The Nash

What The Nash does

The Nash is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit jazz performance venue and education center operated by Jazz in Arizona, Inc. (founded 1977; venue opened 2012) in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The organization runs two physical locations: the 108-seat concert club at 110 E. Roosevelt St. on Roosevelt Row, where it presents live jazz nearly 300 nights per year, and the John Dawson Jazz Education Center at 1014 N. 2nd St. (opened September 2024), Arizona's first and only dedicated jazz education facility with three rehearsal rooms, administrative offices, and a study area. The Nash is named after legendary jazz drummer Lewis Nash and has been recognized by Downbeat Magazine as one of the 'Great Jazz Venues in the World.'

The Nash's revenue model blends transaction-based and contributed income across five streams: ticket sales for live performances (sold via OvationTix and the on-site box office), on-site food and beverage service, weekday venue rental for private events up to 145 guests, tuition from education programs (Legacy Ensembles, Big Band, Futures, Vocal Jazz, Jazz DivAZ, summer camp, adult classes, private instruction), and charitable donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and a roster of foundation partners including the John Dawson Foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Jazzbird Foundation, and public funders such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Phoenix Arts and Culture. Education program access is heavily subsidized, with roughly 75% of students under 18 receiving tuition assistance and approximately $56,000 in annual scholarship support.

The Nash is led by a small paid staff of approximately 10 (including President/CEO Steve Maun and Director of Education Dr. Clark Gibson) supported by a 12-member Board of Directors chaired by George Jackson and a community volunteer workforce. Audience reach is described as 100,000+ visitors annually, with marketing driven by the website, email newsletter, social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), and community word-of-mouth. Outreach programs (Act One, Hot Dogs & Jazz, Wine & Jazz) extend the venue's reach into Title I schools and underserved communities across the Greater Phoenix area.

Name

The Nash

Legal name

Jazz in Arizona, Inc.

Website

https://thenash.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Nash is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Arizona's premier jazz venue and the state's first dedicated jazz education center, presenting nearly 300 live performances annually and serving jazz enthusiasts, students, and Greater Phoenix community members through concerts, education programs, and outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Venue and Jazz Education

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ), Training, Workshops & Certification Events (MPAGAGAJ)

Keywords

• Live jazz performances
• Jazz education programs
• Music venue rental
• Nonprofit arts venue
• Youth jazz ensembles

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for live jazz performances, concerts, and special events. Tickets sold online through OvationTix platform and at the door. Pricing varies by event with student discounts available.
2. Food & Beverage: On-site bar service offering wines, craft beers, cocktails, mocktails, and small bites for purchase during performances.
3. Venue Rental: Private event rental of the venue for meetings, recitals, receptions, and special events. Capacity up to 145 guests. Not available Friday, Saturday, Sunday evenings due to scheduled performances.
4. Donations & Fundraising: Nonprofit relies on charitable contributions from individuals and organizations. Multiple giving programs including annual fund, major gifts, scholarships, and legacy circle donations. EIN 86-0331150.
5. Gift Cards & Merchandise: Sale of gift cards and merchandise through the box office.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Nash is a nonprofit jazz venue and education center that hosts nearly 300 live jazz performances per year in its 108–145 capacity Phoenix club, and delivers comprehensive jazz instruction through the John Dawson Jazz Education Center — including ensembles (Nash Big Band, Futures Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Legacy Ensembles, Jazz DivAZ), summer camps, masterclasses, adult classes, private instruction, and Title I school outreach. The operation is sustained by ticket revenue, food and beverage sales, venue rental, donations, gift cards, and merchandise.

