Jazz Day Organizers

International Jazz Day is made possible thanks to the voluntary efforts of organizers at all levels of civil society in more than 190 countries worldwide. Whether small or large, organizations have an important role to play in facilitating the global celebration, lending their resources and accumulated expertise to curate multifaceted programs that make significant impacts on the local community.

Thanks to these efforts, International Jazz Day has become a widely anticipated moment on municipal and regional cultural calendars, promoting capacity building in the relevant cultural sectors and increased awareness of jazz and its role as a vector for peace and intercultural dialogue. This page gratefully recognizes those institutions that have generously devoted their time and resources to ensuring that International Jazz Day is celebrated in a way that truly reflects its global identity. Read below to learn about the work of these amazing organizers.

jazzahead!

Bremen, Germany-based jazzahead! is the world’s largest jazz trade fair and one of the most significant annual events on the global jazz scene. Bringing together artists, promoters, vendors and other stakeholders from throughout the jazz ecosystem, jazzahead! is helping to build community, raise awareness and create new value for jazz creatives and audiences everywhere. The theme of the 2022 edition of jazzahead! is “Together Again,” reflecting the conference’s return to an in-person format. Learn More

International Jazz Day AZ Foundation

The International Jazz Day AZ Foundation is an Arizona (USA) nonprofit organization led by musician, entrepreneur, magazine publisher and jazz advocate William “Doc” Jones. The Foundation has organized Jazz Day celebrations every year since 2012, bringing renowned musicians to audiences in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and beyond. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation aims to use their annual Jazz Day celebrations to raise awareness of the need for affordable housing for jazz & blues musicians. Learn More

Enjoy Jazz

Enjoy Jazz is Germany’s largest jazz festival. Each year, organizers present top-class concerts and a unique supporting program, with an emphasis on promoting youth and up-and-coming talent. Over 20,000 visitors flock to the events in and around Heidelberg, Mannheim and Ludwigshafen to see greats such as Archie Shepp, Carla Bley, Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman, as well as trend-setting newcomers. An International Jazz Day partner since 2015, for their 2022 event Enjoy Jazz will present the world premiere of the newly founded Green Dolphin Orchestra. Learn More

El Club del Jazz

El Club del Jazz is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 and based in Medellin, Colombia. The organization promotes jazz music and its associated positive values, including freedom of expression, diversity, respect and tolerance for human dignity, among musicians and all kinds of audiences, with the aim of contributing to the social and cultural development of Medellin and the broader global community. El Club del Jazz fulfills this mission through regular talks, gatherings, educational concerts, improvisation sessions, appreciation workshops and other events. They have been an International Jazz Day partner since 2012. Learn More

D.T.O. Jazz Fest

D.T.O. Jazz Fest Inc., formerly named Miami International Jazz Fest Inc., presented its first edition in Miami, Florida, on Friday, May 9th, 2014. We were forced to “close our doors” after our 2020 presentation, but this “pause,” however, allowed us to re-evaluate our situation. We believed that the City of Orlando and its surrounding communities were the “perfect fit” for our aspirations. The success of our first presentation on International Jazz Day 2022 confirmed our beliefs. We changed our name, address, and logo but not our resolve to continue to bring audiences the finest in all forms of Jazz presentations. Learn more.

Jazz Outreach Initiative

Jazz Outreach Initiative (JOI) was founded by Las Vegas native Kenny Rampton, who is currently a member of The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.  JOI was founded to fill a need in the community for greater exposure to jazz studies and awareness, focusing on students of all ages.  Through festivals, clinics, “Band Directors Academy,” “Jazz for Young People Concerts”, and other outreach programs, JOI celebrates the great American art form by promoting it through the next generation of performers, audiences, and consumers.

Amman Jazz Festival

Over the years, we’ve welcomed Jazz acts from around the world, marking our presence with passion among the wider community of jazz festivals and dedicated jazz lovers internationally. Amman Jazz Festival (AJF) is the only major event dedicated to Jazz in Jordan, which has succeeded in gathering local and international professionals, attracting a wide audience and expanding globally, while creating opportunities for sustainable cultural exchanges. The Festival is known to celebrate diversity, cultural fusion, creativity, unity, and dialogue, by featuring international, regional and local Jazz musicians. We have proudly represented The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan by celebrating International Jazz Day annually since 2019 and continue to advance educational and awareness programs throughout the year. Learn more.

