About

The Healdsburg Jazz Festival, a celebration of the indigenous American art form known as Jazz, has become a favorite local tradition with a growing national reputation. This annual Festival of performances by world-renowned musicians in diverse, beautiful Sonoma County wine country settings has grown over the past two decades into one of the North Bay’s most celebrated annual musical events.

In addition to the annual Festival, Healdsburg Jazz sponsors numerous free music education programs in Healdsburg area schools for primary and secondary schools reaching thousands of students, as well as for adults, and presents a series of Jazz Master concerts, discussions, and a variety of events throughout the year.

Launched in 1999 with a three-day festival featuring Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins and Bobby Hutcherson, Healdsburg Jazz has grown to a 10-day event that over the years has presented a who’s-who of jazz giants, including Abbey Lincoln, Arturo Sandoval, Charles Lloyd, Pete Escovedo, Kenny Garrett, Geri Allen, Vijay Iyer, Samara Joy, Dianne Reeves, Joshua Redman, Esperanza Spalding and Jake Shimbakuro, to name but a few. Recognized as one of Northern California’s leading cultural events, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival has become a real tour de force of Jazz, Education, and Community.

The organization experienced continued growth through the years, and in 2019, celebrating 20 years, Healdsburg Jazz hosted or co-hosted 100+ jazz performances and music-related events, 75% of them completely free of charge, and it served about 2,000 children in our community. In 2020, the organization adapted to the limitations of the pandemic, with 85% of the events completely free, and around 4,000 attendees from all over the world joining in virtual events. In 2021, Healdsburg Jazz continued monthly virtual programming, created educational programs that celebrated events such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Maya Angelou, and Juneteenth, and presented a live four-day Festival in June (outdoors, distanced, covid-compliant). Each year through the pandemic, the organization expanded the festival and its reach. In 2023, Healdsburg Jazz celebrated 25 years with a remarkable nine-day festival featuring GRAMMY Award-winning Best New Artist and GRAMMY Award-winning Best Jazz Vocal album Samara Joy, NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves, Bill Frisell, and many more. In 2024, Healdsburg Jazz presented its most ambitious program to date, with a series of must-see concerts in beautiful venues, from wineries and restaurants to public plazas and historic theaters. The festival featured a vast array of some of the world’s most celebrated musicians, including GRAMMY Award-winning stars, master improvisers, and rising artists. They included Samara Joy, Joshua Redman, Ambrose Akinmusire, Jazzmeia Horn, Chief Adjuah, Lisa Fischer, Omar Sosa, and more. The goal for the 2024 Healdsburg Jazz Festival was simple: to present the “Power of Music” in all its glory.

Healdsburg Jazz launched the inaugural 2025 WinterFest from January 30 to February 2, 2025. Presenting four days of jazz in cozy and intimate wine country settings, the sold-out festival featured artists Jason Moran, Sasha Berliner, Paula West, and many others. This was a big success, and the WinterFest dates are set for January 29 – February 1, 2026. The 27th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival, June 13-22, 2025, the largest and most successful festival to date, presented some of the biggest names in music like multi-GRAMMY Award-winning Dianne Reeves, NEA Jazz Masters Kenny Barron and Terri Lyne Carrington, MacArthur Genius Jason Moran, ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, and many more. 2026 Summer Festival dates are set for June 12-21, 2026.

The Healdsburg Jazz Festival is described by the San Francisco Chronicle as: “The best small jazz in the country, if not the world.” DownBeat: “All Killer, No Filler.”

In addition, each year the organization reaches over 7,000 students through free educational programs that include Latin Heritage Month assemblies, Family Matinees, Music & Performing Arts Camp, Black History Month, After-School Jazz, Healdsburg Jazz Collective, Freedom Jazz Choir (adults), Artist Talks, and Harlem of the West.

Founded in 1999 by Jessica Felix, Jessica directed the organization for 22 years with great love and dedication, retiring in 2020. Marcus Shelby took up the reins and is the current Artistic Director. Healdsburg Jazz is a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.