The Jazz Art Writers South (JAWS) Festival was started by a partnership between USA Libraries Art Galleries and The Black Ink Coalition. It was our desire to recognize the achievements of the Excelsior Brass Band after the passing of Charles Hall, their long-serving and seasoned tuba player. We made it our goal to recognize him and the achievements of the Excelsior Band in a significant way. This lead to our discovery that jazz and Mobile, Alabama have a deep and celebratory history that we would like to present to the public in unique and creative ways. The festival has grown since it's first year, adding a new art exhibit venue and more concerts as well as an expansion of our JAWS Youth program, which has reached 12 campuses and continues to grow. All of these elements will convene to celebrate jazz in our city. It's going to be a very exciting time!

Jazz Art Writers South (J.A.W.S.) is a registered 501(c) non-profit organization bringing awareness and public celebration of jazz to the Greater Alabama Gulf Coast. Your support goes directly to providing Live Jazz Performances, Youth Art Projects, Spoken Word and Literary Author Collectives an opportunity to collaborate provided by the University of South Alabama Libraries Art Galleries and our partners on the university campus.

To connect the community to Mobile Jazz and all things pertaining to Jazz; to develop all aspects of promoting Jazz in the Mobile, AL area including music, art and literature; and to serve as a premier opportunity for the intersection of education and entertainment opportunities for artists involved in the culture of Jazz on the Southern Coastal Area.