Minneapolis - St. Paul Jazz Hero
It is an honor to celebrate Steve Heckler as Minnesota’s 2024 JJA Jazz Hero — yes, Minnesota’s, not simply Minneapolis’ and St. Paul’s — because as Executive Director of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, he’s been our jazz hero for the past 25 years, reaching musicians, students and music lovers throughout the state with opportunities to hear, perform and learn throughout the state.
A New York native, Steve came to the Twin Cities in 1985, serving as a county social worker for the next 20 years. He was always drawn to music, touring with a rock band and getting hooked on jazz in his teens. He was also hooked on event organizing from the time he first attended a World’s Fair. In addition to the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Steve has directed numerous music and cultural events and festivals, and served as the Executive Director of JazzMN Orchestra.
As the founding ED of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival (retired in 2023), Steve led the organization from its accidental birth as a one-afternoon event in 1999 through its early years in downtown Minneapolis; its expansion to St.; Paul, its 2008 funding crisis, and a new partnership with the city of St Paul. Throughout it all, the festival grew in number of venues, participating musicians, student ensembles, master classes and attendance — from about 3,000 in 1999 to between 30,000 and 40,000 today.
Musicians are always paid and attendance is always free, due to Steve’s commitment and skill in bringing jazz to all through partnerships, sponsors, and successful fundraising. When the Covid-19 pandemic knocked out the live festival in 2020, Steve launched “Keep Music Alive,” streaming initially from musicians’ home locations, later from performances on area stages.
Running a big festival every year requires building relationships with musicians, venues, sponsors and donors, and also with a large cadre of staff and volunteers. “To have the inspiration and drive to plan the first one, and then keep it going for 24 more, takes an immense amount of energy and joy,” notes volunteer Paul Juhl. Energy and joy—and a lot of jazz love — just about sums up the character of Minnesota’s Jazz Hero Steve Heckler.
—Andrea Canter
photographer/artist, Jazz Hero 2014
—Steve Kenny
trumpeter/composer, Jazz Hero 2019
—Patty Peterson
Vocalist, radio personality, Jazz Hero 2020
