HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

For music lovers and jazz enthusiasts alike, for over 29 seasons, the Houston International Jazz Festival has put the city of Houston in the spotlight as the country's only jazz festival showcasing talented musicians from the U.S. and around the world! Every August, legendary jazz artists and musicians come together for three days to bring the city of Houston to life with jazz music! Proceeds from the festival support the core educational programs of Jazz Education Inc. The history of HIJF dates back to the winter of 1988, when Bubbha Thomas, founder of Jazz Education Inc. approached the late Congressman Mickey Leland to solicit his support for a music festival. In 1991, the first Houston International Jazz Festival was held outdoors on the "Super Block" in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center. The festival's mission is to provide a unique cultural experience that exposes Houstonians and visitors to jazz music with the aim of preserving the art form. Since its inception, in association with "August Jazz Month Houston", the Houston International Jazz Festival has put Houston in the spotlight as the home of the country's premier jazz festival, focusing on international musicians and enriching student musicians. Since 1970, Jazz Education Inc (JEI) has played a leadership role in education through music programs and has become one of the leading music organizations in Houston and the state of Texas.