The Atchison Jazz and Blues Festival was founded in 2024, by AJS Atchison Jazz & Blues Society, in response to the overwhelming interest by the community.  Incepted not only to bridge the local community's talent and enthusiasm  together for jazz performance, but also because of the local college and the proximity to Kansas City's cultural history of jazz & blues. Due to demand, this biannual event is having its first inaugural debut September 2nd 4-9pm Veterans Memorial Park.

What sets this Jazz & Blues Festival apart?

Our core values and impact, however measurable by successful turnout, number of attendees, crowd size, fundraising, profitability, charitability, galvanized unity, etc., is only half of what we do. Rather, our spirit & values emphasize Musicality, Locality, Sponsorship. We recognize a lot of festivals get started in one spirit, yet lose track of "what it was to begin with" that got 'em thier start: support of the community.

We don't want to lose the mission of how this got born. 

On Musicality: Many now famous festivals, like the Monterrey Jazz Festival, that got thier start by Dave Brubeck who in 1958 played for the city council to convince them to have it. In honor of Dave, we plan to feature tasteful arrangments of Take 5 by our musician participants.

On Locality: our efforts to involve Atchison's local talent and bring people together via sponsor / donor driven relationships is what we do.  We keep the experience genuinely free. By keeping the spirit of  "everybody belongs and is a part of it... everyone has a little something unique in themselves in some way." This festival is founded on experiencing that possibility...and the relationships that form and grow here.

"We recognize and trust the spirit of the people and of the music of the Atchison Jazz Festival will guide us." Similarly, in kind fashion , as the city itself was initially looked at as a "could be" railroad hub. Yet, as Kansas City became the choice by the decision makers of that era... We tap into the "could be - can be" attitude & spirit of Atchison...We believe our timing is right and our time is now to respond to the interest of the community for the creation a flourishing Jazz and Blues Society.

On behalf of our sponsors, corporate citizens, musicians, and most of all, you...and each individual bringing the best out in each other...Thank you, may our actions & outcomes express it more..

LET US MAKE HISTORY    

To all of our participants donors, sponsors, and community... please take a look at the history from the East Coast famous jazz festival in Newport to the West Coast famous jazz festival in Monterey and let us make Atchison the first one in the Midwest!

History of the Newport Jazz Festival  via Elaine Lorillard.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Lorillard

History of Monterrey Jazz Festival

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterey_Jazz_Festival

Let us bring and give and create the culture we want as a community, people, and individual!