Argentine Jazz Circuit Foundation

Founded in 2021 in San Juan, Argentina, its objective is to create a national and international network of Jazz workers to spread the values of the genre and work for a better world in a system of unity. Learn More.

 

Haina de Jazz

Founded in 2015 in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic, Haina de Jazz is passionate about presenting a range of interdisciplinary jazz offerings to the surrounding community, including concerts, jam sessions, educational events, artistic exhibitions and more. This small but dedicated organization has become a notable International Jazz Day success story, working to tear down barriers to accessing the uniquely positive experience of live jazz. Learn More

New Orleans Jazz Museum

An International Jazz Day partner since 2018, the New Orleans Jazz Museum celebrates the history of jazz, in all its forms, through dynamic interactive exhibits, multi-generational educational programming, research facilities, and engaging musical performances. Learn More

Blues Alley Jazz

Founded in 1965, Blues Alley is America’s oldest continuing jazz supper club and one of the world’s premiere destinations for live jazz. Along with its nonprofit arm, the Blues Alley Jazz Society, Blues Alley is playing a leading role in keeping jazz alive and thriving. In honor of International Jazz Day 2021, the storied venue presented a dynamic series of performances by artists representing six countries, produced in partnership with the Voice of America. Learn More

Bahrain Jazz Fest

The Bahrain Jazz Fest is Bahrain’s international jazz festival, curated since 2017 as a celebration of jazz from around the world. The annual program traditionally includes concerts, educational workshops and a culminating open-air jazz event featuring exciting jazz artists from Bahrain and around the world. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021 the festival underwent a digital transformation to a live virtual format showcasing local and international jazz artists. Learn More

Musique Universelle Arc-en-Ciel

Based in Paris (France), Musique Universelle Arc-en-Ciel (MUAC) is a non-profit organization that promotes music and all the arts as a means of communication between communities of different backgrounds, through conferences, educational workshops and concerts. MUAC has been a committed International Jazz Day partner since 2017. Learn More

MAMA JAZ

MAMA JAZ has been building awareness around International Jazz Day celebrations for Mauritian music lovers since 2016. In just a few short years this hip young festival has grown from an idea into a movement that impacts hundreds of thousands of Mauritians through national television broadcasts, packed concerts and free educational initiatives. Learn More

Latin Jazz Initiative

Based in Stuttgart, Germany, the Latin Jazz Initiative is dedicated to organizing concerts related to jazz, especially Latin jazz in all its forms and styles. In addition to organizing the annual Latin jazz festival Stuttgart mi amor, the initiative organizes concert series including “Monday Sessions” at the KISTE jazz club as well as annual International Jazz Day celebrations. Learn More

Jazz Art Association

Founded in 2009 in Podgorica, the Jazz Art Association is one of Montenegro’s premier jazz advocacy organizations. The group brings together music educators, professional musicians and scholars to present workshops and concerts throughout the year, with the aim of broadening the popular appeal of jazz among the Montenegrin public. Learn More

Icke Kreuzberg Productions

Icke Kreuzberg is the independent production house of German filmmaker, director and producer Atef Ben Bouzid. Ben Bouzid recently made his directorial debut with the feature-length documentary film “Cairo Jazzman,” which follows Egyptian jazz musician Amro Salah as he organizes the Cairo International Jazz Festival. Icke Kreuzberg partnered with International Jazz Day in 2019 to provide full-length screenings of “Cairo Jazzman” free of charge to select Jazz Day partners around the world. Learn More

Jazz en Dominicana

Established in 2006, Jazz en Dominicana is dedicated to raising the profile of, and appreciation for, the Dominican Republic’s native jazz talent. The organization boasts a prolific blog with over 2,350 articles, and over the past decade has organized more than 1,400 musical events highlighting local musicians, including annual International Jazz Day celebrations since 2012. Learn More

