All that jazz in the Electric City

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Hundreds are feeling the blues this weekend in the Electric City, and it is not because of stormy weather.

Smooth jazz, renowned artists, and music lovers all blended into the second night of the 19th Annual Scranton Jazz Festival.

Some may say the rainy weather was fitting for day two of the Scranton Jazz Festival.

Either way, one of the city’s greatest events saw its headlining performance of the weekend and hundreds were not missing out.

Filling the stage with swing music at the Scranton Cultural Center renowned jazz band “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy,” was a hit Saturday night.

“I think it’s fantastic. And I think it’s interesting how this area is uniquely positioned between Philadelphia and New York so we get a lot of national acts that kind of funnel through,” said Stephen Price from Mountain Top.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine 16th annual white coat ceremony

The chart-topping band has performed across the world including at the Super Bowl created music for TV shows and sold millions of records in their more than three decades of existence.

Stephen Price and his significant other Natalie navigated stormy weather to spruce up their date night without having to travel out of nepa to see top-shelf jazz musicians perform.

“It’s a big deal for us because traveling all the way out to New York or Philly it could really be a trek out and then you have to come back late at night,” added Natalie.

Along with the big headliner, some local artists performed outside the cultural center including the Straight Ahead Jazz Trio.

“I’ve always liked jazz. I’ve always liked the kind of mellow, free-form way of doing things that jazz has to offer,” stated Tommy Pierce from Dallas.

Pierce and his mom dined at Catch 21 Seafood and Steak and took in what the genre has to offer in downtown Scranton.

They also had good seats to enjoy Big Bad Voodoo Daddy an experience Pierce wants to see more of brought to the area.

“I think it would be great if more things arose around here. It’s cool listening to recordings and hearing all the greats of jazz but actually being there live for a performance is something different,” continued Pierce.

The Scranton Jazz Festival will celebrate its third day of the event Sunday and the Scranton Jazz Festival big band will close out another year of the annual event.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.