The Savannah Jazz Festival is an annual celebration of jazz music located in Savannah, Georgia. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. The festival takes place for eight days during the last full week in September of each calendar year. Events and performances take place in various venues throughout Historic Savannah, Georgia and culminating with three days taken place at Savannah's historic Forsyth Park. The Festival is organized by the CJA or the Coastal Jazz Association with major sponsorship provided by the City of SavannahDepartment of Arts and Culture and Historical Resources. Other funding for the Savannah Jazz Festival are provided by corporate, individual sponsors, and members of the CJA.
Coastal Jazz Association
In 1979, Teddy Adams, Ben Tucker, Randall Reese, Tom Glaser, and Ken Palmer got together and started the Telfair Jazz Society. This went on to become the Coastal Jazz Association or the CJA in 1981. According to the official Savannah Jazz Festival's website, “The CJA, which is a grassroots non-profit organization that was formed in 1981 in Savannah, Georgia to help Jazz flourish in the Coastal Empire by inspiring Jazz education through various scholarships, by fellowship with other musicians with shared interests and also sponsoring live performances within the city. The CJA is responsible for the annual Savannah Jazz Festival, provides assistance to local jazz artists in need and also hosts the Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame.”
Origins of the Savannah Jazz Festival
According to an article written to promote the Savannah Jazz Festival, the first Savannah Jazz Festival was held at Grayson Stadium on October 1, 1983. The article also contends that the events started as a way for the late Ben Tucker to lend his knowledge and talents to a group of folks interested in learning more about jazz. Also according to the event's official website, “The Savannah Jazz Festival is a 5013 not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and growing audiences in the love of jazz music.”
