San Jose Jazz

San Jose Jazz Society (SJJS) was founded in 1986 by a local group of jazz enthusiasts. In 1990, SJJS presented the first San Jose Jazz Festival, which has since grown to become the largest free summer jazz festival in the world offering free performances at public parks, churches, hotels, clubs and San Jose performance centers. With over 80,000 attendees each summer San Jose Jazz provides a tremendous opportunity for local jazz musicians to reach new audiences, and for large-scale community access to, and participation in, the arts. SJJS also runs a number of educational programs from one-off in school concerts to the multiple visits to the same classroom deepening understanding on the part of kids (and their teachers) of music theory. Through a combination of programs including an All Star band, a summer camp and in-school programs, San Jose Jazz reaches 4,000 children in its education and enrichment activities. SJJS experienced severe organizational upheaval – financially, administratively, and in board leadership – during the previous grant period but under the direction of their new E.D., and a remade board the organization has made major strives to reduce its debt, win back corporate sponsors and, with ongoing Hewlett Foundation support, stands a very good chance of improving its organizational capacity to deliver educational programs and low, or no-cost access to world class jazz to the San Jose community.