AJW Summer 2026 Jazz Concerts on the Lawn Series

The AJW in partnership with the Anchorage Downtown Partnership is celebrating its 5th season presenting 11 free outdoor jazz concerts from 12 noon-2:00 p.m. on Saturdays on the Lawn of the Anchorage Museum located in downtown Anchorage from May 30 through August 15, 2026. The concerts feature a wide variety of local jazz bands from South Central Alaska. The 2026 bands include the John Damberg and Mark Manners Sextet, the Melissa Fischer Quintet, Power Play, the Fish-On Jazz Quartet, the Blue Dixie Combo, the A Town Sharps, the AJW Jazz Camp 26 Student and Faculty Ensembles, the Anchorage Jazz Ensemble Big Band, Konnexion, the Q5 Quintet, and the AJW Spring 2026 Advanced Student Jazz Septet.
Bring your lawn chair and enjoy some exciting Jazz, Blues, Latin Jazz, and Funk served up by Anchorage's Jazz Community!
These concerts are made possible by a generous grant from the Atwood Foundation.

See you there and thanks for supporting Live Jazz Performances in Anchorage!
More info at www.akjazzworkshop.org home page calendar.
Sponsored by the Alaska Jazz Workshop in collaboration with the Anchorage Downtown Partnership and the Anchorage Museum.
2026 Schedule
May 30 Opening Day Celebration
AJW Advanced Student Jazz Ensemble
AJW Young Lions of Jazz jamming on a fun mix of Jazz, Blues, Latin Jazz, & Funk
June
6 Spenard Jazz Fest 2026 presents
Konnexion-Anchorage’s own Big Horn Funk band
13 Blue Dixie Combo-New Orleans Style Jazz to make you
dance!
20 Solstice Celebration-no concert this day
27 A Town Sharps- A classic small jazz combo with an
international flair featuring Sarah Burtner singing Bossa
Nova, Rock, French Pop, Greek and Gypsy Jazz
July
4 John Damberg and Mark Manners sextet
An upbeat mix of original Alaska Jazz by John Damberg &
Mark Manners
11 Melissa Fischer “Jazz Mom” Quintet
Stellar Jazz and Blues featuring vocalist/pianist Melissa
Fischer and her quintet
18 Fish on Quartet-We are fishing friends who enjoy playing
Jazz, Blues, Funk, and Latin Jazz too!
25 Power Play-Contemporary Jazz Fusion and funk with deep
grooves!
August
1 AJE Big Band-Anchorage’s Premier Swinging Big Band!
8 AJW Jazz Camp Student and Faculty Ensembles
Enjoy the 39th AJW Jazz Camp All Stars Jamming on Hot
Jazz, Blues, and Funk
15 Q5 Quintet-Anchorage’s next generation of Jazz Artists
playing Contemporary Jazz.