The United States Army Field Band - Jazz Ambassadors

The United States Army Field Band - Jazz Ambassadors play Temple Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 24, 2026. They're the official touring big band of the United States Army, a 19-member ensemble that's been on the road since 1969. Over the decades, they've earned the nickname "America's Big Band," and they've played in all 50 states, as well as in Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, and throughout Europe.

Their repertoire is wide enough to cover a lot of ground in one night. It runs from big band swing and bebop to Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections—and many of those pieces are written or arranged by the band members themselves. That range is part of the draw: you'll hear the classic big band sound alongside more modern jazz and a few nods to the Army's own tradition.

They've shared the stage with Gordon Goodwin, Bobby Shew, Ernie Watts, and the Dave Brubeck All-Star Quintet, and have played the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Jazz Education Network Conference. This is a touring group that's spent more than half a century playing for audiences all over the country.

The concert is at 7:30 PM in Lew Klein Hall at the Temple Performing Arts Center, part of Temple University in Philadelphia. Admission is free, though you'll need to reserve your tickets in advance.