Mission: The Western Jazz Presenters Network (WJPN) is a coalition of jazz presenters in the western region of North America. The Network is dedicated to mutual support through networking, collective block-booking of touring jazz artists, professional development and advancement of the full diversity of the jazz field.

Funding: WJPN is a 501c(3) non-profit organization operating with dues paid by member organizations and with funding by the Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund and the National Endowment for the Arts.

WJPN On Line: In addition to this webpage, the WJPN operates a members-only listserv where members share information about artists and block book online.

Activities: The WJPN's primary function is to coordinate jazz touring throughout the western United States and Canada. At special booking meetings, presenters come together to discuss plans for presenting jazz artists in the upcoming seasons and to work together with the artists and artist managements to create workable tours.

Benefits: The WJPN convenes two meetings per year. The next meeting will be in early January 2009 in New York City. Email westernjazz@rcn.com for a registration form.

Occasionally, the WJPN will sponsor a tour of a regional or national jazz artist. Our tours have included the Brooklyn Sax Quartet and the Geri Allen Trio, the Dave Holland Quartet, the Brad Mehldau Trio, Regina Carter and Oliver Lake's one-man show, "The Matador of 1st and 1st". Through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, we have toured Regina Carter and Ravi Coltrane. We hope to tour Esperanza Spalding in 2009-2010 with another NEA grant. Our largest endeavor, a 25-city tour of the Charles McPherson Quartet took place in the fall of 1998. Click here for a complete itinerary of the McPherson tour.

History: After a year of informal discussion of presenters in the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) region, a group met in November 1994 to formally discuss jazz touring needs in the western region. A steering committee was formed and meetings were scheduled twice yearly. The WJPN was incorporated in January of 1998. Click here for biographies on the Board members. Yvonne Ervin is the Executive Director (click here for biography).

For more information on the WJPN, call WJPN Executive Director Yvonne Ervin at (212) 678-0288.

Membership: Membership in the WJPN is open to all jazz presenters in the Western United States and Western Canada. Dues are on a sliding scale. Click here for membership information.