The Austin Traditional Jazz Society is stepping into a landmark season — its 50th year of preserving and performing traditional jazz in Central Texas — and the celebration begins this weekend with a concert that blends history, community, and the unmistakable joy of live jazz.
It was May 13, 1977, when ATJS sponsored its very first concert. What began as a small but passionate effort to keep traditional jazz thriving in Austin has grown into a full season of seven concerts, including the beloved open jazz jam that welcomes musicians from across the region. Five decades later, the Society remains a cornerstone for fans of New Orleans Jazz, San Francisco Trad, and the timeless American art form that connects generations.
This year’s opening concert on September 20 features Austin’s own Silver Creek Jazz Band, celebrating its 20th anniversary as the ATJS house band. Their sound is a flavorful fusion — “New Orleans Jazz meets San Francisco Trad… French Quarter Gumbo side‑by‑side with Fisherman’s Wharf Cioppino.” It’s a band with a secret sauce, and they’re ready to deliver the musical goods as ATJS launches its golden anniversary season.
Concerts are held at the Ben Hur Shrine Temple, located at 7811 Rockwood Lane, just off Anderson Lane near MoPac. The venue offers plenty of free parking, a large dance floor, and a relaxed, family‑friendly atmosphere. Guests can enjoy snacks, beer, wine, and sodas, or bring their own food to make the afternoon even more enjoyable.
ATJS concerts are free for members, while guest admission is $12, and college students with ID and Austin Jazz Society members may enter for $5. Membership dues run from July 1 to June 30 and are $60 per person, $25 per student, or $110 per couple — a small price for a full season of classic jazz and discounted access to special events.
For 50 years, the Austin Traditional Jazz Society has provided a stage for leading national and local musicians, welcomed newcomers into the fold, and kept traditional jazz alive in the heart of Texas. As the new season begins, the Society invites everyone — longtime fans, new listeners, dancers, families, and curious first‑timers — to join the celebration and experience the music that has defined its legacy.
