It's that time again! The time when almost anyone who's anyone in the jazz world, along with the most zealous old vinyl collectors to even the casual fans head down to the Monterey County Fairgrounds to attend what is perhaps the greatest celebration of all spectrums of the jazz genre on Earth.
The Monterey Jazz Festival will kick off less than a week from now on the 19th, and it certainly has not lost any of its luster. It now boasts 10 stages besides the main Arena stage, and well over 50 performances during its three-day run. Among those who will be playing at the festival will once again be Herbie Hancock and the Wayne Shorter Quartet, although Brubeck is conspicuously absent.
The festival seems to be trying harder than ever to show some influence from outside the jazz pantheon, however, with Saturday afternoon's Arena stage bill including Derek Trucks and Ledisi.
In addition, as in recent previous editions, there is a pretty strong funk-fusion contingent in the lineup, including Quantic, 4onefunk, Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, and Rudder in its roster.
As always, the festival is maintaining a huge emphasis on jazz in the schools and musical education in general. With the capstone of the commitment of the festival being Maceo Parker's performance with the high-school all-star band the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the festival has also brought in Christian McBride to tutor the country's best young musicians at the spin-off Next Generation Festival, a summer camp funded by Monterey, and in the run-up to the festival. This comes on top of the showcasing of multiple style-specific bands from the Berkelee College of Music in Boston being invited to perform at the festival, and traveling educators teaching kids intermediate and advanced theory in jazz and Latin music.
Finally, those who want to get a small but significant peak inside the minds of legends and new stars, there will be conversations with performers including the NEA-honored Nancy Wilson and John Levy as well as Jamie Cullum, hosted by Clairdee and Clint Eastwood, respectively.
And while patrons are waiting for their favorite artist to get on stage, either to share insight on their craft with a moderator or practice it, they can look through a historical exhibit of the 50-year festival at the Fairgrounds' Coffee House, as well as other photography shows; or they could browse the metric ton of vending booths that will be present as well.
Alas, by now, tickets to the Arena performances are sold out (as are pre-paid parking tickets), but fans can still buy tickets to all of the Grounds performances-- those performances which will take place in one of the 10 stages outside the Arena-- for $35 for Friday only, $45 for either Saturday or Sunday, or $110 for all three days. Tickets can purchased at via Monterey's official website at trilogyticketing.com/jazz, or by phone by calling (925) 275-9255.
More information about the 51st edition of Monterey Jazz can be found by either going to montereyjazzfestival.org, by calling (831) 373-3366, or by emailing jazzinfo@montereyjazzfestival.org.
