Al Downing Jazz

Al Downing Jazz was originally chartered on July 3, 1973 as The Allegro Music Society. Its founder, Major Alvin J. “Al” Downing, a decorated member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, had returned to civilian life after more than 20 years of military service, eventually accepting a position as a Professor at St. Petersburg Junior College. Inspired by his daughter Evelyn, who was a talented vocalist, Al was seeking ways to help young people have an opportunity to learn about and perform jazz without having to go to bars or clubs. He was also passionate about offering elevated opportunities for professional “jazzmen” to continue their professional careers by ensuring the art form of jazz music would thrive on the Gulf Coast. Allegro began with 56 members that year and quickly set to work building jazz-focused concert and education programming, including a scholarship program to benefit area youth inspired to study jazz performance and education.

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Al Downing Jazz was originally chartered on July 3, 1973 as The Allegro Music Society. Its founder, Major Alvin J. “Al” Downing, a decorated member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, had returned to civilian life after more than 20 years of military service, eventually accepting a position as a Professor at St. Petersburg Junior College. Inspired by his daughter Evelyn, who was a talented vocalist, Al was seeking ways to help young people have an opportunity to learn about and perform jazz without having to go to bars or clubs. He was also passionate about offering elevated opportunities for professional “jazzmen” to continue their professional careers by ensuring the art form of jazz music would thrive on the Gulf Coast. Allegro began with 56 members that year and quickly set to work building jazz-focused concert and education programming, including a scholarship program to benefit area youth inspired to study jazz performance and education.

In 1981, The Allegro Music Society transitioned to become the Florida Jazz Association Inc., dubbed in the media “Al Downing’s Florida Jazz Association,” a nickname assigned in large part because of Al’s tremendously successful career as a beloved jazz performer throughout the region. After nearly another full decade of successful concerts, festivals, scholarships and educational events, the group merged with the Tampa Jazz Society to become the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association, Inc., more commonly referred to today as “Al Downing Jazz.” The organization has hosted more than 1,100 events, given over $100,000 in scholarships, and served this community for 50 years and counting.

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