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Tennessee Jazz & Blues Society, Inc.
P.O. 121293 Nashville TN 37212-1293
email: webmaster@jazzblues.org
In conjunction with the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Tennessee Jazz & Blues Society, Inc. (TJBS) was formed in 1972 to bring together individuals in the state who were interested in and dedicated to our living national treasure, Jazz & Blues. In 1975 it became a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The membership, currently at about 675, is comprised of all kinds of people in all kinds of professions, having a love for jazz and/or blues.
From the beginning the TJBS was involved in promoting jazz and blues in the schools. An annual 3 day Jazz Festival brought in 2 dozen high school and college bands from around Tennessee to perform with jazz legends like the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Stan Kenton Orchestra, Thad Jones Mel Lewis Orchestra, Jean-Luc Ponty, Louie Bellson, and others. Many other activities included "Jazz Showcases" in conjunction with NARAS, Jazz Film Nights, benefit concerts for the American Cancer Society, Cumberland Heights and others, Big Band Dinner Dances, and many sponsored performances of local jazz and blues artists around Nashville.
For 10 years the TJBS presented a syndicated public radio show, UPBEAT, hosted by 2 of its founding members. Our Society is still a major contributor to our jazz public radio station, WMOT Jazz 89. In 2001 a former TJBS Director launched a significant new weekly music/documentary show called "JAZZ On The Side", a fascinating look at the music and lives of great "sidemen" and women in jazz history. The show is heard weekly on WMOT and is broadcast world-wide on the internet.
For the last 12 years our summer "Concert On The Lawn" series has brought thousands of families to beautiful historic sites like the Belle Meade Plantation and The Hermitage to hear the finest jazz and blues artists of all styles. Many other educational, community, and research activities are in the planning stages.
Recognizing jazz and blues as original American art forms, the TJBS strives to:
Contribute to the community cultural health by increasing appreciation for this significant part of our heritage, through research, performance, publication, and promotion.
Encourage ethnic, gender and age diversity by supporting many types of community activities.
Increase arts education through the support of schools and the creation of new programs.
Create more opportunities for jazz and blues artists and increase their support by business and the public.
Increase the collection and preservation of jazz and blues resources.
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