Pittsfield celebrates Independence Day early this year with the American Jazz Repertory Orchestra, a 16-piece big band, by playing big band-era American standards and big band interpretations of jazz classics. The event is sponsored by Berkshires Jazz and features local standout soloists including Charlie Tokarz, Gary Miller, Andy Kelly and Vikki True from the Berkshires Jazz All-Stars.

July 2, 7:30 p.m., $15/students, $20/advance, $25/door, First United Methodist Church, 55 Fenn St., Pittsfield, (413) 442-7718, www.berkshiresjazz.org.