Monterey Jazz Festival

08/22/2026

To celebrate the late bassist Ray Drummond, a Monterey native and longtime Festival performer, patron and educator, we dedicate the closing show each night on the West End Stage to Ray by presenting the "Bulldog Bass Jam."

His fellow bassists and past collaborators and admirers and friends will be sitting in on Saturday and Sunday, while none other than the Maestro, Ron Carter's Foursight Quartet closes Friday.

Another reason to get your Grounds Tickets for the weekend!

Bulldog Bass Jam
Saturday, Sept. 26 + Sunday, Sept. 27, 9pm
West End Stage

https://montereyjazz.org/artist/bulldog-bass-jam/

Bulldog Bass Jam is a tribute to the late Ray Drummond, who passed away in November 2025. With familial roots on the Monterey Peninsula beginning in the early

08/21/2026

The Monterey Jazz Festival does not happen without the support and dedication of our amazing sponsors. And we'd like to say a very big THANK YOU to our friends at Alvarado Street Brewery, a MJF69 Official Beer Sponsor!

Thank you Alvarado Street Brewery, for your commitment and support of the Monterey Jazz Festival, and for helping make MJF69 a special one.

08/21/2026

The Lighthouse Jazz Quartet (Plus 1) might not be a name you recognize if you're not from the Monterey area. But, it's a name you're likely to love once you hear them play.

All the members of the Lighthouse Jazz Quartet Presented by Wild Fish (Paul Contos/Stu Reynolds on saxophone, Dennis Murphy/Zach Westfall on bass, Mike Shannon on drums and led by Bob Phillips) have performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival and their combined bios include creative collaborations with such titans of the music industry as Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Jordan, and Wyclef Jean.

So get your tickets, make your plans, and join us on Sunday Sept. 27 at 1:30 at the Courtyard Stage for something special you'll only find in Monterey.

08/20/2026

The artists you love are back. And we've got even more to discover.

⭐ Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter in their first-ever duo (Sun. Sept. 27)
⭐ Charles Lloyd returns for the 60th anniversary of Forest Flower (recorded at MJF in 1966)
⭐ Shemekia Copeland Brian Blade Linda May Han Oh.

And alongside them, a new generation making their Monterey debut.

🎶 .kortum.1 Isaiah J. Thompson. Aja-Monet. 🎶 And many more.

MJF69 packs 70+ performances into three days and nights.

Meet the artists, then catch them live at the 69th Monterey Jazz Festival, September 25–27.

08/19/2026

Yes, we throw a (great) jazz festival 🎺

We're also a nonprofit built around jazz education and community.

Case in point: Trading Fours, showcasing on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 12:00pm on the Courtyard Stage.

It's an ensemble class we offer for intermediate and advanced adult players from around the Monterey Peninsula, led by pianist Bill Spencer. They play community events all year—including MJF69 this September.

Come and enjoy what your ticket purchase keeps running the other 362 days of the year!

08/18/2026

The Monterey Jazz Festival doesn't happen without the support of partners like Montage Health. They see what's possible when you grow musical education, connect with your community, and create a space that brings people together to enjoy a shared passion.

Thank you Montage Health for your support of MJF69.

08/18/2026

The Monterey Jazz Festival countdown is on: 38 days as of this post!

What's new around town? Our festival ads on Monterey-Salinas Transit buses, a sign of the great things to come September 25-27! 🎶

Friends and neighbors, if you spot a Monterey Jazz bus ad, snap a photo and tag us!

Will we see you in September? Tickets are on sale now.

08/17/2026

Monterey Jazz is more than an annual festival. We’re a nonprofit dedicated to jazz education—nationally, regionally, and here in Monterey County.

Through programs like the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Women in Jazz Combo, HBCU partnerships, summer camps, all-star bands, and in-school music education, we help young artists develop their craft, find their voice, and dream bigger.

The Monterey Jazz Festival helps fund this work all year long.

On National Nonprofit Day, we’re grateful to everyone who buys a ticket, donates, volunteers, or shares our mission. Thank you for helping the next generation of musicians take the stage. 💛🎶

08/16/2026

What do you get when you pair up a jazz legend with tomorrow's stars? You get a special performance you'll only find at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

And that's The official Rufus Reid playing with our Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.

Rufus Reid is one of a handful of true renaissance figures in the Arts. A bassist and composer, he's been an active presence in the jazz world since the 1970s. And over the decades has recorded over 500 albums.

This is your opportunity to see a giant of jazz, live, with the next generation of jazz giants playing with him.

Saturday, September 26
7:15 pm - 8:30 pm
West End Stage

Tickets: https://heyor.ca/SYqFYv

08/15/2026

Who are you most excited to see live in Monterey this September?

MJF69 is right around the corner, and we can't wait to welcome you to a great festival weekend!

Get your tickets, make your plans, and we'll see you September 25-27!