SFJAZZ is a world leading presenter of jazz and related forms of music, giving over 100 performances each year. A designated nonprofit, SFJAZZ wears many hats; booking and giving performances and also helping with grants and foundation awards in the form of education activities.
Co-founded in 1983 by Randall Kline, SFJAZZ was originally entitled “Jazz In the City” and was intended to “cultivate jazz as a living art form with a rich past” – a motto which the organization has certainly carried out.
As one of the only two major organizations in the entire country that are dedicated to jazz music, SFJAZZ boasts the largest performing arts organization in the greater Bay Area. Marshall Lamm, of the public relations department, aptly summed this up when he stated, “The world listens to SFJAZZ, for we celebrate jazz as a living art form built on a constantly evolving tradition.”
As an organization, SFJAZZ promotes a full spectrum of jazz music, starting with deep roots in the African American community and extending many different expressions of the genre around the world. The organization books a variety of jazz ensembles, ranging from an up-and-coming singer, Ambrose Akinmusire, to living legends such asTony Bennett.
“We nurture young musicians and foster young fans,” Lamm said. “We also encourage a vibrant local music scene with our SFJAZZ summerfest and HotPlate programs,” he added. According to Lamm, SFJAZZ utilizes a variety of venues for their shows, ranging from the Great American Music Hall to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; there is definitely not a lack of space for the organization to book and perform shows.
SFJAZZ also has a deep connection to their subject, with jazz being one of the oldest forms of music in our nation. “Jazz is thrilling,” Lamm said. “It’s amazing, exhilarating and thought-provoking music that stirs emotions of all kinds, deep within the heart, mind and soul. Its influence is felt worldwide, upgrading the quality of all related forms of music.”
SFJAZZ is a rightful nonprofit with a philanthropic outlook on educational programs here in the Bay Area. “SFJAZZ serves thousands of adults and youth in communities across the Bay Area, with a dynamic and innovative array of educational programs in the concert hall, classroom, and community,” stated Lamm.
Lamm noted that many of these programs are free of charge and designed to help those with a passion for jazz knowledge. The programs are taught by all star jazz instructors themselves. An array of programs is featured in SFJAZZ’s repertoire, including the “Discover Jazz” series, “Jazz in the Middle”and “SFJAZZ High School All Stars.” Each program is different and is geared towards a specific age group within the community.
The “Discover Jazz Series” is among the most popular, according to Lamm. The course is said to be an in-depth look at jazz music in all of its forms and variations. This course combines jazz history, live performance and video. This course is designed to “offer the most distinctive jazz appreciation course available for adults,” Lamm stated. “We love for people to learn more about jazz and music as that helps to really tell the story of America and the world.”
“Jazz in the Middle” is a program geared towards middle school students who have developed an early passion for America’s most soulful type of music. Developed in 2001, SFJAZZ partnered with the San Francisco Unified School District to address an apparent need for art education in many middle schools around the city. This program is free of charge and is an in-school program as well. The focus is to provide a much-needed connection for these children between common classroom curriculums and the arts – all while complying with government-mandated learning content and guidelines.
SFJAZZ High School All Stars is quite obviously geared towards children in grades 9-12 and, “provides advanced training and performance opportunities for talented young musicians in both big band and small ensemble formats.” High school students are selected annually by a seemingly competitive audition process, who then receive an opportunity to rehearse and perform with top educators and artists in jazz music today. The High School All Stars program is a great way to immerse a serious young student of jazz who is truly looking to develop, or already has a deep passion for jazz.
All of the aforementioned programs are important additions to an already successful music venture here in our city. Although not a mainstream form of music in our society today, jazz does continue to inspire and motivate musicians and music lovers the world over. “All told, more than one million people have attended SFJAZZ concerts and heard over 10,000 musicians grace our stages – including almost half of the National Endowment for Arts – NEA – Jazz Masters,” said Lamm.
All in all, this is an absolutely thriving art form here in our very own backyard, something we should be thankful for. After all, “Jazz is truly a vibrant art form and deserves a special place in our culture.”
More information about SFJAZZ can be found on their Web site, http://www.sfjazz.org/.
