About Us

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

Incorporated in 2015, the International Jazz Day AZ Foundation was established with the mission to unite the state of Arizona around the global celebration of UNESCO & Herbie Hancock’s International Jazz Day on April 30th. By producing the State’s official International Jazz Day Festival, we bring together jazz enthusiasts, musicians, educators, and communities, fostering cultural exchange and promoting Arizona as a premier destination for jazz lovers worldwide.

Our Story

Forty years ago, our Executive Director, Doc Jones, moved to Phoenix, Arizona, from Chicago. A professional Jazz musician and educator, Doc has spent the years since creating innovative educational initiatives, including Quicks Academy, NextStudent Academy of the Arts, and Doc's Place Jazz Club. His journey continued in New Orleans, where he founded 504 Multimedia LLC.

In 2012, Doc attended the inaugural UNESCO International Jazz Day Celebration in Armstrong Park, where he met Herbie Hancock, the Goodwill Ambassador. Inspired by this encounter, Doc went on to produce the first International Jazz Day AZ at CityScape in 2013. Over the years, during Jazz Appreciation Month, Doc has produced festivals in Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, and Alamos, Sonora, Mexico.

In honor of the 15th Anniversary, the International Jazz Day AZ Foundation is bringing together four AZ cities that also have their signature Jazz Festival to create a statewide jazz festival in the state's capital, further uniting Arizona around the global celebration of jazz.