Twenty-time GRAMMY winner Pat Metheny, along with bassist Ron Carter; Billboard chart-topper Jessy J; and venerable songwriter Delbert McClinton are among the first acts announced for the 2016 edition of RiverJazz presented by Concannon Miller, the jazz series that takes place at SteelStacks each spring. Tickets for the shows, which take place at the ArtsQuest Center’s Musikfest Cafe, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, are on sale at www.steelstacks.org and 610-332-3378.

On April 22, jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheny takes the stage with GRAMMY winning bassist Ron Carter. Metheny, who reinvented the sound of jazz guitar in 1975 with his first album, Bright Size Life, continues to redefine the genre by using new technologies and pushing the boundaries of his instrument. He has sold more than 20 million records, with his latest release being 2014’s Kin. Metheny will be joined by Carter, who has more than 2,000 individual recording credits and has won numerous honors for his work, including a 1993 GRAMMY for “Best Jazz Instrumental Group” for the Miles Davis Tribute Band, and a 1998 GRAMMY for “Call Sheet Blues,” an instrumental composition from the film Round Midnight.

The 2008 Radio & Records “Debut Artist of the Year,” Jessy J will perform May 12 at RiverJazz. After playing her first major solo performance at the Catalina JazzTrax Festival in 2006, the saxophonist and singer took to the studio, releasing the 2008 Billboard jazz chart-topper Tequila Moon, followed by 2011’s Hot Sauce, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard jazz chart.

Headlining RiverJazz presented by Concannon Miller May 18 is multi-GRAMMY winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Delbert McClinton. Best known for his 1980 hit “Giving It Up for Your Love” and 1992 duet with Tanya Tucker, “Tell Me About It,” McClinton is legendary for his ability to seamlessly combine country, blues, soul and rock ’n roll. His most recent studio release is 2013’s Blind, Crippled and Crazy.

Also headlining RiverJazz is the Craig Thatcher Band, a Musikfest favorite and multi-Lehigh Valley Music Award winner. On April 30 Thatcher and his band will be presenting the music of iconic guitarist Jimi Hendrix, featuring songs like “Foxy Lady,” “Bold as Love” and “Purple Haze.”

Tickets and information for the announced shows are below:

Pat Metheny – April 22, 7:30 p.m.
$39-$54

Craig Thatcher Band – April 30, 7:30 p.m.
$20-$25

Jessy J – May 12, 7:30 p.m.
$20-$30

Delbert McClinton – May 18, 7:30 p.m.
$45-$52

“RiverJazz brings internationally-acclaimed jazz, blues and even rock artists to our region each spring, providing a unique experience for jazz aficionados and music lovers in general,” says Concannon Miller CEO Bob Oster. “This series also showcases talented local jazz artists, including some of our amazing high school bands that compete in the SteelStacks Jazz Band Showcase, alongside these world-renowned artists. Concannon Miller is again thrilled to be part of this series, and we’re excited by how much it’s grown over the past five years.”