History
The city of Nice in the south of France claims to have organized the first jazz festival in the world in 1948.
https://www.nicejazzfestival.fr/en/historique
It was towards the end of the 1960 that the large size summer jazz festivals started as we know them today.
Founders City Country Year
Jyrki Kangas, Pori, Finland, 1966
Claude Nobs, Montreux, Switzerland, 1967
Carlo Pagnotta, Umbria Jazz, Perugia, Italy 1973
Geoge Wien, Grand Parade du Jazz, Nice, France 1974
Paul Acket, The Hague, The Netherlands, 1978
Jean-Paul Boutellier, Vienne, France, 1981
Concept
George Wien: 'Jazz from J to Z'. No limits on the programming. World-famous non jazz-acts, jazz legends, upcoming jazz artists, local jazz scene. Large stages, middle size stages, jazz club size stages. Jam sessions, educational activities, free concerts.
IJFO: International Jazz Festival Organization, gathers each year in October in New York, USA. Scott Southhard, International Music Network: three levels of artists: over-paid, under-paid, non-paid (JT, 2023)