Kurt Vonnegut once said that "one creates art to grow one's soul." Similarly, art nurtures the soul of the individual and the community.

Jazz is America’s only original art form and it is in danger of extinction. Our goal is to help ensure this music’s continuing viability as a valued resource for the community.

BACKCOUNTRY JAZZ is a charitable organization established to present world-class jazz musicians through concerts, workshops and master classes. We are dedicated to producing these concerts in intimate acoustical settings, presenting the music to young audiences and introducing it to communities that no longer have the opportunity to experience jazz music. We are also extending our effort to produce concerts abroad as cultural diplomacy in disadvantaged areas of the world. We hope to inspire other communities to follow our lead and establish a broad national stage for this uniquely American art form.