The Kingston Jazz Society (KJS) is a non-profit charitable association of jazz lovers dedicated to the five Ps of this distinctly North-American art form: preservation, production, performance, promotion and perpetuation.
Our mandate is to present live professional jazz performances, with an emphasis on young and emerging Canadian jazz musicians, to the Kingston community at large and to help educate audiences about jazz music. It is also our goal to help to foster jazz as a key part of the local music scene.
Our organization is managed and staffed by volunteers, with a Board of Directors completely focused on the music that we help cultivate within our city. Our purpose is to provide Kingston with access to top jazz talent from the local, national, and international scenes. It is our goal to enhance the visibility and viability of jazz in Kingston, which will in turn help raise the profile of Kingston on both the provincial and national scene, and help to ensure that art and culture are well-rounded in Kingston.
History
The jazz community has deep roots in Kingston dating back to the end of the Second World War: the big-band era, when Kingston hosted the Canadian Forces Vimy Band, a world class military orchestra that toured the world. Many of the Band’s members also played jazz locally in Kingston bars and restaurants. Those players blended easily with local players, creating many memorable evenings of spontaneous, improvised jazz of an unusually high quality. The collaborations that this fusion spawned became the Kingston Jazz Society. Though the Vimy Band has relocated, the spirit of jazz – and the local scene – percolates as vigorously as ever. Kingston is home to many horn bands and numerous trios and quartets that delight audiences on a regular basis.
If your project wants to be considered for a KJS gig, please contact us. We would love to hear from you. For the Kingston Jazz Society, it’s all about the music.
Board of Directors
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- George Broughton: President
- Chantal Thompson: Vice President
- Michael Broadhead: Board Member
- Dave Coon: Board Member
- Oscar Evans: Board Member
- Molly Brant: Treasurer
- Taras Broadhead: Secretary