You can listen to the announcement (in slightly expanded form) using the player above, or read the text below:

I’ve decided to end The Jazz Session.

After five years, more than 400 episodes, and more than two million downloads, I just can’t make the show work financially. To keep it alive (and by extension, to keep myself going), I’d need to run a massive fundraising campaign immediately, and probably annually. I don’t know if that’s possible for The Jazz Session. I think it might be possible for a show with a broader format, which I’m considering.

I can’t thank each of you enough for your support of The Jazz Session. You’ve come through every time I’ve needed you, from the 100 x 300 Campaign to the Jazz Or Bust Tour. Moreover, your emails have kept me energized and have let me know that real people out there in the real world value this show. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I’m extremely proud of The Jazz Session and the archive it represents. I hope that when scholars of this music look back at the 2007-12 period, the 400+ episodes of my show — the show you helped me build — will prove to be a valuable resource. I hope at some point to associate this archive with a university so the episodes will be properly indexed.

The Jazz Session will run until show #417 on October 29, 2012. I’d like to ask you a favor — would you all please wait to cancel your memberships until that date? That would be a great help to me financially. I’ll send a note when the show ends reminding you to cancel. Unfortunately, this is something you have to do yourself. I can’t cancel them for you.

I’m going to spend some time in Auburn, Alabama, figuring out my next steps. One next step may involve living at a Zen center for a while. I could use it. These last few months have been a real challenge. I’d also like to work on a book recounting the tour and the circumstances leading up to it. I just don’t have an ending yet.

Once again, thank you so much for supporting me and the work I’ve done on The Jazz Session. You made it all worthwhile.

Much love,

Jason