The U.S. Army Blues, a component of the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” will perform a free concert at UMBC in honor of Jazz Appreciation Month on Saturday, April 27th at 7 pm. This special event will feature the 2023 Collegiate and High School solo competition winners from the Army Blues Young Artist Competition, alongside Naptown Jazz Kids, the premier jazz organization for young people in Annapolis. Naptown Jazz Kids was founded in 2019 by artistic director Steve Fidyk and is dedicated to enhancing and expanding jazz through education, performance, and community service opportunities.

Stationed at historic Fort Myer, Virginia the U.S. Army Blues is the premier jazz ensemble of the US Army. After informal beginnings in 1970, this 18-piece ensemble became an official element of the Army Band in 1972. The Army Blues strive to fulfill their mission through public concerts, educational outreach, and the preservation of the tradition of America’s unique art form: jazz.