Led by trumpeter James Rasmussen, The Jazz Police is a contemporary big band playing original compositions and arrangements, many of which are salsa, funk, or rock based. The overall style is unique among big bands, including the prominence of guitar, vibraphone, and percussion in many of the arrangements. Based in Seattle, the band is made up of professional musicians with widely varying backgrounds. Many members are also music educators.

They has received numerous awards including Best Acoustic Jazz Group and Best Jazz Concert from Earshot Jazz Magazine, and Best Jazz Recording from the Northwest Area Music Association. The four Jazz Police compact discs have been hailed by local and national reviews seen in JazzTimes magazine and JazzIz magazine as well as local publications and online reviewers. The consensus opinion lauds the originality of their music, the tight and powerful ensemble playing and the high quality of the many soloists in the group.