What is the Jazz Association of Macon?

The city of Macon has a rich history in music. It is no secret that our city’s history is played to the tunes of legends such as Little Richard Penniman and The Allman Brothers Band. In addition to the famous rock bands and solo artists, Macon is known for its jazz. In fact, jazz music is so important that Macon even has its own group that is invested in the art-- the Jazz Association of Macon, or JAM for short.

The Jazz Association of Macon is a group of musicians that put on shows in Macon, as well as hold meetings throughout the year to discuss ongoing activities.

According to Edward Clark of the association, the mission of the Jazz Association of Macon is “to support, promote, nurture, and educate all interested people and age groups about jazz music and the arts.”

Clark said that one of their best events is called “JAM goes back to school.” In this event, the association goes to schools around Macon and performs for the students, in addition to holding classes that “teach concepts of collaborative interaction, value of community, teamwork and self-expression.”

The Jazz Association of Macon’s biggest event is the “Jazz and Arts Festival on Riverdale.” This festival has been held for the last 15 years, and it’s “a free, family-friendly event with live jazz music performed by local, regional, and national musicians and a vendor mart with dozens of artists’ works on display and for sale,” Clark said.

Reportedly, 3,000-5,000 people attended last year’s event, and the JAM expects similar attendance this year. The festival is Oct. 20 on Riverdale Drive.

If you are looking to get involved with the Jazz Association of Macon, anyone is able to join. There is an active membership that meets multiple times throughout the year. The JAM holds many other events as well, such as the “Jazz in the Courtyard” in the spring, and a “Holiday JAM” in the wintertime. Be sure to go to the festival on Riverdale on Oct. 20 to see what jazz in Macon is all about!