NORTHWEST ARKANSAS JAZZ SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP

The Summer Jazz Concert Series annually showcases internationally-renowned jazz masters. A shortlist of talent presented over the years includes Anat Cohen, Bobby Watson, Pat Methany, Huntertones, Bill
Frisell, Elaine Elias, Joey DeFrancesco, Kenny Barron, The Yellowjackets, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Kevin Mahogany, and The Anderson Brothers. Concerts are presented to loyal jazz fans and new audiences in venues across Northwest Arkansas, including at Walton Arts Center and Crystal Bridges.

Sponsors can support the entire series, or select one or two concerts within the series.

NAJS’ annual membership drive and appreciation event features world class artists performing for members and their invited guests in an intimate outdoor setting at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. It is usually held in May or June.

Sponsors can purchase a table for four, with seating near the stage.

In 2017, NAJS founded the Jazz All-Stars Youth Ensemble (JYE), an annual big-band intensive for talented high school musicians. Since 2015, this 12-week program has provided a jazz-intensive curriculum that brings together high school students throughout NWA to explore the fundamentals of jazz repertoire, improvisation and ensemble playing. Students learn from a faculty made up of regional jazz professionals and experience performance and recording opportunities with internationally renowned jazz musicians. Each season concludes with a public performance at the Walton Arts Center.

Students from the program have pursued further study at universities, including Northwestern, Belmont, Berklee, North Texas, Arkansas and Memphis. Many have shared that the All-Stars program was pivotal in their decision to pursue music in higher education.

Sponsors can support the entire program, the guest artists’ residency or one or more student’s tuition and travel expenses.

NAJS strives to provide working musicians in Northwest Arkansas the opportunity to perform jazz for the community. To this end, NAJS serves as a curator for concerts across the region and regularly hires local artists to perform.

Sponsors can provide funds to support one or more local musicians pay and the creation of concerts to enable them to perform for the community.