Monterey Jazz Festival

The Monterey Jazz Festival is an annual music festival in Monterey, California that was founded on October 3, 1958 by jazz disc jockey Jimmy Lyons.[1]

Monterey Jazz Festival
50th Golden Celebration Poster (2007)
GenreJazz, blues, rock
Dates24–26 September 2021
Location(s)Monterey, California, USA
Coordinates
Years active1958–2019, 2021–
Websitemontereyjazzfestival.org

History

The festival is held annually on the 20-acre (8 ha), oak-studded Monterey County Fairgrounds, located at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey, on the third full weekend in September, beginning on Friday. Five hundred top jazz artists perform on nine stages spread throughout the grounds, with 50 concert performances. In addition, the Monterey Jazz Festival features jazz conversations, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, clinics, and an international array of food, shopping, and festivities spread throughout the fairgrounds.

From 1992–2010, Tim Jackson was general manager and artistic director, and in 2010, Chris Doss became the managing director, and Jackson became the artistic director. In 2014, Colleen Bailey became the managing director. Since 1992, Clint Eastwood has been on MJF's board of directors. Kent and Keith Zimmerman describe the festival as having expanded in recent years: "While jazz radio and major labels cut back on musical choice and commitment, the Monterey Jazz Festival has widened its scope by expanding the parameters of jazz, blues, and rock. . . . Happily, MJF is now as diverse and vibrant as Lyons imagined it ever could be."[2]

In 2006, the festival set an attendance record of 40,000, selling out all five major concerts on the main stage arena,[3] and in 2007, 40,000 attended the 50th Golden Celebration.[4]

Since there'll be no festival in 2020, the 63rd is deferred to 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic caused officials to cancel it.

The Monterey Jazz Festival is a nonprofit organization. It has donated its proceeds to musical education since its inception in 1958. The festival's scholarship program started with a $35,000 scholarship fund in 1970. As of 2012, the festival invests $600,000 annually for jazz education. Every spring, the Monterey Jazz Festival invites student musicians from across the country and around the world to participate in the "Next Generation Festival".[5]

Dave Brubeck was instrumental in getting city approval for the first festival in 1958. The founder and general manager of MJF for 35 years, Jimmy Lyons, brought Brubeck to Monterey to perform for the city council to persuade them to allow the festival to occur. He performed at the Festival 14 times which included his appearance at the 2007 / 50th golden anniversary.[6]

The Monterey Pop Festival was held at the fairgrounds in 1967 for three days in mid-June, part of the Summer of Love.

Performers

1950s–1960s

1958

1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970s–1980s

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990–1999

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000–2009

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Building on the exciting and unprecedented legacy of fifty years of historic jazz presentation, the Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Band will tour on 54-date, 10-week tour of the United States from January 8, 2008 to March 16, 2008. The band features jazz singer Nnenna Freelon, with trumpeter Terence Blanchard, pianist Benny Green, saxophonist James Moody, bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Kendrick Scott.[12]

2008

2009

Since 2010

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2020 None.

Notes
  1. Berg, Chuck (1 August 2007). "Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Book Released". JazzTimes. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  2. Zimmerman, Keith and Kent. The Art of Jazz: Monterey Jazz Festival/50 Years (July 2007), page 119
  3. Big names, experience set Monterey apart
  4. Forty thousand party at Monterey Jazz Festival's 50th birthday
  5. "Next Generation Jazz Festival Hosts America's Top Young Jazz Musicians, March 30 – April 1, 2012 in Downtown Monterey | 56th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival - September 20 - 22, 2013". Montereyjazzfestival.org. 2012-04-01. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  6. Dave Brubeck Honored at Monterey Jazz Festival's First MJF Legends Award Presentation
  7. Michael Spörke. "Big Mama Thornton: The Life and Music". Mcfarlandbooks.com. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
  8. "Matrix Itinerary [Tour-date list]". Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  9. Nathan, Dave. "Proud Flesh: A Matrix Reunion - Matrix : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  10. Torreano, Bradley. "Matrix - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  11. "Matrix: Wisconsin Jazz Legends, Event Information - Thrasher Opera House Green Lake Wisconsin". Thrasher Opera House. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  12. Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Band Tour Archived 2007-12-14 at the Wayback Machine
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References
  • Minor, William. Monterey Jazz Festival: Forty Legendary Years (October 1997), Angel City Press - ISBN 1-883318-40-8
  • Zimmerman, Keith and Kent. The Art of Jazz: Monterey Jazz Festival/50 Years (July 2007), Angel City Press - ISBN 0-9794037-0-7
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