Stahl's Quintet will appear at this year's Cruise.   DAVE STAHL QUINTET featuring TOM STROHMAN (WOODWINDS)WAYNE FOX (PIANO) ROB COCHRAN (BASS) DAVE SANTANA (DRUMS) For tickets and information on the rest of the Festival, please scroll down...

OPENING FESTIVAL CONCERT:

We kick off the 2017 Central PA Jazz Festival with a performance by our own CPFJ Youth Band directed by Ron Waters.  The band features talented young musicians from many area schools and are a joy to hear.  They will play at Strawberry Square during lunch hour - please join us to kick off the 37th annual Festival..

CPFJ Thanks Premier Wealth Management for their support of the Central PA Jazz Festival.

The River City Big Band will perform with special guests to close out this 36th edition of the Central PA Jazz Festival.       Featured performers include: Tom Strohman, Bill Perbetsky,Dale Orris, Rick Hirsch, Steve Meashey, Kevin Lowe, Tim Thompson, Michael Druck, Ryan Kauffman, Greg Strohman, Mike Yinger, Skip Stine, Steve RudolphSPECIAL GUESTS: Rob Middleton & Cathy Chemi

Saxophonists Tim Warfield and Jonathan Ragonese will be performing & recorrding LIVE - just two saxophones - there will be some serious sparks flying!  Tim was one of Jonathan’s main influences and we expect this event will not be for the faint of heart.  The ticket price also includes a copy of the recording.  Call  (717) 233-8668 for tickets $30 - only available through the Susquehanna Art Museum - seating is limited.  (No discount for CPFJ Members)

CENTRAL PA JAZZ FESTIVAL AUGUST 10-13, 2016 Youth Band Concert - STRAWBERRY SQUARE ATRIUM Riverboat Cruise - CITY ISLAND, HARRISBURG JazzMobile - VARIOUS SITES Jazz Party - RIVER CITY BLUES CLUB Workshop - TBA Jam Session - MT. GRETNA HIDEAWAY Festival Concert - MT. GRETNA PLAYHOUSE Jazz Picnic - INDIAN ECHO CAVERNS COMPLETE INFORMATION AVAILABLE SOON!    Scroll down to purchase individual event tickets...   READ THE COMPLETE FESTIVAL STORY HERE!   36th Annual CENTRAL PA JAZZ FESTIVALAUGUST 11-15, 2016 .Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016    NOON -1pm (concert)Festival Kickoff Concert & JazzMobileStrawberry Square Atrium, 2nd & Walnut, Harrisburg PA & various Hbg City sites -  11-1:30                 Strawberry Square, Third and Walnut, 

2:00-3:00              Homeland, 1924 N. Fifth Street, Harrisburg, 

3:30-4:30              Neighborhood Center 1801 N. Third Street, Harrisburg, park in front of building 5:00-5:30              Harrisburg Riverboat, City Island, Harrisburg  Kickoff Concert at Strawberry Square and JazzMobile in various Harrisburg City sites from noon to 5:30p.m. featuring our own CPFJ Youth Band - after playing the opening concert  they will be making stops on the JazzMobile at other venues in Hbg..Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016    5-8:30pmRiverboat Jazz Cruise - Jazzin’ on the Pride Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat, City Island Harrisburg $10 Philadelphia duo - (violinist) Diane Monroe and (pianist) Tom Lawton .Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016    8pmLive Recording SessionJonathan Ragonese & Tim Warfield Susquehanna Art Museum (main gallery) 1401 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, PA $30   Friday, August 12, 2016     7pm-12:30amFestival Jazz Party River City Blues Club, 819 South Cameron St., Harrisburg PA Four Bands - Continual music from 7pm - 12:30am Get your tickets early for this popular event.  .Saturday, August 13, 2016    11am-12:30pmJazz Workshop Jonathan Ragonese - Cafe 1500, 1500 N 6th St. Hbg. PA - $5.Saturday, August 13, 2016 3-6pmJazz Jam Session Mt Gretna Hideaway, 40 Boulevard Street, Mount Gretna, PAAll aspiring jazz musicians welcome to sit in with Kirk Reese's Trio - FREE.Saturday, August 13, 2016    7:30pmFestival ConcertMt. Gretna Playhouse, 200 Pennsylvania Ave, Mt Gretna, PA, Houston Person Quartet & Russell Malone QuartetProduced by the Central PA Friends of Jazz & Gretna Music.Sunday, August 14, 2016   1-7pmJazz Picnic Indian Echo Caverns, 368 Middletown Road, Hummelstown, PAfeaturing five bands, food, and fun!.Monday, August 15, 2016    7-9:30pmRiver City Big BandRiver City Blues Club, 819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg PA $1216 piece big band playing music from Kenton, Thad Jones, Buddy Rich and original arrangements and compositions from the members. SPECIAL GUESTS: Rob Middleton (sax) & Cathy Chemi (voice) join a stellar cast of players from Central PA.

Support the Festival - buy an ad or list your name in the annual Festival/Fall Series program - see our ONLINE STORE to donate.  

 CPFJ thanks ROBERT PUGLIESE and PREMIER WEALTH MANAGEMENT for their continuing support of our Festival.