Jazz.sk

The slogan of Jazz.sk is “Good Music Connects,” and this leading online portal for the Slovak jazz community truly lives up to that notion. Since 2012, Executive Editor Boris Čellár and his dedicated team have celebrated International Jazz Day through the Esprit Jazz Awards, a nationally publicized event that recognizes the best new jazz talent from Slovakia. Learn More

Discover Dominica Authority

The Discover Dominica Authority promotes Dominica’s riches to all comers not only through activities like diving and eco-tourism, but also via cultural programming like the annual Jazz ‘N Creole festival. Discover Dominica helps raise awareness of the positive message of International Jazz Day among Dominicans across the island nation. Learn More

Drake Music Scotland

With expertise in inclusive music technology, Drake Music Scotland provides music making opportunities for people with disabilities, supporting them to play, learn and compose music independently. Drake Music Scotland has been a partner of IJD since 2016, organizing various activities including performances, educational workshops, and demonstration of innovative, inclusive music techniques. Learn More

Les Lundis d’Hortense

Brussels-based Les Lundis d’Hortense has promoted Belgian jazz for over 40 years. The association plays a leading role in developing the Belgian jazz scene, and is committed to exploring the jazz genre in all its diversity. An International Jazz Day partner since 2012, they showcase emerging and established musicians of all ages and backgrounds. Learn More

Excellence in the Community

Founded in 2005 by a former Paris street guitarist, Excellence in the Community has raised over 4 million dollars for Utah musicians, and presented over 650 concerts throughout the state. Their mission is to create more and better performance opportunities for Utah’s best musicians. The concerts are free. Jazz is the predominant genre. Learn More

Afro RED

Afro RED is a fusion jazz band formed in 2009 by bassist, composer, and bandleader David Kasochi. Its mission is to revive the culture of live music in Zambia, with a special focus on jazz. Through events like International Jazz Day, Afro RED is contributing to the growing appeal of jazz in the African nation. Learn More

Dandora Hip Hop City

Dandora Hip-Hop City is a community-based organization founded in 2016. It operates in Dandora, an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. A longtime Jazz Day partner, DHC aims to provide a safe space for youth and women to share experiences and stories, and to create an environment with tools and resources that will enhance ideas, dreams and aspirations. Learn More

Mevicon Services

Mevicon Services is a concierge company in Accra, Ghana that has partnered with Jazz Day since 2014 to raise awareness of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool and as a force for peace, unity, dialogue and cooperation. Creative Director Constant Boty believes that jazz has the power to unite and bring peace and development to Africa and the rest of the world. Learn More

Capital FM Sudan

Since going live on air in February 2013, Capital Radio 91.6 FM has become the fastest growing station in Sudan among listeners from 10 to 50+ years of age, with more than 1.6 million listeners. Bassist and on-air host Islam Elbeiti dedicates a weekly show, JAZZIFIED, to the love of jazz along with all its sub-genres. Learn More

International Schools Association

An international non-governmental organization and the first educational NGO to be granted consultative status at UNESCO, ISA is dedicated to helping schools define “international” in education. ISA and Jazz Day announced a partnership in 2018 in an effort to involve ISA’s many member schools in celebrating jazz and promoting the values behind the Day. Learn More

The Haven International School

Founded in March 2017, Cape Verde’s Haven International School offers tailored educational services in an environment where children are loved, nurtured and guided to succeed and impact their world positively. Haven has partnered with International Jazz Day since 2018 to bring awareness of jazz and its impact to its community of students and their families. Learn More

Jazz a la Calle

Jazz a la Calle was founded to support community-based music instruction and teacher training in its hometown of Mercedes, Uruguay. The organization, which recently partnered with the nearby Universidad Tecnológica del Uruguay, begins its academic year around Jazz Day with youth workshops, concerts and educational outreach. Learn More

Mladí Ladí

The Mladí ladí jazz festival is one of the most exciting live jazz events in Europe, showcasing contemporary jazz and experimental music from Czech and international artists every April. A Jazz Day partner since 2017, Mladí ladí also provides unique educational activities for young jazz musicians and children from different social backgrounds as part of their annual program. Learn More