About Jazz4Justice

For almost 25 years, Jazz4Justice concerts have benefited local communities across Virginia and the District of Columbia. To date more than 75 Jazz4Justice concerts have been held—raising almost $1,000,000 to support much needed pro bono legal services, Jazz programs, and music scholarships in the local areas where the J4J concerts are held.

Jazz4Justice is a 501(c)3 public charity run primarily by volunteers. Work space and administrative support are provided by Weiner, Spivey & Miller, PLC. — the law firm of J4J Founder, Ed Weiner. Jazz4Justice has received awards from the American Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar.  

Jazz4Justice is financially assisted by a generous grant from the Virginia Law Foundation. The VLF “promotes through philanthropy the rule of law, access to justice and law-related education”.  Jazz4Justice is also funded in part by ArtsFairfax. 

Jazz4Justice History

Jazz4Justice  is the brainchild of Fairfax, Virginia attorney Edward L. Weiner, conceived in 2000 after he attended a Jazz recital by the George Mason University (GMU) School of Music. He was very im­pressed by the music, but distressed by the small audience. As the then President of the Fairfax Law Foundation (FLF), he saw an opportunity for the George Mason and the FLF to work together on a mutually beneficial project that would also strengthen connections with the local community. Professor Jim Carroll, Founder of Jazz Studies at GMU, partnered with Ed, and the first Jazz4Justice concert was held at GMU in 2001.

Jazz4Justice is truly a unique event. From the beginning, attorneys, judges, students, and fellow members of the Northern Virginia community have gathered in a friendly environment where Jazz admirers could congregate and celebrate their love for the music. Today, through ongoing partnerships with 5 universities, numerous local Bar Associations, and over 75 Jazz4Justice concerts have been held annually across Virginia: George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Christopher Newport University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Mary Washington, as well as concerts at Northern Virginia Community College, James Madison University and Shenandoah University. Since 2001, these Jazz4Justice concerts have raised close to $1,000,000 for jazz programs, as legal aid programs benefiting the local communities where the concerts are held.