We believe that music, and jazz in particular, can build bridges, mend fences, encourage creativity, and strengthen our society and our democracy by bringing communities together, and we promise to continue to work to that end in service to Boston area jazz musicians, audiences, venues, and media.

The Boston area jazz scene is growing, and we are grateful to all the members of our community for working together to continue to celebrate this important music!  In particular, we are pleased that JazzBoston, the Cambridge Jazz Foundation, and the Boston Jazz Foundation have agreed to collaborate on a number of projects.  Please note that these three non-profit organizations are independent, with differing areas of focus, but all are working towards the mutual goal of support & advocacy of improvisational jazz, a music that originated in the African American community.  You can help by donating to them individually at their respective websites.  Thank you!

Support our efforts to advocate for the Boston-area jazz community: Donate Here

Check Out our Jazz Calendar

Share Your Jazz Voice: Community Reviews Section Seeks Submissions

Jazz Jams at Phoenix Landing First and Third Fridays, 5pm – 7pm

JazzBoston Hot Club Listening Sessions Free & Online

JazzNOW from GBH Music and JazzBoston Returning in February of 2027

GBH Jazz Nights at the Boston Public Library

Sign up for JazzBoston collaborating partner GBH Music’s Jazz Newsletter

JazzBoston Board Member Noah Preminger Hosts JAZZ Language Podcast Series

Produced by Chill Tone Records, the first 9-episode season of JAZZ Language features candid conversations with artists and notable figures shaping modern jazz, offering insights into their creative processes, influences, and evolving sounds. Hosted by acclaimed saxophonist and JazzBoston Board member Noah Preminger, Jazz Language releases new episodes biweekly on Fridays. Guests have included Godwin Louis, former JazzBoston Board member Lydia Liebman, Caleb Wheeler Curtis, Carmen Staaf, Dan Weiss, and JazzBoston President Ken Field.

“We’re seeing so much change today in the jazz and music industry; I feel now is an ideal time to share people’s insights and stories to gain a better understanding of the community and where we’re headed,” said Noah Preminger. Episodes are available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

View at https://www.youtube.com/@JAZZlanguagePodcast.

Jazz Jams at Phoenix Landing are back!!!

JazzBoston’s free jazz jams have been taking place at The Phoenix Landing, 512 Mass Ave, Central SqJazzBoston’s free jazz jams are continuing at The Phoenix Landing, 512 Mass Ave, Central Square, Cambridge! Thanks to Kevin from Phoenix Landing for making this happen! Jams are all-ages, free, and open to the public on the 1st & 3rd Fridays from 5-7pm. Stop by to play or hang and listen to the music. 

Friday, September 4th, led by noted saxophonist and JazzBoston Board member Noah Preminger
Friday, September 18th, led by drummer Zach Sorkin

Join us, and thank The Phoenix Landing for hosting the JazzJam by purchasing food and/or drink.

The jams have provided a much-needed opportunity for intermediate & advanced musicians to collaborate directly with a house band of noted area professionals and educators.  This series is partially grant-funded, but it needs additional support.  You can make a difference by donating to JazzBoston today – this funding will support stipends for the house band musicians.  Donate small or large amounts at https://jazzboston.org/get-involved/donate. Thank you for your free membership, and don’t forget to tell your jazz-loving friends they can join at https://jazzboston.org!

This program is supported in part by grants from the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, and Cambridge Arts, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

JazzBoston Hot Club Listening Sessions free & online!

Join Bill Goldberg and his special guests for free online jazz listening sessions mostly (but not always) on first & third Wednesdays of the month at 7pm at the Zoom link:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86215122439?pwd=ZHA5bnpWVFNFVXkxRE01K1I1aWhvZz09   Previous listening sessions can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@jazzboston.

