The Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival/Workshop was started in December 1996. Supported by Dr. Alfred Pinkston, former Chairperson of Music at Florida Memorial University, and former Florida Memorial University President, Dr. Albert E. Smith. The festival was designed to expose Middle School, High School and College level students to the educational component of Jazz Music and to help preserve this great original art form of America.

The continuing mission of the Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival/workshop is to provide an environment where students of Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges and Band Directors can participate and interact with professional jazz musicians for the purpose of fostering and enhancing their appreciation and support of Jazz in our community.

In recognition of some of the greatest names in jazz Florida Memorial University has honored two jazz greats with Honorary Doctorate Degrees:
Dr. James Moody and the late great Dr. Grover Washington Jr.

The following Jazz Artists have performed in concert at the Annual Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival:

• Najee (saxophone)
• Clarke Terry (trumpet)
• Curtis Lundy (bass)
• Jon Faddis (trumpet)
• Benny Golson (saxophone)
• Obed Calvaire (drums)
• Ray Drummond (bass)
• Wallace Roney (trumpet)
• Herbie Mann (flute)
• Grover Washington Jr. (saxophone)
• Melton Mustafa (trumpet)
• Winard Harper (drums)
• Billy Cobham (drums)
• Nestor Torres (flute)
• Nicole Henry (vocalist)
• Curtis Fuller (trombone)
• Terri Lynn Carrington (drums)
• Kenny Drew Jr. (piano)
• Patrice Rushin (piano)
• Idris Muhammad (drums)
• Abraham Laborial (bass)
• Bobby Watson (saxophone)
• Jon Faddis (trumpet)
• Ira Sullivan (saxophone)
• Dr. Billy Taylor (piano)
• Mark Whitfield (guitar)
• Dr. Nathan Davis (saxophone)
• Jesse Jones Jr. (saxophone)
• Orrin Evans (piano)
• Bobby Thomas Jr. (percussion)
• Dr. James Moody (saxophone)
• Jimmy Owens (trumpet)
• Gerri Allen (piano)
• Ray Drummond (bass)
• Ralph McDonald (percussion)
• Dr. David Baker (cello)
• Donald Byrd (trumpet)
• Donald Harrison Jr. (saxophone)