Live music, jazz trivia, laughter and fun were all part of the inaugural Amtrak Jazz Train to the 13th annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival.
The train, making stops in NYC, Newark and Philadelphia, was the brainchild of pianist Orrin Evans who is performing at the festival on Saturday evening. Evans joined the travelers in New York and made sure everyone got onboard at each stop.
"This is something my mother liked to do, planning and putting these kind of train trips together, so I'm really just enjoying this and thinking about her legacy."
The packed train car of enthusiastic fans (many of them WBGO listeners) were treated to the sounds of bassist Jonathan Michel, drummer Tina Raymond, saxophonist and trumpeter Caleb Wheeler Curtis, guitarist Matthew Ryker-Lynn and vocalist Michelle Lordi.
Janis Burley Wilson, CEO of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh, is the producer of the four-day event. She was all smiles during the inaugural train ride to her festival.
"This is truly a celebration of music but it's also a celebration of fellowship around something that is really powerful. It was great. I can't wait for next year."
The Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival presented by Citizens runs through Sunday September 17. Headliners include Ledisi, Bob James, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Kurt Elling and Gregory Porter.
You can find more about the festival here.
