The "Salty Paw Jazz Orchestra" or "Pata Salada Orquesta de Jazz" is a Big Band style orchestra consisting mostly of young musicians learning improvisation.

Mission Statement: Teaching individuals to be themselves through musical improvisation; to be proud of who they are and what they can create in the moment, while having fun, in a safe and positive environment.

Philosophy: Jazz education should be available to all in the world, for a contemporary music education must relate the traditional to the new. To be an educated musician today requires both a breadth of knowledge and specialized skills including aninformed creativity and capacity for musical growth. Today an education must be a catalyst for continued learning and the ability to relate self to society and to a profession filled with change and new challenges.

Biography: When several talented young musicians heard the Puerto Vallarta Big Band play on the Malecon, they were inspired to form a jazz workshop. Led by Director Victor Kris, it quickly evolved into a full jazz ensemble - and went beyond, for it expanded over and above the usual jazz instrumentation, and includes violins, flutes and clarinets, adding creative new musical dimensions to the ensemble. Shortly afterwards, the founding members voted to name the jazz orchestra "Salty Paw" or "Pata Salada," which means a person from Puerto Vallarta.

The first rehearsal was held on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at Biblioteca los Mangos.The program offers an academic base of Jazz history, music theory, and ensemble. The program focuses on teaching individuals to be themselves, to be proud of who they are and what they can create in the moment, while having fun.

The course is available to anyone in the city who would like to hear and learn about jazz. If you can play an instrument, you can play with us. If you're interested, contact Victor Kris.

The first semester has taken place mostly at Biblioteca Los Mangos and currently resides at the American School of Puerto Vallarta, rehearsing from 2:00 to 4:00 pm every Saturday.

The Salty Paw Jazz Orchestra is active 12 months a year. The band has already given successful concert fundraisers and will continue to perform throughout Puerto Vallarta and aspires to other venues throughout the country.

The Salty Paw Jazz Orchestra will be performing the first Sunday of every month, 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Jazz Foundation of Puerto Vallarta, Allende 116, just a few feet off the Malecon and across the street from La Bodeguita del Medio.

The Salty Paw Jazz Orchestra is a privately funded program that relies solely on fundraisers and donations from the community for financial support. The Salty Paw Jazz Orchestra is honored to be the first youth-based jazz orchestra in the history of Puerto Vallarta and will continue to be a proud part of this great community.

If you wish to make a DONATION, contact Founder and Director, Victor Kris, cell (044) 322-138-2613, or by email at saltypawjazz@gmail.com, or visit Salty Paw Jazz on Facebook.