Since its formation in May of 1980, the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz, Inc. has grown to become the premier organization in Central PA for Jazz, one of the few original American art forms,

It's mission for over 26 years has been to preserve, foster, promote and present live Jazz in Central PA by local, regional, national, and world renowned international artists for the enjoyment of all audiences

The idea for the jazz society was conceived over two decades ago when Jack Snavely, Lee C. Swartz, Russ Neff, Steve Rudolph, and a number of other area musicians and fans met to support local jazz performances. This group created a viable organization which exceeded 350 members after the first year.

Today, our membership is close to 1000 members and the result of efforts by an amazingly active core of volunteers who have made CPFJ the "jazz service organization" for Central Pennsylvania.

CPFJ has contributed greatly to the growth of quality jazz and related arts in Central Pennsylvania. Our promotion of concerts and educational programs featuring world-class jazz artists has inspired many promising young area musicians to great heights including York, PA saxophonists Tim Warfield & Chris Bacas, Harrisburg saxophonists Andy & Rob Middleton, drummer Ray Brinker and many others.

One of the organization's major accomplishments has been the annual CPFJ Jazz Festival, which has been held every June since 1981. The Festival hosts three days of major concerts, clinics, youth concerts, historic films, riverboat jazz cruises, the JazzWalk (held nightly in various downtown locations), Jazz in the Sanctuary, and much more. Over 30 bands perform a variety of jazz styles in over 20 different venues.

CPFJ's monthly concert series has become a popular attraction in the Central Pennsylvania area. The seven monthly concerts are held on Sunday evenings in Jan., Feb., March, April, Sept., Oct. & Nov. Featured on the program with the internationally-known artists are area professional bands, the CPFJ Youth Bands, and various high school and college jazz ensembles. Most of the artists that have appeared for CPFJ would never have played in this area without the involvement and promotion of the society.

A few of the thousand plus featured artists over the years at our festival and Sunday night concerts have included Nat Adderly, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Mose Allison, Ray Anderson, Kenny Barron, Louie Bellson, Art Blakey, Terence Blanchard, JoAnne Brackeen, Michael Brecker, Ray Brown, Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Cyrus Chestnut, Chick Corea, Joey DeFrancesco, Buddy DeFranco, Bob Dorough, Paquito D'Rivera, Peter Erskine, Jon Faddis, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Stephane Grappelli, Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Tom Harrell, Barry Harris, Billy Higgins, Shirley Horn, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, Ahmad Jamal, J.J. Johnson, Elvin Jones, Hank Jones, Branford Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis, Jack McDuff, Nicholas Payton, Marian McPartland, Anita O'Day, Oregon, Flip Phillips, Tito Puente, Flora Purim, Sun Ra, Joshua Redman, Max Roach, Red Rodney, Sonny Rollins, Poncho Sanchez, Mongo Santamaria, John Scofield, Jimmy Smith, Terell Stafford, Mike Stern, Sonny Stitt, Ira Sullivan, Arthur Taylor, Clark Terry, Steve Turre, McCoy Tyner, Dave Weckl, Phil Woods and others