The third weekend in October each year, the annual Sun Valley Jazz Jamboree celebrates a history of jazz music.Each year between five and six thousand jazz connoisseurs from each of the fifty states and several foreign countries attend the event.The dream to put on a jazz festival that would bring together some of the nation’s top music makers came to Barbara and Tom Hazzard of Boise, Idaho in the mid-1980s.With the help and support of Wally Huffman, Sun Valley Company, and many volunteers the event premiered in 1990.
The success of the event over the last twenty one years is tied to the quality of music presented as well as the draw of the location.Sun Valley, Idaho is an attractive, exciting destination that adds to the charm and allure.“All the bands want to play in Sun Valley,” said Bill Alred of Orlando, Fl., the leader of one of the festival’s most popular groups.“Things are perfect here – the venues, appreciative fans, accommodations – everything, not to mention a spectacular setting in these gorgeous mountains.An invitation to come here is a prized possession in our industry.” The event was integral to the expansion of the summer tourist season as well.“The festival is our largest and most popular single event,” said Wally Huffman, past General Manager for the Sun Valley Resort.“We fill the resort for a week.What’s more, the in-town accommodations, stores, restaurants, and other facilities in Ketchum do tremendous business, so it’s an economic boom as well as a crowd favorite.”
The Sun Valley Jazz Jamboree was granted 501(c)(3) public charity status in 2009.The new designation will allow for the expansion of educational outreach programs.“We are developing a twenty year continuance plan.The new non-profit status plays a significant role in our ability to reach more people and educate them about Jazz,” said Carol Loehr, Co-Director of the Sun Valley Jazz Jamboree and daughter of the Hazzards.“We are shifting from a generation that grew up during the jazz and big band era; their tie to the event is a sense of nostalgia.As time goes by, our focus changes to keeping the music alive by sharing this truly original American art form with a new generation through education and live performances. “ To this end, one goal for the jamboree is to expand the long history of grade school and high school workshops and performances to as many of the schools in Southern Idaho as the finances allow.
Tickets are available at jazz festival tickets, or by phone 877-478-5277. The event will host over 40 musical groups and over 200 talented musicians from around the nation, Canada, and Europe.Groups will perform 300 shows in the scenic, prestigious Sun Valley Resort.
