In the winter of 1988, Bubbha Thomas, founder of Jazz Education, Inc. Congressman Mickey Leland to seek support for a Houston International Jazz Festival. Congressman Leland enthusiastically responded, “Bubbha you get the talent and I’ll get the sponsorships.” Leland was not here to witness the first Houston International Jazz Festival. He died on August 6, 1989, while on a humanitarian mission to
Ethiopia. In 1991, in memory of Congressman Leland, the first Houston International Jazz Festival was held outdoors on the “Super Block” in front of the George R. In 1994, Bubbha approached Councilman Judson Robinson III, and shared the story of the vision of the Houston International Jazz Festival and the history of Jazz Education, Inc. The rest is History. Since its inception, in association with “August Jazz Month Houston”, the Houston International Jazz Festival has placed Houston in the spotlight as the site of the nation’s only Jazz Festival focusing on international Jazz musicians. The mission of the Festival is to provide a unique cultural experience exposing Houstonians to musicians from the United States of America and around the world. All proceeds from the festival go toward funding Jazz Education, Inc.’s core educational programs, “Jazz & Poetry Series” and “Summer Jazz Workshop.” The Jazz and Poetry Series serves more than 10,000 elementary school children yearly, and through two locations, the Summer Jazz Workshop trains over 100 young musicians yearly. Other goals for the Festival are to provide college scholarships for deserving children who attend the Summer Jazz Workshop and establish an endowment for the long term growth of Jazz Education, Inc. From an artistic standpoint, the Festival gives Houstonians and Texans an opportunity to see the influence of this great American music in action, as demonstrated by foreign musicians. For our young people, this is very important.
