Montavilla Jazz

Community building through jazz!

New frontiers in jazz

Montavilla Jazz Festival started as a neighborhood project founded by two jazz musicians, a graphic designer, and a community activist, whose collective mission was to build an audience for jazz in their community by putting on a festival that would attract local artists of the highest distinction and excite the most sophisticated jazz fans, and in turn enhance and enrich the lives of Montavilla residents.

The very best in Portland jazz

Montavilla Jazz Festival (MJF) is a three-day festival that showcases the very best in Portland jazz. While other festivals focus on international acts, legacy heavy hitters, or mainstream jazz, MJF instead supports and strengthens local culture by highlighting emerging and established artists from Portland’s eclectic and vibrant jazz scene. Taking place annually, MJF offers Portlanders a unique and accessible way to join Portland’s finest musicians as they chart new frontiers in jazz.

MJF mission and background

The mission of Montavilla Jazz Festival is not only to bolster Portland’s dynamic jazz culture, but also to enrich the local community. Like the neighborhood that serves as its home, MJF is a progressive, diverse, locally minded event that offers Montavilla residents an opportunity to come together, form connections and plug into Portland jazz.

Built on neighborhood support

Both by and for the neighborhood, MJF relies on the contributions of local businesses and volunteers. Before a single ticket is sold, all the resources needed to present MJF are raised in the form of sponsor dollars and partner in-kind contributions. MJF is proud and grateful to be supported by more than 80 sponsors and partners. MJF is also entirely run by volunteers. More than 70 volunteers ensure that the festival weekend runs smoothly, while still more volunteers work on the festival throughout the year. From the food and drink vendors to the volunteer who takes your ticket, every aspect of MJF is infused with the spirit of the Montavilla neighborhood.

Join us in support of our community!

If you’d like to join us and support Portland jazz, please consider purchasing a pass to MJF 2021. Want to go above and beyond? You can purchase an artist CD, make a contribution to Montavilla Jazz online or at the box office, or get an official MJF 2023 T-shirt. If you represent a business or organization and you’re interested in sponsoring or partnering with MJF, please email hello@montavillajazz.org. If you would like to join our team as a volunteer, please email volunteers@montavillajazz.org