Music Events in State College

We’re excited to welcome Bobby Zankel & the Warriors to Manny’s. Bobby is a cornerstone of the Philadelphia creative jazz scene, someone who’s been doing this work for decades with deep intention and care. He studied with Ornette Coleman, and leads The Warriors of the Wonderful Sound, a long-running ensemble built around collective energy, trust, and fearless improvisation. His music moves between composition and open space—bold, searching, and always alive. Over the years, his work has included commissioned pieces featuring artists like Muhal Richard Abrams, Steve Coleman, and Rudresh Mahanthappa, but at its core, this is about the band in the room, listening hard and moving together. THE WARRIORS: Bobby Zankel – Sax, Shakoor Hakeem – Percussion, Sumi Tonoka – Piano , Fabian Enger – Trumpet Douglass Mapp – Bass Miguel Russell – Drums Rare chance to hear a master composer and bandleader up close, whose sound was shaped through direct study with Ornette Coleman, leading one of Philadelphia’s most enduring creative jazz ensembles.