Jazz Aspen Snowmass Revives Sauté & Swing Fundraiser at New Center

What does it cost to get a Michelin-starred chef to cook for thirty people in a room that used to be a storage closet?

That’s the question hanging in the air as Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) prepares to reopen its doors for the ‘Sauté & Swing Fundraiser.’ The event is back at the Paul JAS Center, located at 422 E. Cooper Ave., on June 18. It’s a return to form for a beloved historic event that has been on pause since 2008. But this isn’t just a nostalgia trip. It’s a showcase for the new facility’s commercial kitchen and a ticket to a night where the food is intimate and the music is loud.

Tickets are on sale now. The evening runs from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., blending a six-course dinner with a concert by St. Paul & the Broken Bones. The first part of the night is exclusive. Only thirty guests get to sit down for an intimate meal prepared by Chef Alex Hong. Hong is no stranger to high-pressure kitchens. He worked at Jean-Georges, Quince, and Fasca Food and Wine before opening Sorrel, a Michelin-starred spot in San Francisco. He learned to cook through relatives who were Missouri farmers, a background that informs his farm-to-table approach. The wine pairing comes from Napa Valley’s Cathiard Vineyards, a family-owned estate since 1885 that focuses on cabernet sauvignon and merlot.

“‘Sauté & Swing’ was always one of JAS patrons favorite events, bringing in exceptional culinary talent with amazing wines and music,” said JAS Chief Operating Officer Andrea Beard. “We are delighted to be able to bring it back this year with the addition of a great concert to follow dinner with St. Paul & the Broken Bones.”

The shift in venue matters. The new Paul JAS Center offers a built-in home and commercial catering kitchen. That infrastructure allows JAS to reignite events like this one, which likely would have been harder to pull off in the old space. The dinner is just the appetizer for the main event. After the last course is cleared, the doors open to a larger audience for a benefit concert.

St. Paul & the Broken Bones is the headliner. Founder Jim Horowitz calls them the biggest artist to ever perform at JAS’ 2026 S&S. The band is known for electrifying live shows that blend “psych-funk grooves, gospel-tinged ballads and cinematic rock flourishes.” Their new self-titled sixth album marks a return to their soulful, song-focused roots.

Beard notes that the group has performed twice before on the big stage at the JAS Labor Day Experience. But bringing them into the more intimate setting of the new center changes the dynamic. “To be able to present such a high-energy, fun band in the much more intimate setting of the new Paul JAS Center will make for a memorable night for everyone attending,” she said.

It’s a calculated move by JAS. They’re leveraging their new asset to raise funds for mission-based programs. The event kicks off the 36th summer season. For locals who have watched the organization evolve from a small ensemble to a major cultural institution with a new center, it’s a tangible sign of stability. The food is expensive. The wine is exclusive. The band is loud. But the goal is simple: keep the lights on and the music playing.

Outside, the sun sets over Cooper Avenue. Inside, the kitchen fires are lit. Thirty people will eat in silence. Then, the ensemble will start.