Product overview

The Nash Jazz Club is a jazz performance venue and education center in Phoenix, Arizona, offering a unified portfolio of live music programming and educational services. The core offering consists of live jazz performances presented nearly 300 nights annually, supplemented by comprehensive education programs through the John Dawson Jazz Education Center. Education offerings include Jazz DivAZ (young female musicians), Legacy Ensembles (high school students), The Nash Big Band, Futures Ensemble (ages 10-17), Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Masterclasses & Clinics, Nash Jazz Summer Camp, Adult Jazz Classes, Private Instruction, and Community Outreach Programs. Additional services include venue rental, box office/ticketing, and food & beverage service. The venue also hosts the Jazz Beacon Awards honoring jazz legends.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Jazz Performances Ticketed live jazz concerts held nearly 300 nights per year in the 108–145 seat venue at 110 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, featuring local, national, and international jazz artists for individual concertgoers.
• Jazz Education Programs Comprehensive jazz instruction for youth and adults — including ensembles (Jazz DivAZ, Legacy Ensembles, Nash Big Band, Futures Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble), summer camp, masterclasses, adult classes, and private instruction — delivered through the John Dawson Jazz Education Center with sliding-scale tuition and scholarships.
• Private Event Venue Rental Rental of the 108–145 capacity venue for private receptions, parties, fundraisers, and corporate or nonprofit events, with access to bar service and the venue's distinctive jazz-club atmosphere.
• Food and Beverage Service On-site bar and beverage service available to concert attendees and private event hosts during performances and rentals.
• Gift Cards and Merchandise Sale of gift cards and branded merchandise as an ancillary retail offering that supports the nonprofit's operations.
• Community Outreach to Title I Schools Free or subsidized in-school jazz performances, clinics, and educational visits delivered to Title I schools and community partners across Arizona as part of the nonprofit's mission.
• Late Night Jam Sessions Free-admission late-night jam sessions at the venue offering musicians and audiences an informal jazz experience beyond the standard ticketed programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300 live performances annually across various series (Jazz, First Fridays, Late Night Jazz, Jazz Casual Thursday, Jam Sessions, Jazz Matinee, Nash Exclusives)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Act OnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides transportation for children in Title I schools throughout the Valley to attend cultural activities. The Nash provides exclusive 'Intro to Jazz' performances introducing these kids to jazz music.
• Arizona School for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for The Nash Jazz Summer Camp held annually in June. Collaborative partnership for youth jazz education.
• Arizona State University - Center for the Study of Race & DemocracyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership supporting jazz education and cultural programming.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SFJAZZ: Major San Francisco jazz presenter with combined performance and education programs; similar dual mission but significantly larger institutional scale and dedicated concert hall.
• Blue Note: Global jazz club chain with multiple locations and broader commercial positioning; larger scale and more diversified revenue, but overlapping genre and concert-club category.
• Jazz at Lincoln Center: Major NYC jazz institution operating performances, education, and broadcasts; closest large-scale analog to The Nash's combined presentation + education mission, with substantially broader scope.

Direct peers

• Birdland: Iconic intimate NYC jazz club with similar nightly live-performance format and comparable capacity; Birdland is one of the closest format analogs to The Nash in the U.S. jazz club market.
• Smoke Jazz Club: Comparable intimate NYC jazz venue with subscription-based programming and curated nightly sets; similar operational cadence and audience-development model.
• Chris' Jazz Cafe: Philadelphia intimate jazz club with comparable capacity and genre focus; similar F&B-integrated jazz venue model and community orientation.
• Village Vanguard: Historic NYC jazz club with similar ~100-seat capacity and consistent live programming model; comparable intimate concert-club economics and genre focus.
• Blues Alley: Washington DC intimate jazz club with similar nightly live performance format and comparable small-capacity economics; relevant benchmark for venue operations.
• Dakota Jazz Club: Minneapolis jazz club + restaurant combining live programming with full F&B service; closely mirrors The Nash's combined live-performance + bar service revenue model.
• Jazz Showcase: Chicago intimate jazz club presenting live performances nightly with similar capacity and family-run governance; closest Midwestern analog to The Nash's nonprofit-adjacent operating style.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheNashJazzClub
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheNashJazzClub
• Instagraminstagram.com/thenashjazz
• TikToktiktok.com/@thenashjazz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-nash-jazz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Nash