Texas Jazz Cats Fight Hunger with Tunes

The nonprofit music group began fundraising for North Texas Food Bank during the pandemic and has since given $27,000.

What began as pandemic-era cul-de-sac concerts has grown into a nonprofit music group that plays live jazz twice a month—all in the name of helping provide meals to those in need.

Known as the Texas Jazz Cats, the group played its first concert at NorthPark Center in 2019 and then quickly pivoted to neighborhood shows when venues shut down during COVID-19.

At the time, says band leader and bassist Sally Savino, people were staying at home and many expressed how grateful they were for a chance to get outside and enjoy live music.

“People would come out and say I haven’t left my house in two weeks. Thank you,” Sally says.

Vocalist Mark Hess says they quickly decided they wanted the outdoor shows to be about more than live music, so they set up food collections at each concert and began collecting donations for North Texas Food Bank. They expected a few gifts but were amazed at the community’s overwhelming response.

Mark recounts the reaction of volunteers when he dropped off a vanload full of food, “They raised the garage door and there was a semi-circle of people in vests applauding,” he says. “I almost cried and thought, ‘Oh my goodness, this is so amazing.’ We just knew then that this was the right thing to be doing.”

As music venues reopened, the Texas Jazz Cats resumed indoor concerts. But the group all agreed they didn’t want to end their fundraising.

Instead of collecting canned goods, they added a QR code to their tip jar and announced at each show that any money made would be given to North Texas Food Bank.

Since 2019, they’ve contributed around $27,000, which is enough to support 81,000 meals for North Texans facing hunger.

“We have a lot of fun. We encourage people to dance and sing along, but the message is very strong about why we’re doing it,” Mark says. “We want everyone to have a good time, but we also want to do good. It’s been an amazing five years.”

Several of the participating musicians are music professionals while others have different careers. Sally says none of them play with Texas Jazz Cats for income, so if a venue pays for them to play, that money also goes to the food bank.

“We’re sharing the love of jazz,” Sally says, adding that the charity component of their group has also been a help in recruiting new musicians. “Everybody in the group came a different way but we’re all really good friends now.”

The group played a concert for North Texas Giving Day to support North Texas Food Bank and plays regularly throughout the year with multiple performances during the holiday season.

“It’s an incredibly humbling, beautiful experience,” Mark says.

To find the Texas Jazz Cats full schedule, visit texasjazzcats.com.