City of Asylum
Giving Voice.
Six-time Jazz Poetry Month headliner James Brandon Lewis takes to the stage with his punk-jazz fusion band, the Messthetics, and poets Mark Andryczyk, Rania Mamoun, and Volodymyr Rafeyenko to herald in another month of poetry and improvisational jazz collaboration at City of Asylum.
Jazz Poetry 2026 welcomes Marta Sánchez for a stunning solo-piano album release, with compositions inspired by themes of isolation and solitude, as well as intimate, improvisational poetry collaborations with four City of Asylum Writers-in-Residence.
Innately fusion, this concert and book launch debuts poems by Erika Denae J that have leapt off the page and been adapted into musical compositions, brought to life with a 13-piece band including the likes of Jennifer Orchard, John Shannon, Theron Brown, Denzel Chismar-Oliver, James Johnson III, and more.
Writer-in-Residence Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko and wife Mari Frazé-Frazénko bring the spellbinding sound of their folk-experimental duo—accompanied by fellow musicians Hellcat Sneer, Lesya Verba, and Hugo Cruz—to Alphabet City for a night of reimagined Eastern European songs.
Welcome rock band The Leila on their debut North American tour as they blend elements of rock, soul, and traditional Moroccan sounds in songs about self-expression, empowerment, and societal issues.
James Johnson III, Ross Antonich, Joe Garner, Lorenze Jefferson, Michael Bernabe, Mike Hugo, and Alex Perez cook up innovative jazz hip hop fusions to bring a new sound to the steel city.
Award-winning singer, composer, and activist Mai Khôi and her group the Dissidents, featuring Mark Michelli, Jeff Siegfried, Eli Namay, and PJ Roduta, take to the Alphabet City stage for a farewell concert.
Legendary guitarist of over 50 years kicks off the three-part Kente Summer Madness jazz series, leading a killer quartet this summer at City of Asylum.
This Pittsburgh Performs concert, curated by Carlos Clark, features music by composers from the US, Uruguay, and Brazil, offering a vibrant vision of discovery while simultaneously reflecting on the complex history of the Americas.
Etta Cox, eight-time winner of “Best Jazz Vocalist,” brings her Broadway chops and unparalleled vocal performance to the Alphabet City stage for a night of transformed jazz favorites and fan-favorites upon request!
Lifelong percussionist and Pittsburgh-based bandleader Steve Ippolito joins forces with trumpeter Adam Bleil and bassist Denzel Chismar-Oliver to experiment with jazz and electronic roots and traverse new sonic planes.
Experimental electroacoustic collective Bombici brings uncommon time signatures, folks songs, dance music, and improvisational sounds to the Alphabet City stage.
Thomas Wendt, beloved percussionist in the Pittsburgh jazz scene, shows his versatility and expressive drumming prowess in the second installment of the Kente Summer Madness series.
With roots in Irish and Scottish folk music, Pittsburgh-based folk band Bealtaine keeps traditions alive while borrowing influences from the modern world.
A dedicated musician and staunch activist in his own right, Colter Harper and bandmates Kelsey Robinson, José Luis Martins, Tony DePaolis, and Lucas Ashby honor nine-time Latin Grammy winner and member of the Tropicália arts movement Caetano Veloso.
In a tribute to the myriad ways jazz builds and becomes community, lifelong friends and iconic musicians explore themes of connection both within and beyond the making of music.
A 10-piece ensemble with a passion for “dancing out loud” performs music from Guinea and other areas of West Africa with beautiful costuming, powerful movement, and spirited song.
Master of jazz, R&B, and Latin music, Dr. Emmett Goods returns to City of Asylum for a lively performance highlighting his rich musical background and lifetime of experience.
The Áñez twins’ music is designed to be performed with a stripped-down setup that centers vocals and small instruments. This performance is presented as a part of "Songs in the Key of She," a platform in which talented women in music share their creativity and stories with new audiences.
Internationally acclaimed pianist Alton Merrell and trio members Jeff Grubbs and David Throckmorton present a combination lecture and performance demonstrating the legendary artist McCoy Tyner’s lasting impact on jazz.
Drummer and composer James Johnson III shares a project three years in the making: a suite of songs inspired by nature, where a trio of strings joins a traditional jazz quintet.
Christopher Mark Jones returns for an encore of “Montréal Encore,” with a new troupe of fellow musicians putting a diverse spin on compositions of the original album (and a few new mixes!) for a brand new experience.
Hear a preview of the Stephen Philip Harvey Octet’s latest project, Mythos—an album of original music inspired by African diaspora mythology.
Iconic Pittsburgh bassist Paul Thompson celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jaco Pastorius’ eponymous debut album.
All-new compositions inspired by the work of artists such as Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton, John Zorn, and the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians.
Composer and pianist Joe Sheehan shares his latest project: a suite of all-original compositions inspired by fictional legendary places.
Lifelong guitarist Mila Shadel shares her fully original arrangements of the music of Joni Mitchell, one of her musical heroes.
Saxophonist Lou Stellute leads two other saxophonists—Scott Boni and Ben Opie—and a rhythm section filled out by Paul Thompson and George Heid III in a program featuring multiphonics and completely improvised tunes.
