It was established as a quarterly in 1964 by jazz bassist Jan A. Byrczek, who served as its editor-in-chief.

It was the first jazz magazine published behind the Iron Curtain and allowed Polish culture, under a communist regime, to reach out to the West.

At its peak, in the late 1970s, Jazz Forum was being published in Polish, English, and German and distributed to 103 countries.

Jazz Forum is published 8 times a year and, as of 2012, circulation is approximately 8,000.

Jazz Forum is currently distributed by Empik and has received funding from the International Music Council.