Rain delays fail to negatively impact 16th Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival

By Alexander Johnson (for Seventies-Soul-Report.com)

PITTSBURGH, PA --- Thousands of jazz lovers filled the streets of downtown Pittsburgh during the weekend of Sept. 17-20, 2026.

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The event celebrated the 16th edition of the city's annual International Jazz Festival. Though intermittent rain showers did hamper several time-slots and logistical adjustments to start-times, overall, August Wilson African American Cultural Center festival organizers, were reportedly satisfied with turnout - and the fact that concertgoers were able to withstand the wet weather that occurred during several showtimes.

Specifically credit local drummer Dennis Garner and his band. Though a relatively unknown entity on the world-wide jazz scene, Garner displayed a sense of major talent during his tribute to the late Michael Archer aka D'Angelo. Garner's RnB-funk-flavored unit offered patrons an excitable taste of D'Angelo's unique Neosoul-styled compositions that garnered the now-deceased keyboardist's worldwide renown.

Though Garner is a drummer, he displayed his knack for infusing his rhythmic soul into his young, talented bandsmen. For the record, Garner hails from the Beltzhoover district of Pittsburgh's South Side. Another local talent featured on this Saturday night of the Festival, was trumpeter Sean Jones and his Baltimore-based jazzmen. Unlike Garner, Jones provides more of the traditional jazz stylings of cats like Duquesne, Pa. hornman Harry Nash and North Side's own Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge.

Though he's a Youngstown, Ohio native, Jones cut his proverbial teeth in Pittsburgh while attending Duquesne University. There, he attended countless jam sessions and gigged with many of the city's elite jazzmen, including Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin, Tony Campbell and Kenny Blake. Saturday Jazz Festival performances also included legendary drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Neosoul vocalist Eric Roberson and NYC's own DJ Kid Capri of Apollo Theater/Def Comedy Jam fame.

Rain delayed Sunday performances featuring Lalah Hathaway, Terri Lynne Carrington, Lady Blackbird, Nate Smith, Orrin Evans and Annie & The Carlwells.

According to several reports, August Wilson CEO, Janis Burley, was overly satisfied with this year's turnout - and is already in the planning stages for next year's event.

(ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alexander Johnson is a native Pittsburgher and has covered the PIJF for the past several years. Prior to his jazz media days, Johnson excelled as a basketball prodigy and played collegiately and on semi-professional ranks in the competitive Los Angeles (NBA) Summer Leagues. Johnson also played in the legendary Pittsburgh Roundball Classic, and participated in the iconic 'Fish That Saved Pittsburgh' film at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Johnson is a married grandfather.)