Jazz Haven was created in 1996 by Doug Morrill and Harold Danko as a not-for-profit organization made up of dedicated volunteers. Since its inception in 1996, Jazz Haven has promoted the culture of Jazz through unique collaborations with artists, organizations, schools and other groups. The skill and passion that its Board members have demonstrated for the culture of jazz encourages a growing netw
ork of organizations and programs that help promote jazz education as well as jazz as an art form. With its beginnings as a series of performances at Artspace, Jazz Haven incorporated programming -- always in collaboration with other organizations -- that have included master classes with visiting artists, concerts featuring internationally and locally known musicians, including the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 New Haven Jazz Festivals on the New Haven Green, tributes to late jazz masters, benefits for not-for-profit organizations, jazz concerts in senior centers, jazz at Long Wharf Theater, consultation for programming and technical support of other organizations with similar missions, and education. Jazz Haven has organized and presented Jazz in the parks and other venues and presented educational programs in the New Haven Public Schools. Artists who perform at the New Haven Jazz Festivals also give workshops, master classes and performances for students at the Neighborhood Music School Summer Jazz Program. Since 2012 Jazz Haven expanded the Festival on the Green to create a Jazz Week involving many New Haven restaurants and venues with live jazz events, all in collaboration with the City of New Haven Office of Arts, Culture and Tourism. Jazz Haven also produced and presented a series of jazz piano concerts at Shoreline Piano, the LIVE @ The Piano Shop series. Additionally we produced a series of jazz gigs at Cave A Vin Winebar; offered an eight-week jazz improv session for an after-school program at the New Haven Public Schools' Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School and produced a concert series with St. Thomas's Day School in New Haven. We have also collaborated with Long Wharf Theatre to promote the very successful month long run of the play "Satchmo" in the fall of 2012. In 2017 Jazz Haven produced the Jazz Haven Sessions, a series of spring and summer gigs bringing together jazz musicians all across Connecticut at Pacific Standard Tavern and Three Sheets in New Haven. Jazz Haven continues to be a proud supporter of the regular Owl Shop Wednesday night live performances by the Hawkins Jazz Collective. Coming in October 2017 is another Jazz Week New Haven series. Keep posted for more details.
