International Jazz Day AZ's mission is to promote, preserve, perpetuate, and encourage the music, culture, and heritage of communities in Arizona through producing festivals, music education programs, and other cultural, educational, civic, and economic activities. We provide free music classes and instruments to kids at Risk. We have made changes to our 501-C3 Article to introduce a new initiative called Jazz Town USA in response to the pandemic's effects on musicians. This unique program aims to provide affordable housing that caters to the distinctive needs of musicians.

April 26th 2025 Scottsdale Jazz Festival

I am excited to share that this year's Scottsdale Jazz Festival will honor the legendary Quincy Jones on UNESCO’s International Jazz Day. This is a unique opportunity to celebrate his extraordinary contributions to music and the universal language of jazz.

Quincy Jones has influenced countless artists and genres, shaping the music industry as we know it today. Attending this festival will allow you to enjoy incredible performances and pay tribute to an icon whose work transcends boundaries and inspires generations.

Please mark your calendar for this special event. Join us in recognizing Quincy Jones’s legacy while celebrating the vibrant spirit of jazz. Together, we can make this International Jazz Day truly memorable.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Nayo Jones

Nayo Jones is an accomplished vocalist and flutist, raised on a diet of jazz standards that serve her well as a mature, exciting performer. Jones can be found in clubs and at festivals around the city and beyond with her band, The Nayo Jones Experience, and as a featured vocalist with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and with legendary trumpeter and raconteur Kermit Ruffins and his Barbecue Swingers.

Giving students access to instruments and music education

Uniting Arizona around International Jazz Day

Nayo Jones putting on a great show at the Scottsdale Jazz Festival

Carlos Rivas, the renowned salsa band from Arizona, is ready to take your event to the next level.

As the #1 salsa band in the state, Carlos Rivas and his talented musicians have captivated audiences with their electrifying performances. In 2025, we’re adding an exciting new twist to the Scottsdale Jazz Festival! We will be featuring Lusitio Rosario. Luisito Rosario is an experienced Salsa singer from New York with 20 years of experience and a charismatic and commanding stage presence. Get ready for “The Latin Explosion segment of next year's Scottsdale Jazz Festival”—an unforgettable experience!

Founder and Executive Director of Local Jazz Day AZ Foundation Joins Worldwide 'International Jazz Day' Organization as a Partner!

United States Delegate
William "Doc" Jones

International Jazz Day is made possible thanks to the voluntary efforts of organizers at all levels of civil society in more than 190 countries worldwide. Whether small or large, organizations have an important role to play in facilitating the global celebration, lending their resources and accumulated expertise to curate multifaceted programs that make significant impacts on the local community.

Thanks to these efforts, International Jazz Day has become a widely anticipated moment on municipal and regional cultural calendars, promoting capacity building in the relevant cultural sectors and increased awareness of jazz and its role as a vector for peace and intercultural dialogue. The International Jazz Day organization recognizes those institutions who have generously devoted their time and resources to ensuring that International Jazz Day is celebrated in a way that truly reflects its global identity.

Excerpts from a recent interview with 'International Jazz Day':

Tell us a little about your organization’s mission.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to unite the state around a resolution proclaiming April 30 International Jazz Day in the State of Arizona.

Why does your organization celebrate International Jazz Day?
Not only have I been a professional jazz musician for 30 years, I have also been a music educator using jazz as a means to reduce crime in my community, as well as to promote staying in school for young people at risk.

Tell us about a favorite memory from International Jazz Day.
My favorite memory is when the full Arizona House and Senate, as well as the Governor and eight Mayors from around the State all presented us with a proclamation declaring April 30th International Jazz Day, as well as our 2nd “Jazz At Lunch Time” at the State Capitol.

How do you think jazz can improve people’s lives?
It allows those who are listening or playing this form of music the opportunity to be creative.

WHAT WE DO

The International Jazz Day AZ Foundation is an Arizona-based 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the virtues of jazz in education, economic development, and cultural enrichment. We are developing an initiative to build affordable housing for musicians.