Board of Directors
2012 - 2013
 
Executive Committee
Dave McWhorter
President
 
Stephanie Osborne Nelson
Vice President
 
Ron E. (Dr. Jazz) Allen
Secretary
 
Ron E. (Dr. Jazz) Allen
Treasurer
 
Directors
John F. Clark
Darrell Doty
Jay Flippin
Chester Grundy
Frank Hamilton
Ben McWhorter
Sandra Oppegard
Chuck Powell
Elton Terry
Teresa Tope
 
Ron E. (Dr. Jazz) Allen
Webmaster
 
Dan Brock
Legal Counsel
 
Stephanie Osborne Nelson
eNewsletter Editor
 
 
 
JAF Transparent Logo 900x155

Organizational History
The Jazz Arts Foundation is a non-profit, educational organization whose mission is "to enhance the awareness of Jazz as a performing art". Since it's establishment in 1989, the Foundation has published newsletters, coordinated jazz calendars, awarded educational scholarships and sponsored many jazz events and performances. The latter included the Regional Artist Series of five concerts each year at Breedings nightclub in downtown Lexington, KY between 1991 and 1993. During that same period it arranged for jazz ensembles to perform as part of the Children's Miracle Network Charity Telethons. Each year since 1990 it has coordinated talent for the Jazz Corner at Lexington's Annual Fourth of July Festival (annual project budget of $1,000) as well as sponsoring a float with musicians playing dixieland jazz.
 
In the past five years the Foundation has awarded more than $4,000 in youth scholarships for jazz camps and workshops. More than one hundred youth and adult musicians have participated in these Foundation programs. It is estimated that the audience for JAF events has exceeded 20,000 people.
 
In 1996 the Jazz Arts Foundation Youth Ensemble (JAFYE) was established. The Ensemble  emerged as one of the Foundation's principal activities. The YE provided an intensive workshop experience for 20+ extraordinary musicians drawn from high school jazz or music programs throughout the Central Kentucky region. In 2006 JAF celebrated the YE's SECOND DECADE of performing. Effective January, 2008 the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra (CKYO) assumed responsibility for the ensemble from JAF and it has been newly named the CKYO Jazz Arts Orchestra (CKYO JAO). More information can be found at www.ckyo.org, including the 2008 roster of student musicians.
 
The Foundation was an active partner in the Lexington Jazz Artist in Residency programs in 2001, 2002 & 2003. It assumed a large role in the responsibility for coordinating the Jazz Workshops that allowed younger musicians and seasoned Bluegrass jazz veterans to participate in clinics with Lexington's Jazz Artists in Residence, bassist Richard Davis in 2001 and pianist Harry Pickens in 2002 & 2003, along with internationally acclaimed artists Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, Benny Golson, Cecil Bridgewater, Sir Roland Hanna and Stanley Cowell. JAF designed a pilot project, The Lexington Youth Initiative, that allowed at-risk youth to be introduced to jazz via Jazz Artist Residency events. This effort enjoyed support of both the United Way's Youth Violence Prevention Grant (in cooperation with the YMCA) and Partners for Youth.
 
The Foundation is governed by an all volunteer board of directors made up of musicians, educators, business leaders, and jazz enthusiasts and has maintained a large membership of supporters from Kentucky and several bordering States over the past 15 years. JAF was awarded a Lexington Arts and Cultural Council grant to support it's Youth Ensemble in 1999 and 2000. The organization also received a Kentucky Arts Council grant for an initiative in conjunction with the Jazz Age In Paris exhibit held at the Lexington Central Library in 2000. In 2007 JAF received another LexArts matching grant for the Jazz: Live at the Library! series of concerts on the 2nd Thursday of each month beginning April 12, 2007 and running through December 11, 2008. In May, 2008 JAF applied for, and received, a second LexArts matching grant to continue the series through June 11, 2009. In May, 2009 JAF again applied for and received a matching grant from LexArts to help continue the series through December, 2009. LexArts awarded JAF with a matching grant for 2009/2010 to help continue the series through June, 2010. Jamey Aebersold Jazz has given generously each year to fund the Jazz: Live at the Library! series and is currently the primary means of support to carry the series through June, 2012.
 
On Sunday, June 6, 2010 the Jazz Arts Foundation, in collaboration with the Bluegrass Community Technical College, produced the first Lexington Jazz Festival at Talon Winery featuring six different local and regional jazz groups. The 2nd Annual Lexington Jazz Festival was held on Sunday, June 5, 2011 again at Talon Winery in collaboration with Bluegrass Community Technical College (BCTC) and The African American Forum, Inc.. The 3rd Annual Lexington Jazz Festival produced by The Jazz Arts Foundation, Inc. and Bluegrass Community Technical College will be sponsored primarily by Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC and held Sunday, June 3, 2012 at Talon Winery .
Click HERE to go to the official Festival website.
Board Meetings
Board meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month from  7 to 8 PM (unless otherwise noted) and are open to members and public.
The Board Meeting dates and location for 2012 are at the following Lexington Public Library branches:
Tates Creek Branch, 3628 Walden Dr., Lexington, KY,  in the small meeting room.
2012:  July 11 (due to July 4 Holiday).
Eagle Creek Branch, 101 N Eagle Creek Dr., Lexington, KY (231-5560) in the small meeting room.
 
Please call JAF President, Dave McWhorter at (859) 273-5193 or Email him if you plan to attend.
Benefits of Membership
Discounted tickets to JAF Productions
 
Discounts on subscriptions to Jazz Publications:
Jazziz  - $41.97/year new or renewal with CDs & online magazine (30% off the newsstand rate)
 
JAF JAM SESSION eNewsletter with features including:
Calendar of local and regional Jazz events
CD and book reviews
Listing of new CD releases
Concert/Jazz event highlights
Artist profiles
Cool Jazz web sites
Lots of other interesting Jazz "stuff"
What Your Membership Dues Accomplish
  • Helps fund scholarships and grants provided by JAF to local High Schools, Universities, Arts organizations, musicians and students to heighten Jazz awareness and activity.
  • Helps fund our annual Duke Madison Scholarship for a CKYO JAO member to attend the prestigious Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop in Louisville, KY.
  • Helps us maintain a communications network to keep members informed, including our web site.
  • Helps us publish the Jam Session, an eNewsletter for JAF members with Jazz news, record reviews and topics of interest to all Jazz fans.
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    Won't you please take a moment to fill out a JAF Membership Application now while you are here visiting our site, and mail it today with your generous check.  Since JAF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and the goods and services given for JAF membership meet the standards for insubstantial value set out by the IRS in Rev. Proc. 90-12, 1990-1 C.B. 471, and Rev. Proc. 92-49, 1992-1 C.B. 987, you can deduct the full amount paid for any membership level on your income taxes. In addition, all donations of cash, trusts, music collections, jazz memorabilia, equipment, or whatever, may be fully tax deductible (be sure to check with your accountant for details). And, while you are sending in your application, why not include a gift membership for someone you know who shares your passion for Jazz or someone who you would like to introduce to "America's Music". Thank you very much for visiting our web site, please be sure to return often for the only source for local and regional Jazz information.