Jazz is more than just music—it’s a cornerstone of cultural expression. This sentiment is echoed by AJ Jump, a musician who also serves as the committee chair for the 2026 Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz. The festival, which promises three days of musical celebration, will commence on Friday with a special tribute.
George Graham, a veteran broadcaster, is set to receive the Cavalcade’s first Champion of Jazz Award. This recognition celebrates his “extraordinary contributions to jazz broadcasting, recording, and promotion over more than five decades at WVIA Radio,” according to the event organizers. Jump praises Graham, who retired in January after a remarkable 50-year tenure at WVIA, as “one of the greatest champions of jazz in this area, let alone the United States.”
“He has hosted countless incredible jazz musicians, both in-studio and through interviews,” Jump remarked. “George has definitely always been at the forefront of what was going on in the world of jazz.”
The opening ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. Friday at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. This free event will feature the Indigo Moon Brass Band, a New Orleans-style jazz and funk group that includes Jump as a member. “I’ve been a drummer for coming up on 30 years of my life,” said Jump, who is 42 years old.
Events will include Wolfpack Jazz
Most events during the festival are free, with the exception of the Saturday night concert by the Bill Frisell Trio at the Kirby Center. Tickets for this performance can be purchased here.
FULL EVENT SCHEDULE
Details on all performances scheduled for the 2026 Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz can be found here.
This year’s lineup includes Wolf Pack Jazz, a student ensemble from the Wilkes-Barre Area Creative and Performing Arts Academy. “It’s a great opportunity to highlight the program and youth involvement in jazz music locally,” Jump noted.
Other performers include Neil Nicastro, Jimmy Gee’s Band, and Son De Tres Trio. Following Frisell’s concert, attendees can enjoy The Funk Afterparty at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Rodano’s on Public Square. Performers at the afterparty include Mike Dougherty, Justin Mazer, Nick Driscoll, Mark Kiesinger, and Jump himself.
“We play all funk music every year on Parade Day in Scranton, so this was kind of an opportunity to sort of give the listener something adjacent to jazz … a funky thing, as opposed to just straight jazz, but very much a brother or first cousin of jazz,” Jump said.
‘This is a good region for jazz festivals’
Reviving a historic tradition, the festival echoes a landmark jazz concert held 75 years ago in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The original Cavalcade of Dixieland Jazz Concert in February 1951 drew an audience of 800. According to George Graham, jazz festivals have become key cultural events globally, including in Northeast Pennsylvania.
“This is a good region for jazz festivals,” Graham commented, referencing popular events in Scranton, Delaware Water Gap, and Reading. “I think jazz fans now have more opportunities to appreciate the music in different venues.”
Jump noted the festival’s growing popularity, drawing attendees from across the region and beyond. “Every year it just keeps growing,” he said. “We were seeing folks coming from places like Maryland or New York State and staying the whole weekend. We’re just looking to have another great year.”
