About — Jazzmania Live

Our Story

Founded on a Simple Idea

Jazzmania Live was founded by Arthur Ray Crivella, who serves as its Executive Director. Arthur created Jazzmania to fill a gap: Pittsburgh had no shortage of talented musicians, but very few spaces where they could grow together — in public, without hierarchy, and without a profit motive driving every decision.

What began as a small ensemble has grown into a performance community with two flagship seasonal series, a pop-up program, a live streaming platform, and a growing roster of some of Pittsburgh's most committed musicians and vocalists.

Jazzmania is not a commercial organization. It exists to do the work, not to profit from it. Out-of-pocket expenses are covered; anything that remains is shared equitably among participants. There are no investors, no revenue targets, and no commercial agenda. The music comes first.

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Why We Exist

Our Mission

Jazzmania exists to develop and sustain live musical performance as a cultural heritage in Pittsburgh — by creating the conditions in which artists at every stage of their development can grow, and in which every member of the community can experience live music as something accessible, welcoming, and genuinely theirs.

Jazzmania produces its own performances and participates in public festivals and community events, always with the same purpose: to create opportunities for developing and experienced artists to sharpen their skills in live performance and deepen their practice of musical collaboration. The stage is a classroom as much as it is a platform.

Jazzmania holds a particular commitment to audiences who are underserved, disadvantaged, or experiencing social isolation and loneliness. Live music has long been one of the most powerful antidotes to disconnection, and Jazzmania takes that seriously. We keep our performances family-friendly, affordable, and accessible — because the experience of live music should not be gated by income, age, or circumstance.

"The joy of making music together is not incidental. It's the point."

Beyond individual performances, Jazzmania is committed to something larger: keeping jazz and live musical performance alive as part of Pittsburgh's cultural identity. We seek not only to perform, but to cultivate the skills, habits, and love of music that will sustain live performance in this region for generations to come.

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What We Stand For

Core Values

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Artist Development First

The stage is treated as a place of learning, not just presentation. Developing artists gain real-world experience; experienced artists sharpen their craft and model musicianship for others. Excellence is pursued through preparation and experience — not as a prerequisite for participation.

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Openness & Inclusion

Participation is not limited by age, background, reputation, or professional status. Inclusion does not mean the absence of standards — it means standards are applied with generosity, patience, and clarity. Respect for fellow participants and for the music itself is non-negotiable.

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Serving the Whole Community

We hold a special commitment to audiences who are disadvantaged, underserved, or experiencing social deprivation and loneliness. Live music is one of the most direct paths to human connection, and no one should be excluded from it.

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Shared Ownership

Jazzmania rejects fixed hierarchies and permanent roles. Musical, leadership, and production responsibilities are shared and rotated. Leadership is situational and functional, not positional or status-based.

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Non-Commercial

Direct out-of-pocket expenses are covered first; remaining proceeds are divided equally among active participants. Financial records are shared openly. There are no investors, no management cuts, and no profit motive.

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Jazz Heritage & Continuity

Jazzmania is rooted in jazz because jazz is itself a tradition of learning, improvisation, and democratic ensemble-making. We honor that tradition — not as a boundary, but as a foundation — while remaining open to all musical forms that serve artistic growth.

For Participants

What to Expect When You Join

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A Development-Centered Environment

In rehearsals, expect the music to be treated as a problem to solve together. Sections get repeated. Choices get questioned. Preparation is expected — but mistakes are understood as part of the process, not evidence of failure. Whether you're an emerging artist or a seasoned performer, there is always something to develop.

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Shared Responsibility

There are no permanent bandleaders, arrangers, or stage managers. People take on roles as needed. Over time, you may be asked to coordinate a rehearsal, manage logistics for a performance, or take the lead on a musical direction — not because you're the most senior member, but because it's your turn.

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Real Decisions, Made Together

Jazzmania makes decisions collaboratively — about repertoire, formats, venues, scheduling, and artistic direction. This takes longer than top-down decision-making, and it requires genuine engagement. Your voice matters, and your participation in decisions is expected.

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A Public-Facing Purpose

You'll be performing for real audiences — in Pittsburgh venues, at community festivals, and in spaces that reach people who may not often experience live music. Jazzmania expects participants to approach every performance with care for both the music and the people in the room.

Leadership

Arthur Ray Crivella

Founder & Executive Director

Arthur Ray Crivella founded Jazzmania Live to create a musical community grounded in growth, generosity, and genuine love of the art form. As Executive Director, he provides artistic and organizational leadership for all Jazzmania and Encore activities.

Arthur's vision for Jazzmania is both simple and ambitious: to build the kind of ensemble he always wanted to be part of, and to make its performances available to the widest possible Pittsburgh audience — especially those who need it most.

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Looking Ahead

Where the Future Leads Us

Jazzmania's future is defined not by scale or commercial ambition, but by depth, continuity, and commitment to Pittsburgh. Building on its foundation as an open, development-centered ensemble, Jazzmania seeks to grow as a durable musical presence in this region — one that serves artists, audiences, and the city's cultural life with increasing clarity and intention.

Jazzmania will expand its intentional outreach to disadvantaged communities and to individuals experiencing social isolation. We believe that live music is one of the most direct and human ways to address loneliness and disconnection, and we intend to take that responsibility seriously — through performance partnerships, accessible pricing, and a sustained commitment to being present in the communities that need us most.

Ultimately, the future leads toward a Jazzmania that is recognized not for its size, but for what it stands for: a living, open, community-rooted model of what musical life can be when artist development, cultural stewardship, and service to the community come first. Jazzmania will remain local, human in scale, and deeply rooted in Pittsburgh — because that's where the work is, and that's where it matters.

"Jazzmania is not a commercial gig, a closed club, or a showcase for ego. It is a shared musical practice — one that asks for commitment, generosity, and curiosity, and offers in return something rarer: the chance to grow as an artist, in public, alongside people who are doing the same, in service of a community that deserves more live music in its life."

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About Jazzmania Live