About The Savannah Jazz Festival
The Coastal Jazz Association was started as a result of a Jazz appreciation class that was taught by Bassist, Ben Tucker and Trombonist, Teddy Adams at Savannah State University in 1982. Within a year(1983), CJA quickly developed and recognized the strong Jazz legacy and talent that Savannah had in her midst.On October 1, 1983, the first Savannah Jazz Festival was held at Grayson Stadium. Sponsored by the City of Savannah, the festival was free and open to the and still remains so. Local and area Jazz artists who included: Ben Tucker, Teddy Adams, Kahn Keen, Sam Gill, Ken Palmer,Terri Rini Powers, The Hilton Head Jazz Workshop along with national artists: Al Grey, Jimmy Knepper, Joe Newman,Frank Wess, Roland Hanna and many others rendered Savannah its first Jazz Festival.
Since 1983 CJA and the City of Savannah have sponsored twenty seven festivals. In 1996 the Olympic Games were held in Atlanta. Because Savannah hosted the Regatta events, two Jazz festivals were held that year. The Savannah Jazz festival is considered to be one of the best free Jazz festivals in the country. Its reputation is internationally known and Jazz artists are eager to perform here. Over the years the Savannah Jazz Festival has featured some of the best artists in the world who include: Lionel Hampton, Ahmad Jamal, Clark Terry,Carmen McCray, Nancy Wilson, Benny Golson Jimmy and Tootie Heath, Ben Riley, Jimmy Smith, Maynard Ferguson, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, McCoy Tyner and numerous others.
An outstanding festival has been held every year without fail since its inception in 1983 and the Coastal Jazz Association is making every effort to enhance and continue this event which lucidly reflects the strong Jazz tradition that Savannah has offered the world for many years. The festival is held during the last full week of September each year.