Who we are

Jazz Forward began with a simple realization: some of the most important things I learned about jazz came not from lessons, but from other young musicians.

Jazz has always been passed from musician to musician, note to note—Bird to Miles, Monk to Sonny. It lives in bandstands, rehearsals, recordings, and conversations between players. But for many young musicians, those connections are difficult to find.

Jazz Forward connects teenage jazz musicians with aspiring young players to share the knowledge, language, and inspiration that can only come from learning together. Our goal is to rebuild that bridge between generations and keep the tradition of jazz moving forward.