Austria: Jazz Fest Wien – Vienna
Canada: Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Finland: Pori Jazz Festival
France: Jazz á Vienne
Holland: North Sea Jazz Festival
Italy: Umbria Jazz
Norway: Molde International Jazz Festival
Spain: Festival de Jazz de Vitoria-Gasteiz
Switzerland: Montreux Jazz Festival
Turkey: International Istanbul Jazz Festival
USA: Monterey Jazz Festival

HISTORY:

The history of IJFO goes back more than 20 years: Several European jazz festivals promoters (Paul Acket, Norbert Gamsohn, Jyrki Kangas, Claude Nobs and Fritz Thom) met in Paris in 1982 to discuss a tour with Miles Davis. Three promoters emerged out of this Paris meeting as the core of what became the EJFO (European Jazz Festivals Organisation): Paul Acket (North Sea), Jyrki Kangas (Pori) and Fritz Thom (Vienna).

In 1988, Paul Acket invited 7 European jazz festivals to meet in New York, among them were Molde, North Sea, Pori, Vienna (Austria) and Vitoria. This was the birth of the EJFO. Shortly after that, Umbria Jazz and Vienne (France) joined, followed a bit later by Istanbul and Montreux.

After Montreal joined the organisation a few years ago, the time was finally right in 2002, after Monterey and Vancouver came on board, for the original European association to go international.

This was the birth of the IJFO – the International Jazz Festivals Organisation.

ACTIVITIES:

The IJFO is an umbrella organisation to currently 12 leading jazz festivals worldwide. The members do not compete territorially and are situated at times which allow for the touring of common projects. Synergies are developed during four annual meetings: September – roundup (varying locations); November – industry presentations (New York); January – IAJE convention (varying locations); March – ILMC (London).

Since 2001, the IJFO sponsors an international jazz award endowed with US$ 20.000.-. This award is presented in partnership with the IAJE (International Associaton for Jazz Education) at their annual conferences and rewards creative personalities or institutions for their achievements in the genre of jazz.

CONTACT & COORDINATION:

Coordinator of IJFO activities is Ms. Annika Larsson of Umbria Jazz.
e-mail: annika.larsson@umbriajazz.com

Chairman of IJFO is Mr. Fritz Thom of Jazz Fest Wien – Vienna.
e-mail: fthom@viennajazz.org