The Festival features these performing organizations: Dave Brubeck Quartet, Christian McBride Trio, Capital Jazz Project, Turtle Island String Quartet, David Grisman Quintet, Hiromi's Sonicbloom, Deepak Ram Quartet, Gerald Clayton Trio, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Yosvany Terry Quartet, Pete Escovedo Orchestra, Andrzej Jagodzinski Trio, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, SFJazz Collective, Talujon Percussion Quartet, Quartet San Francisco, Stockton Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Mozart Ensemble, Ballet NY, and many of the ensembles of Pacific's Conservatory of Music.

Symposia, lecture, and discussion topics have included music management and business, sociology and music, improvisation, civil rights, creativity, jazz education, cultural diplomacy, and words with music.