Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) and founder Jim Horowitz will be inducted into Colorado Music Hall of Fame at the 2025 JAS Labor Day Experience in Aspen/Snowmass over Labor Day weekend, August 29-31. Founded by Horowitz in 1991, JAS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with a mission to present and preserve jazz and related forms of music through world-class events, performances and education programs.
“Jim’s contributions, the contributions of his dedicated team, and the entire organization’s contributions to music and music education in our great state are unparalleled and so deserving of this honor,” commends Colorado Music Hall of Fame’s board co-chair, Scott Tobias, who has professionally worked with JAS for decades through his publishing company, Westword, and his digital advertising agency, V Digital Services.
Most often recognized for JAS June and Labor Day Experience (multi-day outdoor music festivals), JAS also produces an intimate and musically diverse summer and winter series, the JAS Café, featuring world-class, live jazz, blues, soul, world music and more at various downtown Aspen venues, as well as year-round music education programs stretching across the entire Western Slope. Since 1996, JAS has generated over $10 million to support its music education programming. JAS’ latest initiative is slated to open next winter: the Paul JAS Center, above the historic Red Onion in downtown Aspen, Colorado. The Center will serve as a music club, community event space, recording/broadcasting studio and music classroom for JAS’ many music education programs and will give JAS its first permanent home.
“Thank you to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame for this incredible recognition. In 1989, I woke up from a music festival tour to the southwest of France with a vision to re-create that magic, in a certain special location in the Rockies, with a very different musical history. Despite some setbacks along the way, thankfully I never quit, and an extraordinary team of passionate music lovers, the JAS Team is keeping the flame alive. It’s humbling and deeply gratifying to say that JAS Aspen is a permanent fact of Colorado life!” states Jim Horowitz, Founder/President & CEO, Jazz Aspen Snowmass.
The induction of JAS and Horowitz will take place on stage during the 3-day Labor Day festival, which just announced its line-up to include Imagine Dragons, Lenny Kravitz, Luke Combs, Marcus King Band and more. Tickets for the August 29-31, 2025 festival are available as 3-day passes, starting at $372 + fees at www.jazzaspensnowmass.org.
JAS is donating $1.00 from every ticket sold to Colorado Music Hall of Fame to support its mission to celebrate, promote and support Colorado’s music community.
About Colorado Music Hall of Fame (The Hall), www.cmhof.org
Founded in 2011, The Hall is a nonprofit with a mission to celebrate, promote and support Colorado’s music community:
Celebrating Colorado music by inducting our state’s music heroes, hosting music events and sharing music history digitally and through soon-to-reopen music exhibits in downtown Denver;
Promoting Colorado as a music destination; and
Supporting local musicians and industry professionals with financial assistance and resources for mental health and addiction through its Keep The Beat mental wellness program.
Over 60 musicians, music industry professionals, venues and music organizations have been inducted into The Hall to date:
2011: Inaugural Class: John Denver, Red Rocks Amphitheatre
2012: Setting the Stage: Barry Fey, Harry Tuft
2012: Rockin’ the ‘60s: The Astronauts, Flash Cadillac, KIMN Radio, Sugarloaf
2013: Colorado’s Folk Revival: Judy Collins, Chris Daniels, Bob Lind, Serendipity Singers
2014: Country Rock in the Rockies: Firefall, Manassas w/Stephen Stills, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Poco
2016: 20th Century Pioneers: Lannie Garrett, Glenn Miller, Max Morath, Billy Murray, Elizabeth Spencer, Paul Whiteman
2017: Rocky Mountain Way: Caribou Ranch, Dan Fogelberg, Bill Szymczyk, Joe Walsh & Barnstorm
2017: Jazz Masters & Beyond: Philip Bailey, Charles Burrell, Larry Dunn, Bill Frisell, Ron Miles, Dianne Reeves, Andrew Woolfolk
2018: Live & On the Air: John Hickenlooper, KBCO, Chuck Morris
2019: Old Folk, New Folk: Walt Conley, Mother Folkers, Swallow Hill Music, Dick Weissman
2019: Going Back to Colorado: Tommy Bolin, Freddi & Henchi, Wendy Kale, Tony Spicola, Otis Taylor, Zephyr
2021: A Virtual Induction: eTown
2021: The Flatirons Sessions: The Fox Theatre, Hot Rize, Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band
2023: Big Head Todd and The Monsters, Hazel Miller, George Morrison, Sr.
2024: Opera in the High Country: Central City Opera, Cynthia Lawrence, Keith Miller, John Moriarty
2024: Mile High Jazz Oasis: El Chapultepec & Jerry Krantz, Greg Gisbert, Eric Gunnison, KUVO & Carlos Lando, Ellyn Rucker, Ken Walker
2025: Jazz Aspen Snowmass & Jim Horowitz