View photos from our recent Benefit Concert »

We are the Oakland Jazz Choir and we have been singing and bringing innovative, and unique vocal jazz to the Bay Area since 1992. Oakland born and bred, we are one of just a few community jazz choirs in the nation singing cool original, and standard jazz material in a distinctive choral jazz setting.

2020 was the year that silenced choirs around the world.

We faced and overcame our personal pandemic challenges, even producing 2 virtual choir videos, and we’re thrilled to say we’re back and we are looking for singing opportunities to bring our spirit, joy and jazz to the Bay Area and beyond once again!

The Oakland Jazz Choir (OJC), a non-profit, has been an East Bay institution for almost 30 years. During this span the group has taken many shapes, sizes and forms but the common denominator has always been the same: Joy of expression, using the voice to communicate the triumphs, as well as the turbulence, of the human spirit. We are committed to bringing vocal jazz performance and education to underserved audiences in the Bay Area and beyond. Choir membership includes 16 – 20 singers, as diverse in age, religion, and race as our hometown.

Artistic director Ben Flint, a native of Memphis TN, is steeped in gospel, jazz and R&B, but applies his diverse musical experience to finding a uniquely Oakland sound. This multicultural, multi-talented group of people volunteer their time, energy and skill to produce some of the sweetest harmonies around. Accompanied by the superlative talents  of pianist/arranger, Walter Bankovitch, OJC delivers exquisite 5 and 6 part harmonies performing original and contemporary arrangements that include pieces by hit makers such as Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Duke Ellington, Pat Metheny, as well as Michael Jackson, Thelonius Monk, Tower of Power & Tears for Fears.