The Twin Cities Jazz Society (TCJS) is a non-profit, all volunteer organization, supported by membership donations, dedicated to promoting jazz music, especially live jazz by local musicians! Click on Membership Benefits to see why you should join the Twin Cities Jazz Society! The organization was started in 1979 by Kyle Peterson and several other local jazz enthusiasts (among them Bob Protzman, Ken Green, and Leigh Kamman). TCJS currently has 1200 members, however, your support is needed to continue its active programs. TCJS publishes the monthly newsletter Jazz Notes; produces the Jazz from J to Z concert series; and co-sponsors the Hot Summer Jazz Festival, Northrop Jazz Season, Hopkins Center for the Arts / Jazz at the Center, and the JazzMn Big Band concert season. TCJS also sponsors education programs in area schools and has a scholarship program to help rising young local talent.
Much of our effort goes into publishing our monthly award winning Jazz Notes newsletter. Jazz Notes is sent by first class mail to all members and keeps them informed on the local jazz scene. It includes articles about the regional jazz scene; a schedule of what is going on in all the Twin Cities jazz clubs, concerts and other events; and information about national jazz festivals.
We produce the Jazz from J to Z concert series, from October through May, to give local talent a chance to perform in a concert setting. The concerts take place at the University of Minnesota, Century College, Local High Schools, the Artists' Quarter in Downtown St. Paul, and Community Performing Arts Centers. Since 1991, TCJS has presented over 100 Jazz from J to Z concerts, featuring over 120 groups and 800 musicians.
Today, believe it or not, the Twin Cities has one of the most active Jazz Scenes in the world. Outside of New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, more Jazz can be heard in the Twin Cities than anywhere else in the U.S. Jazz has enjoyed tremendous growth in the last twenty-five years in the Twin Cities, and the Twin Cities Jazz Society, whose main mission is to promote local live Jazz, is partly responsible. Our area is blessed with a large pool of very talented jazz musicians and approximately 45 clubs offer live jazz music, including the Dakota, Artists' Quarter, and The Times Cafe. Big Bands can he heard at O'Gara's & the Wabasha Caves. We also have some great Jazz concert series at Orchestra Hall, Hopkins Center for the Arts, and at the University of Minnesota's Ted Mann Concert Hall and Northrop Auditorium (Northrop Jazz Season; JazzMn Big Band - Minnesota's premier, professional, non-profit Civic Jazz Orchestra; and the U of M Jazz Festival).
Visit us at www.tcjs.org