The Cental PA Festival Concert is produced by CPFJ in association with Gretna Music and dedicated to the memory of Murray B. Grosky, M.D. - drummer and former member of the CPFJ Board of Directors. We thank Tom Carmany, the Grosky Family and Friends for helping to underwrite this event.

Two great bands are featured at this year's Festival at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse on August 29th!! "A NIGHT OF LEGENDS"       Freddy Cole Quartet featuring Bootsie Barnes, Elias Bailey & Quentin Baxter & the Eddie Henderson Quintet featuring George Cables, Billy Hart, Eric Alexander & Doug Weiss Produced by the Central PA Friends of Jazz (CPFJ) and Gretna Music   Tickets also available from Gretna Music  - online  or call them at 717-361-1508 This concert is in tribute to Leesa Crnogorac - a faithful supporter of CPFJ and Gretna Music We thank Tom and Donna Weik for underwriting this event in her memory.   SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH - 7:30pm“A NIGHT OF LEGENDS” FESTIVAL CONCERT AT MT. GRETNA PLAYHOUSE.The 35th Annual Festival concert will be held in the fabulous Mt. Gretna Playhouseand is co-produced by Gretna Music. The program is underwritten by Tom & Donna Weik and dedicated to the memory of Leesa Crnogorac, one of the longtime supporters of CPFJ and Gretna Music. The evenings “Legends” include vocalist /pianist Freddy Cole and his quartet. Freddy is the brother of Nat “King” Cole and has been thrilling audiences with his interpretations of the American Songbook through more than 20 recordings and thousands of performances. People Magazine states: “Gorgeous autumnal baritone, expressive phrasing and pitch-perfect feel for jazz standards, pop tunes and love ballads.”  Freddy will feature the Philadelphia based saxophonist Bootsie Barnes.  

The second band is the Eddie Henderson’s Quintet with special guests Billy Hart (dr), George Cables (piano), Eric Alexander (sax), and Doug Weiss (bass). Eddie Henderson got his first trumpet lesson from Louis Armstrong and went on to join Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi Band in the early ‘70’s. He has since built a reputation as one of the leading jazz musicians in the world. His group is an all-star ensemble and promises to bring great energy and excitement to the Festival. This is quite a lineup of jazz luminaries - don’t miss a great evening of jazz in this beautiful venue.  

CPFJ thanks to Gretna Music and Tom & Donna Weik for making this event possible.Mt. Gretna Playhouse, 200 Pennsylvania Ave, Mt Gretna, PA 1706         Tickets are General Admission by section, so get there early for best seating.   Adults/premium = $30 Adults/standard = $24 CPFJ Members / Premium - $26 CPFJ Members / Standard - $20 Students = $12  

Join us for an open Jazz Jam Session on the deck of the Mt. Gretna Hideaway on Saturday, August 29th from 3-6pm - part of the 35th Annual Central PA Jazz Festival.  All aspiring jazz musicians are welcome to sit in with Kirk Reese's Triofeaturing Fred Griggs (dr) and Steve Meashey (bass).  (Bass players please bring your instrument - piano & drums supplied) 

The Hideaway is only a few blocks from our concert site, the Gretna Theatre, where Freddy Cole and Eddie Henderson will be featured at 7:30 that evening.  Make it a full day of jazz and come by and listen before going to the big show.  While you're there, don't forget to sample some of the Hideaway's cuisine.  Reservations are available only in the dining room - 717.675.7987.  

THE RIVERBOAT CRUISE IS SOLD OUT - THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  PLEASE CHECK OUT THE OTHER FESTIVAL EVENTS... The Dave Stahl Quintet featuring Tom Strohman (reeds) Tim James (keys) Kevin MacConnell (bass) & Lew Leabman (rums) will perform for our Festival Riverboat Cruise.       Tickets are only available from the Riverboat Society's website or by calling 717-234-6500.  The boat will be anchored at the City Island dock from 5:30-7:30 and the cruise is from 7:30-8:30pm - the band will play from 5:30-8:30.  Food and drink is available. Dave Stahl is originally from the Reading area and has had a stellar career as a trumpet player.  He has performed with Buddy Rich, Lisa Minelli, Count Basie and many other major stars.   Don't forget to support the "Jazzin' on The Pride" series of live music events every Thursday through the summer months from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.  See the schedule on their website or in our CPFJ newsletter - The ViBE!  (available on this website)

We are happy to have our Festival Jam Session at the Timbers Restaurant in Mt Gretna this year.  Our evening concert is in the Gretna Playhouse, so we suggest you come to the Timbers before the concert and enjoy the jam session while you dine on their wonderful cuisine. ( There is no food at the Playhouse.)       VIEW THE FESTIVAL FLYER - CLICK HERE! Jonathan Ragonese will be coming home from NYC to lead the jam session - all aspiring jazz musicians are welcome to sit in - musicians who play get in FREE! Admission is $5 for adults, all students, children, and musicians who sit in are free.   Tickets for the August 10th Jam Session:  Please make reservations with The Timbers Restaurant, (717) 964-3601 - cash or check only!You will be charged at the door - limited seating!