The Society of Hungarian Jazz Artists was formed by eleven prominent musicians: Babos Gyula, Balázs Elemér, Borbély Mihály, Dés László, Fekete-Kovács Kornél, Horváth Kornél, Kaltenecker Zsolt, Lantos Zoltán, Oláh Kálmán, Barcza Horváth József and Szakcsi Lakatos Béla Jr. to promote and support the genre of jazz in the Hungarian musical scene.

The Hungarian jazz artists had not had a complex representative forum or management until the present time. Accordingly though the majority of the musicians are internationally acknowledged the Hungarian public can hardly ever learn about their success abroad. By calling the association in existence of their own accord a new form was born in the subsidy of the Hungarian national music scene with the form of organisation and ministration which could most efficiently serve their needs and interests.

The Ministry of Hungarian Cultural Heritage helped by establishing SHJA with a significant financial support by recognising the eminent jazz artists of the genre and as an old redemption, the importance of its financing.

In the first stage of their existence a new quality jazz club was opened comparable to the Western European and overseas clubs running daily and ideally suited to introduce the high standard Hungarian jazz in the capital city from night to night.

However, the activity of the organisation would not stop here. They work for the promotion of jazz by organising concerts and festivals throughout the country with the contribution of their production office. Their further aim is to connect the Hungarian jazz life with the international stream.