SPENARD JAZZ FEST IS...
a multi-disciplinary arts festival that celebrates all musical genres. SJF exists to strengthen and celebrate Alaska’s musician community. SJF focuses heavily on original music by Alaskan composers, while also bringing in incredible musicians from everywhere else to collaborate.
RINGS IN WATER
SJF was founded by 8 musicians in search of an audience in 2008. Since then we have hosted hundreds of events and inspired tens of thousands of audience members.
SHAPE SHIFTER
SJF is rooted in improvisation - we change every year, scope, programming, focus. But the music is always good, and YOU make it BETTER!
SJF publishes THE ALASKA REAL BOOK
with over 200 charts by 50+ Alaskan composers!
Click here to LEARN more and ORDER your copy!
OUR TEAM
Yngvil Vatn Guttu - Founding Festival Director
Vicky Parks - Contract Admin and Accounting
Karl Wilhelmi - Box Office, Merchandise Manager
John Christensen, Candlewick Studios - Website Admin & Content Manager
Emily Tallman - Poster Design
Lisa Hawkins - Social Media Support
Lucy Peckham, Both Ears Live Sound - Live Audio Engineering
Scott Jensen - Videography
On Standby: Cameron Cartland, Michael Dickerson, Alex Parsons
Special Thanks to
Alaska Jazz Workshop [John Damberg and Nick Petumenos]
for programming support and for carrying the torch all year round -
Ira Perman for unwavering support and enthusiasm

