Since 1987, HJF has organized a diverse range of musical and educational activities, including the annual Halifax Jazz Festival. The TD Halifax Jazz Festival, formerly known as the Atlantic Jazz Festival, is the oldest jazz festival and largest summer festival in Atlantic Canada. Designated a Hallmark Event by the Halifax Regional Municipality, the festival attracts up to 65,000 visitors, involves 400 volunteers and employs over 350 local musicians.

The Halifax Jazz Festival (HJF), formed as JazzEast Rising is a non-profit organization created in 1987 to present the first ever Halifax Jazz Festival (formerly known as the Atlantic Jazz Festival) in Nova Scotia, Canada. As a registered charity, HJF has widened its horizons beyond the successful TD Halifax Jazz Festival to become involved, throughout the year, in a diverse range of musical and educational activities.

HJF's mandate runs from the promotion and presentation of soft-seat concerts and club shows to planning educational workshops (such as the renowned Creative Music Workshop). We develop opportunities for amateur musicians, established local artists and the local "jazz aristocracy". We bring renowned performers from many parts of the world to a city that doesn't always find itself naturally on the maps for touring artists.

In brief, we think jazz is important to the culture which we'd like to have, and we want to make sure that kind of culture is strong in Halifax, where we love to live.