Monterey Jazz Festival

06/14/2026

Our congratulations to Anton MacLachlan of Pacific Grove High School — Arts Council for Monterey County has named him as the the 2026/2027 Monterey County Youth Poet Laureate! In addition to his 1-year term as Youth Poet Laureate, Anton is also a member of the 2026 Regional All-Star Vocal Ensemble and will be performing Saturday, Sept. 26 at 5pm on the Garden Stage at .

The Monterey County Youth Poet Laureate program, organized by the Arts Council for Monterey County in collaboration with Urban Word, testifies to the power of youth voices in shaping community and fostering artistic excellence.

Read more from Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce: https://business.salinaschamber.com/member-press-releases/Details/arts4mc-announces-the-2026-2027-monterey-county-youth-poet-laureate-337778

06/13/2026

We're pleased to introduce you to the 2026 Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo (NGWIJC). 👏

Directed by award-winning bassist Katie Thiroux, this special ensemble was created in 2019 to feature top high school women jazz players from throughout the United States.

The group has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Next Generation Jazz Festival, the Jazz Education Network Conference, and at Berklee College of Music.

Monterey Jazz has been committed to nurturing the next generation of jazz since the beginning. And we are so pleased to share it with you. 🎶

This, along with the NGJO ensemble, is a cornerstone program in our music education work. Learn all about it here: https://montereyjazz.org/education/

06/12/2026

Flashback Friday: Remembering jazz giant on what would have been his 85th birthday.

He appeared at MJF58 in 2015 with his "Trilogy" trio ( and ) and opened the set with a version of Kurt Weill's "This is New," which Corea explained was the first American Songbook standard he recorded in 1965.

As the San Jose Mercury News wrote, "Talk about a trio for the ages -- all three of these towering talents lived up to their legends as Trilogy polished up such gems as Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" and "Alice in Wonderland," the title track to the Disney movie that many jazz fans known from Bill Evans' version. It's no wonder that the "Trilogy" album won two Grammys earlier this this year."

Happy birthday, Chick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u94paibpVvk

Chick Corea Trio: "This is New" performed at the 58th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, September 18, 2015.

CHICK COREA, piano
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE, bass
BRIAN BLADE, drums

Remembering jazz giant Chick Corea on what would have been his 84th...

06/11/2026

Mark your calendar and get your tickets: Grammy award-winning bassist-composer Linda May Han Oh is back at Monterey Jazz Festival this September.

The Trio will be joined by Fabian Almazan and Mark Whitfield Jr. for what promises to be a great set at the Pacific Jazz Cafe on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:00pm.

Will we see you there? We hope so!

Enjoy our Linda May Han Oh playlist and get your tickets here: https://heyor.ca/TYZg6h

06/09/2026

It's delicate. Intentional. Even the shadows are captivating. And it's a sound that will be savored by fans and new festival goers this fall, when Paul Cornish takes the stage at the Pacific Jazz Cafe on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 3:30pm.

Do not miss this show. Join us for a whole day or whole weekend of incredible jazz, only in Monterey.

Discover Paul Cornish and his impact on modern jazz: https://heyor.ca/4mXfzc

06/08/2026

Each year, Monterey Jazz brings together some of the most accomplished high school jazz musicians from across the country. Together they form the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (NGJO) directed by GRAMMY-nominated pianist and composer, Gerald Clayton.

We are thrilled to announce the official members of 2026 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra!

This is a cornerstone program in our music education work, learn all about it here: https://montereyjazz.org/education/

06/07/2026

Friday, Sept. 25. Where will you be? We hope it's with us, enjoying a special performance at MJF69: The Eddie Palmieri Experience.

Experience is the best description.

This will be an all-star concert honoring the lifelong devotion of pianist Eddie Palmieri to Afro-Caribbean music and jazz.

Fittingly known as "The Sun of Latin Music," he was a musical visionary whose journey through the Afro-diaspora reshaped the sound of Latin jazz and salsa.

Longtime saxophonist with Mr. Palmieri, , will music direct an star-studded lineup of Palmieri alumni including , Conrad Herwig, .curtis.5 , Vicente “Little Johnny” Rivero, with special guests , , , and .aldana.3958.

Get your tickets, mark your calendar, and enjoy our playlist until then: https://heyor.ca/mmclbD

The details:
The Eddie Palmieri Experience
Friday, Sept. 25
8:45pm on the Jimmy Lyons Stage (Arena)

06/06/2026

The Monterey Jazz Festival is an ⭐ experience ⭐ A weekend of jazz, joy, and just great vibes.

The festival grounds has space to walk about, take in the shows, and dance. It's full of artists, delicious food, and beautiful trees you can relax under.

This is what happens when a community gathers to share a love of music. It's what happens when you support a charity delivering jazz education.

It's MJF69, and you're invited!

Tickets: https://heyor.ca/Ylgz5Z

06/05/2026

Flashback Friday 🎺

Ravi Coltrane performs "Acknowledgement" from "A Love Supreme" and "The Creator Has a Master Plan" at MJF65. Simply stunning.

Ravi is back this September at MJF69 with the Ravi Coltrane Quartet: Centennial Celebration, performing on the Jimmy Lyons Stage, Saturday Sept. 26 at 3:45pm.

Music is only half the story. You're the other half. So join us for a wonderful weekend in Monterey this September.

Tickets: https://heyor.ca/tPkJ1W

06/04/2026

Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet returns to MJF69 this September. 🎺

He's been a Next Generation Jazz Orchestra member, an Artist-in-Residence, a two-time Commission Artist, and he's toured with our MJF55 All-Stars.

He's done it all, and he's back to dazzle fans and first-time listeners on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 5:30pm on the West End Stage.

Tickets and more on Ambrose: https://heyor.ca/ox2VU5

As a taste for what's in store, here he is way back in 2012, in a trumpet battle with Adam O'Farrill and the NGJO.