The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic was born out of an invitation from the Jazz Institute of Chicago to Artistic Director, Orbert Davis to think big when planning his appearance at the 2004 Jazz Festival. This performance marked the first time for a resident Chicago Jazz artist to headline the festival, not to mention, being accompanied by a 55-piece jazz orchestra. Orchestra members were drawn from not only notable jazz musicians, but also from musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Sinfonietta. Since that effort, Davis and Managing Director, Mark Ingram have been soliciting friends, colleagues and interested patrons to help support possibly the biggest and boldest large jazz orchestra in the country, according to Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune arts critic. Several foundations and corporations have caught on to the vision for a convergence of classical music and jazz that appeals to a broad spectrum of arts audiences in Chicago. What many concert goers do not know is that the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic was originally an education organization that grew an orchestra arm. In 1999, Orbert Davis and Mark Ingram had founded MusicAlive! which aimed to use the inherent elements of music to enhance academic achievement and life skills. With the establishment of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, an executive decision was made in 2006 to dissolve MusicAlive! and for the organization to adopt the MusicAlive! programs as its education arm. These programs have been compounded to develop Jazz Alive, a comprehensive K-12 feeder program designed to institute music education in Chicago public schools at the beginning of a students formal education and follow the student through high school. Currently operated by a four-member staff and eleven-member board, the organization is in a fairly nascent but stable position in their organizational development. The organization completed in a Strategic Planning project in April 2009 and is currently in the process of launching its first concert series.

The mission of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic is to present high quality musical performances and music education programs that will bridge gaps in genre, artistry and diversity. The organization seeks to become an internationally respected orchestra defined by its cross collaborations in jazz, classical, and other musical genres while working with schools to provide a linear track for music instruction, performance and enrichment from kindergarten through college.

With the establishment of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, an executive decision was made in 2006 to dissolve MusicAlive! and for the organization to adopt the MusicAlive! programs as its education arm. These programs have been compounded to develop ?Jazz Alive?, a comprehensive K-12 ?feeder? program designed to institute music education in Chicago public schools at the beginning of a student?s formal education and follow the student through high school.