Events and performances take place in various venues throughout the city, culminating in three days at the historic Forsyth Park.
[1][2] The Festival is organized by the Coastal Jazz Association (CJA) with funding provided by the City of Savannah Department of Arts and Culture and Historical Resources,[3] as well as other sponsors and CJA members.
[4] In 1979, Teddy Adams, Ben Tucker, Randall Reese, Tom Glaser, and Ken Palmer started the Telfair Jazz Society.
[5] According to the official Savannah Jazz Festival's website, “The CJA, which is a grassroots non-profit organization that was formed in 1981 in Savannah, Georgia to help Jazz flourish in the Coastal Empire by inspiring Jazz education through various scholarships, by fellowship with other musicians with shared interests and also sponsoring live performances within the city.
[7] It is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization which aims is to "inspire and grow audiences in the love of jazz music.