Tucson, AZ--- A significant mission of the HSL Properties Tucson Jazz Festival is its educational outreach program which continues to develop and grow with each successive festival. Musicians are by nature very generous and love to share their talents with local students wherever they can.  This year's workshops begin with the annual TJF Cookout for students at John B. Wright Elementary School. The media is invited to attend all events listed below. 

 

TJF Cookout with Cha Wa: A Community Celebration of Music, Food and Learning

 

The Tucson Jazz Festival, in collaboration with the University of Arizona School Garden Workshop,  Tucson Unified School District Food Services, John B. Wright Elementary School, Gourmet Girls Gluten  Free Bakery & Bistro, and Vantage West Credit Union, will host a special school cookout and live  performance for John B. Wright Elementary students and staff on January 20, 2026, from 11 a.m.–2  p.m. This community-centered event celebrates culture, connection, and the shared joy of music and food-based learning.

 

Described by NPR’s All Things Considered as “powerful, relatable, vibrant,” twice Grammy-nominated New Orleans band Cha Wa brings the energy of the city’s street culture to campus. Blending brass band traditions with the spirit of the Mardi Gras Indians, Cha Wa radiates freedom and rhythm. PopMatters calls their sound “a grand gumbo of singing, intoxicating rhythms, and deep funk grooves.”

“Mardi Gras Indian songs are inherently songs about freedom,” says drummer Joe Gelini. “That struggle is as relevant today as it’s ever been.”

 

 

Students and staff from the U of A School Garden Workshop will harvest fresh produce from the school’s garden to create a special salad, prepared in partnership with TUSD Food Services. Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery & Bistro will donate cookie sandwiches inspired by the flavors of the Sonoran Desert distributed by volunteers from Vantage West Credit Union. These additions will enhance the school’s regular lunch menu and alongside Cha Wa’s performance, provide meaningful hands-on learning experiences for the garden workshop participants and the broader student body.

 

Set in the school’s outdoor courtyard, the cookout offers students an unforgettable experience—where music, food, and learning come together in celebration. U of A School Garden Workshop Director Moses Thompson reflects, “You can’t underestimate the value of joy, and what a difference it can mean in a student’s life.”

 

Other Educational Outreach Programs During the Tucson Jazz Festival

 

January 20th, 1pm-2pm - Curious Conversation/Khris Dodge at the Fox Theatre

January 21st, 10:45 – 12pm - Diego Figueiredo at Tucson High                        

January 22nd, 9:45 -11am - Braxton Cook at Tucson High                                

January 22nd, 1pm- 2pm - Braxton Cook at location TBD                                              

January 23rd, 9:30-11:30am - Jenny Scheinman  at Tucson High                                   

January 24th, 5:30pm - Cory Wong (sound check) with Local HS Guitar Students at the Fox Tucson Theatre  

 

About the Tucson Jazz Festival

 

Presented by HSL Properties, The Tucson Jazz Festival’s mission is to influence the discovery and celebration of live jazz performance and music education through community engagement anchored by a world‑class jazz festival in downtown Tucson.  Since 2015, the festival has woven together international artists, rising stars, and Tucson’s vibrant cultural roots-bringing unforgettable performances, educational outreach, and artistic connections to the heart of the city. For additional information, visit http://www.tucsonjazzfestival.org/. Artist photos and assets are available upon request.  

 

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