Coming up:

September 2 – Jazz writer Rich Scheinin joins us to discuss and present the photography of Steve Schapiro from the new collection “Jazz: Best of the Apollo, Village Vanguard, and Riverside Sessions”, featuring a foreword by Sonny Rollins

September 16 – Rashied Ali with guest Allan Chase

October 7 – Vacation

October 21 – Thelonious Monk Birthday Celebration — focusing on Monk through the music of others, especially John Coltrane and Miles Davis during the 100th anniversary year of their births

November 4 – Clifford Jordan

November 18 – The birthday of Willie — born William Henry Joseph Bonaparte Bertholoff Smith

GBH Jazz Nights At The Boston Public Library & JazzNOW from GBH Music and JazzBoston

GBH Jazz Nights at the Boston Public Library, in collaboration with JazzBoston, return for a new season of free monthly concerts! Kicking things off on Thursday, September 10th, from 5:30-6:30pm will be the Rob Flax & Slava Tolstoy Duo. Tickets are free, but registration is encouraged. Registration & information at https://www.wgbh.org/events/gbh-jazz-night-with-rob-flax-slava-tolstoy 

Coming up on Thursday, October 8th, is the Middle Eastern jazz trio HYE Fusion!

We are grateful to the Goldstein Family Fund for its generous support of this series.

JazzNOW

We are pleased to announce that the popular JazzNOW series will be returning in 2027, thanks to generous support from the Goldstein Family Fund. Watch this space for schedules and performers!

Many of the past JazzNOW presentations from GBH Music & JazzBoston can be viewed at https://www.wgbh.org/tv-shows/gbh-music-presents 

JazzBoston Newsletter Now Accepting Paid Advertising!

JazzBoston has received several inquiries regarding paid advertising in our newsletter, which is sent monthly by email to over 4600 JazzBoston members.  We have decided to move forward with paid advertising.  Email inquiries to newsletter@jazzboston.org.  The guidelines are as follows:

Content: Promotion of any single Boston-area live jazz performance.  Determination of acceptable content is solely at the discretion of JazzBoston.  (Note that certain jazz events presented by JazzBoston and its partners, as well as Boston-area jazz festivals and other events of general interest are included in the Newsletter without charge at the discretion of JazzBoston.)
Cost: $1/word, with a minimum of $75, and a maximum of 200 words ($200).
Payment: Via check to JazzBoston, c/o Douglas Martin, Esq, 1208 VFW Pkwy #103, Boston, MA 02132, or via Venmo (@JazzBostonInc) or PayPal (treasurer@jazzboston.org)
Deadline: Receipt of materials and payment by 20th of the month preceding the desired placement
Placement: Ads will be placed at the bottom of the JazzBoston Newsletter
Limitations: A maximum of 5 ads will run in each Newsletter.  The first 5 ad requests received by the deadline will run each month.
Formatting: Ads will run using the same font and font size as other items in the Newsletter.  The JazzBoston Newsletter Editor will format submitted text as needed.
Images: A single optional submitted image can be included with the ad, with sizing and placement to be determined by the JazzBoston Newsletter Editor.

Shop JazzBoston Merch!!

There is now a quick and easy way to buy official JazzBoston hats & t-shirts, and to support JazzBoston at the same time!!  Thanks to volunteers Nate Aronow and Cj Kelley, we now have an official online store hosted by the fine folks at Bonfire.  Browse and shop at

https://www.bonfire.com/store/shop-jazz-boston!

JazzBoston membership is free, and open to all members of the Boston-area jazz community, including musicians, audiences, venues/presenters, and jazz media!

 In an effort to encourage everyone to participate and eliminate any financial barriers, there is no charge to become a JazzBoston member. Whether you are already a subscriber or were a past member, if you’d like to continue your support of, and advocacy for, the Boston area jazz community, we strongly encourage you to sign up again for free JazzBoston membership.

https://mailchi.mp/jazzboston.org/membership-sign-up-form

Donations are still accepted in order to assist with ongoing JazzBoston expenses. You can donate at:

 https://jazzboston.org/get-involved/donate/

JazzBoston Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to JazzBoston Inc. are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Boston Jazz History Blog: 

A short History of the 1369 Jazz Club

Boston jazz historian Richard Vacca’s Boston Jazz Chronicles is an amazing and valuable resource.  We encourage jazz musicians and fans to check it out.

Vacca’s beautifully maintained and researched blog includes regular features about noted people & places that helped shape the Boston-area jazz scene.  The current entry is about the the much beloved and much missed 1369 Jazz Club, which closed in 1988.  You can read about it here!

The Music Museum of New England has posted several interesting articles about important people and places from the Boston area jazz scene.  Take a look at their pieces about Eric JacksonSerge Chaloff, Herb Pomeroy, Lloyd Trotman, Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club, and the latest entry about The Hi-Hat Club!

Our programs have been funded in part by generous grants from: