2023 Back Alley Jazz

After 5 amazing years of co-producing Back Alley Jazz with residents of South Shore, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival (HPJF) and its neighborhood partners convened for a series of conversations to consider how best to sustain the dynamic energy and community engagement that propelled Back Alley Jazz to become a local annual event. This year will be an important year for creating a sustainable model which balances the administrative and creative support HPJF provides with increased levels of neighborhood commitment as co-producers.

Back Alley Jazz will continue to be produced as a collaborative neighborhood initiative but in an extended format. The model for 2023 shifts its approach to include June-September pop-up performances across South Shore that connect to existing block club events in the area. Neighborhood groups will provide the performance location and serve as hosts. The Hyde Park Jazz Festival will provide a stage, sound equipment, and tech support, and help program and cover the costs of each band.

A calendar of performances, free and open to the public, will be published in late May.

If you are a resident of South Shore and would like to host a performance on your block, please see the specifics below about what the Hyde Park Jazz Festival can provide and what partnering neighborhood groups would commit to providing and fill out and submit the application.

The Hyde Park Jazz Festival will be responsible for:

The Festival will create an admin/production team to: 

  • Oversee the production of performance

  • Provide staging

  • Sound engineering

  • Provide PA 

  • Provide MC (if needed)

  • Artist fees for one ensemble of up to 5 number of musicians

  • Some public marketing if desired

  • Maintain the overall performance calendar

The Block Clubs or Community Groups will be responsible for: 

Coordinating all other elements of producing the event, much as they would a block party. Responsibilities include: 

  • Setup and breakdown of everything not related to the stage and sound equipment

  • Chairs and tables

  • Local promotion

  • Food (if any)

  • Local artisan vendors (if any)

  • Activities (if any)

  • Trash pick up and portable restrooms (if any)

Process for requesting partnership

Complete the 2023 Back Alley Jazz Partnership Request Form

A BAJ representative will follow-up with you regarding your proposed event

2023 BAJ Partnership Request Form
Donate to support Back Alley Jazz

In partnership with

South Shore Residents

With funding from

A Grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events with Funding from The Walder Foundation