MJF67, Sept. 27-29, 2024

INFORMATION

Mission

Our mission is to inspire the discovery and celebration of jazz, anchored by an iconic festival.

 

VISION

We envision a sustainable organization that sets the standard of excellence for jazz, connects a diverse community, and helps people appreciate and learn about jazz as fans and performers.

 

VALUES

A love for jazz | Innovation and Creativity | Diversity and Inclusiveness | Professionalism and Excellence | Honesty and Integrity | Collaboration | Respect and Dignity | Flexible and Open | Financially Responsible | Fun

 

DEI Statement

Jazz sits within American culture as a singular and distinctive art form. It has been created by, perpetuated by, and anchored in Black voices and culture. Having begun presenting jazz in 1958, Monterey Jazz Festival has led the world in supporting and advocating for this legendary art form. Entwined in this story are two realities. Jazz has historically shuttered participation by women. Monterey Jazz Festival audiences have largely consisted of white males, due to geography and the fact that Black and female audiences have not been cultivated and maintained. To be on the path of diversity, equity, and inclusion these realities must be addressed in the policies and practices of Monterey Jazz Festival. As leaders in the field, to make change, we will look to these truths. We affirm our commitment to continuing to question our role within this important community of artists, to create innovative and accessible education and music programs that expand who experiences, performs, and receives this beautiful music. The Monterey Jazz Festival takes its inspiration from the ethos of jazz and derives its strength from the diversity and inclusion inherent in the art form. We strive to reflect these values both on and off the bandstand, and in every aspect of the organization—the Board, professional staff and employees, volunteers, vendors, artists, students, donors, and attendees.

 

Since the beginning, the Monterey Jazz Festival has been committed to presenting, nurturing and celebrating all jazz artists. To this end, Monterey Jazz Festival has adopted the We Have Voice Collective code of conduct. This code is about ensuring safe spaces for all musicians, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, etc. to work and perform in – something we strive towards every day at Monterey Jazz Festival, and an initiative we are proud to support.

Image: B.B. King at MJF10 in 1967, from The Art of Jazz: Monterey Jazz Festival / 50 Years.

2024 BOARD MEMBERS

Ken Gordon, Chair | Tom LaFaille, President Elect | Mimi Hahn, Secretary | Don Barnett, Treasurer | Laura Zehm, Member-at-Large | Colleen Bailey, Director | Susie Brusa, Director | Kevin Cartwright, Director | Sherol Chen, PhD, Director | Clint Eastwood, Director | John Garcia, Director | Mike Knapek, Director | Sharon Wesley, MD, Director | Larry Williams, Director

BOARD MEMBERS EMERITUS

Carsbia Anderson Jr. | Jackson Booth | Jim Costello | Michael Fields | Terry O’Connor

Colleen Bailey, Executive Director

Colleen joined the Monterey Jazz Festival in 2015 and has worked closely with her talented team to improve the festival experience while simultaneously ensuring the integration of high-quality education and outreach programs that expand the legacy and popularity of jazz to a larger, more diverse audience. Devoted to removing barriers to participation in the arts, in 2021, Bailey led the organization through a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) process that resulted in a DEI roadmap and has built and nurtured a broad range of partnerships including with corporations such as Alaska Airlines, Google, as well as education partners such as CSU Monterey Bay, Texas Southern University, Berklee College of Music and more, that have greatly expanded access to the Monterey Jazz Festival’s programs.  She blends her passion for social impact with sound business expertise to help meet the mission of the organization.  Under her leadership, the organization has strengthened its governance model, amended its policies and procedures, and improved its financial sustainability, which accounted for its successful comeback from the pandemic.  

A native of Monterey County, Bailey has a long history of leadership in the nonprofit and education sectors. Prior to joining Monterey Jazz, she served as the Executive Director of the National Steinbeck Center (NSC), the largest literary museum in the country. 

Bailey’s first career was as an award-winning arts educator and administrator in schools in the west.  Committed to the local community, Bailey has served on many boards and in leadership roles.  She is currently a Trustee of the York School and is a member of the Advisor’s Circle for the Community Foundation of Monterey County.  Most notably she helped found the Youth Orchestra of Salinas (YoSal), an El Sistema-modeled music program in Salinas that serves approximately 300 students every day after school, all year long.  Bailey holds an undergraduate degree from USC, a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a Certificate from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business’ Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at the Center for Social Innovation.
 

OUR HISTORY

PARTNERS

Enjoy Multiple Benefits from a Variety of MJF Partnership Opportunities!
For more information about becoming a partner of the 67th annual Monterey Jazz Festival, contact Executive Director, Colleen Bailey at
[email protected] or 831.373.3368

There are many ways to partner with the Monterey Jazz Festival, from sponsoring a stage at the Festival to supporting the year-round jazz education programs.

What Our Partners Say
Google
Monterey Jazz Festival is an unforgettable meeting place, where we can not only uplift communities of color, but also learn from their experiences through culture and music. From Google leadership to HBCU students, we broke bread through an authentic appreciation for what we can learn from one another.
- Maria Medrano,
Global Diversity, Narrative & Public Policy
Gretsch Drums
Gretsch Drums and Latin Percussion wholeheartedly support and share the Monterey Jazz Festival’s mission of spreading joy, inspiration and community through music. We’re proud to partner with such a prestigious and respected organization that has been committed to showcasing jazz tradition and innovation for over 65 years. It is an absolute privilege to work with everyone at the Festival.
- Juels Thomas,
DW/Gretsch/LP
Alaska Airlines
At Alaska Airlines, investing in communities is part of our DNA. Through our partnership with the Monterey Jazz Festival, we are able to create memories that will last a lifetime by combining the love of Jazz, with the joy of travel while making dreams come true for emerging artists long after the curtain closes.
- David Tucker,
MD California Public Affairs
Jazz Cruises
Jazz Cruises—producers of Botti at Sea, The Jazz Cruise and The Smooth Jazz Cruise—has been a sponsor and partner with the Monterey Jazz Festival for many years. We consider the event to be one of the most important jazz festivals in the world with numerous opportunities before, during and after the festival to engage with its affluent jazz-loving audience. The festival's sophisticated programming and jazz loving audience comprise an excellent match with that of Botti at Sea, as well as The Jazz Cruise. We look forward to working together with MJF in the coming years.
- Lee Mergner,
Jazz Consultant

big thanks to our FESTIVAL partners

The David & Lucile Packard Foundation / National Endowment for the Arts / Monterey Symphony / Kaiser Permanente / Alaska Airlines / The Finn Group / Taylor Farms / Montage Health / MedCom Solutions / Inns of Monterey / CSUMB / Texas Southern University / AT&T / Castoro Cellars / Arts Council for Monterey County / Marriott Monterey / Bank of America / Canterbury Woods / Jazz Cruises, LLC / Other Brother Beer / Alvarado Street Brewery / Folktale Winery & Vineyards / Local Motion Vodka Sodas / Naturipe Berry Growers / J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines / Steinway & Sons / Gretsch / DW Pedals and Hardware / LP / Remo / Integris Wealth Management / U.S. Pure Water / Destination x Design California / Alvarez Technology Group / SiriusXM / DownBeat / Monterey-Salinas Transit / SmoothJazz.com Global / KSBW / KAZU 90.3 / Monterey Herald / KTSU Radio / KSQD 90.7