The California Jazz Foundation

The California Jazz Foundation is a charitable, nonprofit organization created to aid and assist California jazz musicians in financial or medical crisis. Established in 2006, the Foundation was formed to fulfill an unmet critical need to help these talented artists who have given us so much pleasure over the years – often with so little reward.
For decades, The California Jazz Foundation has given back to the jazz community with a dedication towards financial, and material aid support and mentorship to 200 musicians.

In 2016, John Clayton received the Gala’s 2016 Nica award, named for famed New York City jazz patron Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter. Mr. Clayton’s passion for mentoring and teaching young musicians has been indispensable. He has encouraged up-and-coming musicians as a teacher at UCLA, USC and at many workshops including the Vail Jazz Workshop and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.