BCRAC to Present US ARMY Jazz Ambassadors

The internationally acclaimed Jazz Ambassadors (above) of Washington, DC will continue its long tradition of presenting free public performances when the ensemble appears at Wyalusing Valley Jr/Sr High School on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 pm.

The Jazz Ambassadors’ concert in Wyalusing is sponsored by The Bradford County Regional Arts Council (BCRAC) and the First Energy Foundation. Free tickets will be available beginning on Sept. 15, and may be picked up at all three BCRAC theaters during movie times and at Wyalusing Jr/Sr High School between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday.

The Jazz Ambassadors is the official touring big band of the United States Army. Formed in 1969, this 19-member ensemble has received great acclaim at home and abroad performing America’s greatest original art form – jazz. Concerts by the Jazz Ambassadors are programmed to entertain all types of audiences. The band’s diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections, many of which are written or arranged by members of the Jazz Ambassadors.

The Jazz Ambassadors has appeared in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, and throughout Europe. Recent notable performances include concerts at the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Jazz Education Network Conference, and an appearance on the Colbert Report.

Gordon Goodwin, Bobby Shew, Ernie Watts, and the Dave Brubeck All-Star Quintet are just a few of the outstanding jazz artists who have shared the stage with the Jazz Ambassadors. The band has been featured in joint concerts with Marvin Hamlisch and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony Pops, the Colorado Pops Orchestra, and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. The band’s rigorous touring schedule and reputation for excellence has earned it the title “America’s Big Band.”

Tickets may not be reserved over the phone or online. There is a limit of five tickets per person. Groups should contact Jim Gaffney at 570-268-2787.

For additional information about the Jazz Ambassadors’ performance in Wyalusing please contact the BCRAC.

The BCRAC, established in 1976, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and supporting a thriving regional arts community by advocating for the Arts, cultivating quality arts programming and preserving Bradford County’s historic theatres as venues for performances, community events, and movies. For more information, visit BCRAC online at www.bcrac.org or www.facebook.com/BCRAC.

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