2015 Monterey Jazz Festival Highlights

58th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival
September 18 – 20, 2015

Artist-In-Residence:
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
with Wynton Marsalis

Showcase Artist: Chick Corea

Commission Artist: Ambrose Akinmusire

2015 Highlights:

  • Return of Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, Trombone Shorty, Monty Alexander, Pete Escovedo, Dianne Reeves, Chris Botti, Snarky Puppy, Lizz Wright, Terence Blanchard, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and others
  • 2015 Artist-In-Residence the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra makes four appearances over the weekend in the Arena and Grounds. Wynton appears twice in the Arena
  • World Premiere of 2015 Commission, The Forgotten Places by Ambrose Akinmusire +5
  • 2015 Showcase Artist Chick Corea appears with his Trilogy Trio and in duo with Bela Fleck
  • Special musical programs include Jaco’s World: A Celebration of the Music of Jaco Pastorius, conducted by Vince Mendoza; the Erroll Garner Project: Concert by the Sea featuring Geri Allen and Jason Moran, Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour with Raul Midón, Ravi Coltrane, Nicholas Payton, Gerald Clayton, Joe Sanders, Justin Brown; 80th birthday celebration with the Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra with special guest Sheila E.; Jazz at Lincoln Center comes to Dizzy’s Den; Monty Alexander Trio all weekend in the evenings in the Coffee House
  • Festival debut appearances by Sheila E., Nikki Hill, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Theo Croker, Cyrille Aimée, Etienne Charles, Allan Harris, and many others
  • 20th anniversary of the DownBeat Blindfold test at Monterey with Pete Escovedo and Sheila E.
  • Educational panels and conversations include Remembering Clark Terry; A Love Supreme at 50; percussion discussion with Peter Erskine and Jeff Hamilton, Erroll Garner Jazz Project: Concert by the Sea
  • NEA Jazz Masters include Wynton Marsalis and Chick Corea
  • Film screenings of Jaco and Keep On Keepin’ On
  • Return of Sunday’s Family Day with fun and music for all ages, with an expanded lineup at the North Coast Brewing Company Jazz Education Pavilion
  • Jazz Legends Gala honors Chick Corea on September 17 on Cannery Row
  • Nearly 110 events on 8 stages in 30 hours on eight stages, September 18-20 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds
  • Arena Artists
  • Grounds Artists
  • Festival Performance Schedule