All-star musical lineup returns for Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank benefit

You name the event, and Jason Kendall will provide entertainment for it — but there’s one annual event that is particularly close to his heart.

“This is the show we look forward to the most throughout the year,” said Kendall, of “Celebration,” an all-star music benefit for Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

The 10th annual concert is planned for 6-10 p.m. Dec. 12 at Wintergarden at PPG Place in downtown Pittsburgh. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

Kendall, who is no relation to the former Pittsburgh Pirates catcher, is the owner of Jason Kendall Productions and leader of the Jason Kendall Productions House Band, well-known on the Pittsburgh-area wedding reception and event circuit.

“The core of the show is our house band, which we’ve expanded this year with the Radiant Strings Quartet and the 8-piece Holiday Horns,” Kendall said.

New and returning performers for this year’s “Celebration” include Artistree, Bob Banerjee, Casey & Dan Deely, Rob Frankenberry, Eric George, Cherylann Hawk, Adam Janssen, Lindsay Lehman, Joel Lindsey, Jesse Lowry, Sugar Ray Morrison, Amanda Noah, John Parrendo, Right Turn Clyde Chelsea Ritenour, Rocket Loves Blue, Tim Ruff, Mike Stout and Brad Yoder, with musical production by Adam Janssen.

Bigger every year

“The idea is for it to be a little like an old-time variety show,” Kendall said, with Christmas music in various styles, including soul, gospel, rock, folk, blues and more.”

The show also will feature two opera singers and dancers from the Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh, he said.

“We started out very small,” Kendall said of the benefit. “It began as a CD release party for our Christmas jazz CD. We asked people to bring canned food for the food bank. We made $150 for the food bank that first year.

“Every year it got bigger, so we went to bigger venues and got corporate sponsors,” he said.

The inaugural event took place at Club Cafe in Pittsburgh’s South Side. Other venues have included the former Atria’s location in the North Shore and the Hard Rock Cafe in South Side.

“We partnered with the (Pittsburgh) Cultural Trust for a few years and did about three years in the Cabaret Theatre in the Cultural District,” Kendall said.

Due to the pandemic, last year’s show went virtual.

“We put together footage from past years and made a 90-minute highlight reel,” Kendall said. “We put it on YouTube and Facebook Live, and in the first hour we had close to $7,500 in donations.”

In a typical year, “Celebration” makes about $5,000 for the food bank. In total, it has raised more than $25,000.

“Our goal this year is $10,000,” Kendall said. “You gotta aim high.

“The food bank can do more with money than with food donations,” he added. “Each dollar provides five meals, and they have a push going to provide healthy food. They’re doing good work.”

A ticket for the 21-and-older event is $75 and includes appetizers. A cash bar will be available.

For tickets, visit eventbrite.com.