Jazz in January Inc dba Tucson Jazz Festival

Tucson Jazz Festival

Inspiring Community Through Jazz. Transforming Lives Through Music Education.

Tucson Jazz Festival amplifies the joy of live jazz and transforms lives through music education across Southern Arizona. Each January, our festival brings more than 40 performances and hundreds of extraordinary artists to historic venues throughout downtown Tucson. Our next festival will be held January 15–23, 2027.

But the festival is just the beginning.

Equally central to our mission is the TJF Education Program, which ensures students of all ages — especially those in underserved neighborhoods — have meaningful access to live jazz, mentorship, and hands-on music experiences. Through artist residencies, master classes, workshops, student performances, TJF Talks (our podcast and live artist conversations), and free concert access, we create life-changing opportunities for young musicians and families across our community.

Your Gift Makes Music Education Possible

In partnership with the Tucson Children’s Museum, our new field trip program, Jazz Jam, is already serving students – thanks to supporters like you. Last year’s campaign funded the instruments that launched Jazz Jam. Now, dozens of field trips are scheduled this spring — and your Arizona Gives Day donation will help us reach even more students in the 2026–27 school year.

When you give, you help us:

• Fund interactive Jazz Jam music field trips
• Bring world-class artists into classrooms for master classes and workshops
• Provide free festival tickets to students and families
• Create on-stage performance opportunities alongside professional musicians
• Expand music education access in underserved neighborhoods

Today, your gift goes twice as far.

Thanks to a generous matching donation from longtime supporter Rick Small, every dollar you give will be matched — doubling your impact and accelerating our progress toward the $12,500 goal faster.

Multiply your impact even further by donating during our Power Hour on Arizona Gives Day, April 7th from 1–2pm.

Why It Matters

We believe music is essential to life. Jazz inspires lifelong learning, creativity, collaboration, and confidence — skills that extend far beyond the stage.

As TJF Executive & Artistic Director Khris Dodge shares:

“Countless studies and my 25+ years of teaching experience confirm that music is vital to a student’s full educational journey. Creativity, compassion, empathy, work ethic, and community are strengthened through music. You, our donors, make a profound impact on so many students.”

The impact is visible in our classrooms and concert halls:

“When students perform at the Jazz Festival, I see determination and possibility in their eyes. In those moments, their potential becomes boundless.”

— Miana Corona, Tucson School of Rock

“The musicians improvised with us and completely changed how we heard the piece. It opened my mind to what was possible.”

— Olivia, Tucson High Magnet School student

“Experiences like this stay with students for life.”

— David Harris, Teacher, Tucson High Magnet School

Join Our Music-Making Community

Your donation — of any size — helps us expand access, deepen engagement, and ensure that jazz education continues to thrive in Southern Arizona.

Support Tucson Jazz Festival today on AZ Gives Day and help us inspire the next generation of musicians, creators, and community leaders.

Donate now and make your gift count — and count double for Tucson’s students.