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The Jazz Society of Oregon was established in 1973 to advance public acceptance of jazz music as a viable force in contemporary culture. The society’s founders attempted to incorporate their group as the Oregon Jazz Society, but that name was unavailable, so they chose Portland Jazz Society. In 1976, the board officially changed the name to the Jazz Society of Oregon to extend the organization's reach beyond the Portland metropolitan area. The group has promoted jazz through its sponsorship of scholarships, concerts, picnics, and other activities. Membership has expanded to include thousands of individuals from Oregon and other states. A Board of Trustees oversees the nonprofit organization. The group functions largely through the work of volunteers.

In 1973, the Jazz Society began to produce a monthly publication known as the Jazz Society of Oregon Newsletter, and the name was changed to Jazzscene in 1976. Jazzscene contains listings of local performance dates and venues, album and concert reviews, musician interviews, and commentaries about developments in the field of jazz. The society has extended its promotion of jazz music and related activities through radio and local newspapers, and by maintaining a presence at public events.

The Jazz Society's first sponsored event was a benefit performance by local musicians in May 1973. During the mid- to- late 1970s, the society co-sponsored the Jazz in the Bank concert series at the Oregon Bank in Lake Oswego. The Jazz Society also participated in or contributed to community cultural events, including Artquake, Cathedral Park, Neighborfair, and Jazz at the Zoo. The group occasionally used grants to fund its sponsorship of jazz-related events, including a concert by Thara Memory’s Creative Jazz Orchestra at the Civic Auditorium in January 1981.

The Jazz Society sponsored its first annual jazz picnic in August 1975. The first Sunday after New Year’s Party was also held in 1975, and this event later evolved into First Jazz. In 1978, the organization sponsored its first Otter Crest Jazz Weekend at the Inn at Otter Crest on the Oregon Coast. Several big-name jazz musicians performed during this three-day event, and although the festival was not a financial success, it raised the profile of the Jazz Society of Oregon. Subsequent festivals were more profitable, and the Otter Crest Jazz Weekend became the society's best-known event.

Since 1976, the society has sponsored the Andre Garand Memorial Scholarship for musicians who plan to study jazz music. The group also sponsors workshops on jazz performance and appreciation. Other educational programs include lectures, listening, films, and video presentations that are open to the public, frequently free of charge.