About

Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival

Janis Burley Wilson

Welcome to the 12th Annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF), presented by Citizens. Our goal is to celebrate our strong jazz lineage, and to invite jazz lovers home to Pittsburgh, using music to recognize who we are, and who we can be. The festival kicks off with jazz luminary, Ron Carter, and the Taste of Jazz Party with a “feast” of music by Brett Williams & Kate K-S, Laurin Talese, Frank Lacy, plus some of the hottest DJ’s, Nate da Phat Barber and Selecta.  Rest up for two more full days of music by all-stars, Stanley Clarke, Ledisi, Average White Band, Incognito ft. Maysa Leak, & Buster Williams. Some of the most contemporary voices on the scene like Samara Joy, Vanisha Gould, Melissa Aldana, Dan Wilson, Chief Adjuah make for one of the best fests ever. For the first time, Sean Jones, Nate Smith, Brett Williams, Frank Lacy, Gary Bartz, Endea Owens & some other surprise guests will take the stage together for an incredible PIJF-commissioned tribute to Donald Byrd who would have turned 90 this year. Thanks to Donald Byrd III of the Donald Byrd Cultural Foundation for his blessing in making this project a reality, one that will be enjoyed here exclusively at the PIJF 2022!  Our DJs for the weekend, DJ Big Phil, DJ Blakk Steel, and Selecta create the UNION, a sound experience like no other.  Get ready to party, dance, sing, and make musical memories with us!

Our new home Highmark Stadium is perfect location for the PIJF now. Let’s stay safe; Covid-19 is still with us; Masks are strongly encouraged in all indoor venues.

On behalf of the AWAACC Board of Directors and staff, I’d like to thank our sponsors; Citizens, Highmark Health, UPMC, UPMC Health Plan, Advanced Auto, P&W Motors, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Bacardi, Allegheny County Airport Authority, Comcast, Xfinity, Rivers Casino, The Wilson Group, AARP, our festival partners, Pittsburgh Custom Wraps, Adda Coffee, and Uncle Nearest Inc..  We also like to thank special media sponsor, Comcast, and our media partners JazzCorner, Jazz Times, Downbeat, WBGO, WZUM, Entertainment Cruise Production, Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, and SoulPitt.  

Make the PIJF last forever:  Donate now and support the music.

Visit our website at awaacc.org to learn about the 2022-2023 season. 

Janis Burley Wilson
President & CEO/Artistic Director
August Wilson African American Cultural Center


PIJF Advisory Board