Living Jazz Mission & History
Transforming Lives Since 1984
Our Mission
Living Jazz Transforms Lives-
through the music, spirit, and culture of jazz in the Bay Area community, by educating students and artists of all ages and abilities.
Who We Are
Living Jazz is an interconnected web of people who value jazz as an art form, as our cultural heritage, and as a vehicle for personal and community change. We build our programs guided by the needs of our community, and suffused with the values and history of jazz. We intentionally prioritize working with underserved communities and strive to center people of color. Our students are supported in their growth and exploration by our extraordinary teaching artists and dedicated staff. We are funded by individual donors and foundations who care deeply about our mission, and believe in our work of transforming lives through music.
IMPACT - What difference will we make? What is our high potential outcome?
Our programs transform people’s lives, leading to deep and meaningful self-expression and self-discovery.
We build community, by creating a shared sense of unity, purpose, and belonging.
We preserve, uphold and amplify the spirit and legacy of Bay Area jazz in the communities we serve.
Living Jazz’s Values
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We create spaces where individuals’ authentic cultural, ethnic, gender, socio-economic identities are seen and embraced. Everyone can find a home with us.
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We strive to represent and/or showcase all social, cultural, ethnic, artistic, economic and ideological beliefs. We amplify the voices of people of color and/or from marginalized communities.
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We choose to identify with, interact with, learn from and support one another. We build support and movements that foster love, encouragement, and acceptance.
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We ensure our programs are geographically and financially accessible, welcome and inclusive in spirit. Your ticket entitles you to go on all rides.
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We join our talents, energies, and resources with each other to achieve our vision, recognizing what we can achieve together is greater than what we can do alone.
What distinguishes our approach?
We believe jazz is a great American art form centered in values of social change and personal transformation.
By its very nature, jazz embodies diversity, inclusivity and belonging.
Our programs are developed with a reverence and respect for the cultural and historic legacy of jazz, specifically rooted in the Bay Area.
We honor the origins of jazz in the African diaspora, and celebrate its radical inclusivity.