2011 Monterey Jazz Festival Highlights Include:
- Return of jazz legends Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, and Poncho Sanchez
- World Premiere of the 2011 Commission, Geri Allen and Timeline’s “The Dazzler,” a Jazz Tap Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr.
- 2011 Showcase Artist Robert Glasper appears with three different groups on each day of the Festival
- 2011 Artist-In-Residence Joshua Redman appears in the Arena and on the Grounds with James Farm
- John Pizzarelli, India.Arie and Idan Raichel; Huey Lewis & The News; Soul Rebels, Kermit Ruffins & Glen David Andrews; Geri Allen, Tia Fuller, Wil Blades, and Steve Coleman and Five Elements make Festival debuts
- Saturday’s Afternoon in the Arena features the Music of New Orleans with Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk; Soul Rebels Brass Band, trumpeter Kermit Ruffins and trombonist Glen David Andrews; and the music of Stax Records — Soulsville, with Huey Lewis & The News
- Internationally-flavored artists include India.Arie & Idan Raichel; Carmen Souza; John Santos, Poncho Sanchez, Juan-Carlos Formell, Elio Villafranca & the Jass Syncopaters
- Tributes include Poncho Sanchez & his Latin Jazz Band featuring Terence Blanchard: “A Tribute to Chano Pozo & Dizzy Gillespie”; Geri Allen & Timeline: “A Jazz Tap Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr.”; Miles Davis/Gil Evans: Still Ahead Orchestra featuring Vince Mendoza, Terence Blanchard, Peter Erskine & Miles Evans: playing Music from Miles Ahead, Porgy & Bess and Sketches of Spain; Benny Green Trio with special guest Donald Harrison: “Monk’s Dream: Fifty Years Fresh”; John Donaldson Quintet: “The Music of Bheki Mseleku”; Pamela Rose, “Wild Women of Song”
- Coffee House Gallery Exhibit: The Art of Impulse! Impulse Records: A 50-Year Retrospective
- 2011 NEA Jazz Masters include Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Orrin Keepnews, Sonny Rollins
- 2011 Festival artists have earned a total of 43 Grammys
- Return of Sunday’s Family Day with fun for all ages
- Film screenings of More To Live For featuring Michael Brecker and Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way
54th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival ● September 16 – 18, 2011
Artist-In-Residence: Joshua Redman
Showcase Artist: Robert Glasper
Commission Artist: Geri Allen
ARENA ARTISTS ● Friday, September 16
Cubano Be! Cubano Bop! A Tribute to Chano Pozo & Dizzy Gillespie: Poncho Sanchez & his Latin Jazz Band featuring Terence Blanchard; First Family of Cool: John Pizzarelli Quartet with special guests Jessica Molaskey & Bucky Pizzarelli; Hiromi: The Trio Project featuring Anthony Jackson & Simon Phillips
ARENA ARTISTS ● Saturday, September 17
Soulsville: Huey Lewis & The News; An Afternoon in Treme: The Musical Majesty of New Orleans with Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Soul Rebels, Kermit Ruffins & Glen David Andrews with special guest MC, Wendell Pierce, from HBO’s Treme; Herbie Hancock; James Farm featuring Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks, Matt Penman & Eric Harland; Geri Allen & Timeline: “The Dazzler,” A Jazz Tap Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. (2011 Monterey Jazz Festival Commission)
ARENA ARTISTS ● Sunday, September 18
Open Door: India.Arie & Idan Raichel; Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with Joshua Redman plus special guests Benny Green & Donny McCaslin; Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Big Band; Sonny Rollins; Miles Davis/Gil Evans: Still Ahead Orchestra directed by Vince Mendoza featuring Terence Blanchard, Peter Erskine & Miles Evans, playing music from Miles Ahead, Porgy & Bess and Sketches of Spain
GROUNDS ARTISTS ● Friday, September 16
Richard Bona & Raul Midón; Hiromi: The Trio Project featuring Anthony Jackson & Simon Phillips; Robert Glasper Trio; Juan-Carlos Formell: Johnny’s Dream Club; Helen Sung Trio; Carmen Souza; John Santos Sextet with special guest Rico Pabón: Filosofia Caribeña; Erik Telford Collective; Berklee Flamenco
GROUNDS ARTISTS ● Saturday, September 17
James Farm featuring Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks, Matt Penman & Eric Harland; Richard Bona & Raul Midón; Robert Glasper Experiment with Lionel Loueke; John Pizzarelli Quartet with special guests Jessica Molaskey & Bucky Pizzarelli; Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk with special guest Greg Errico; Soul Rebels; Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88’s; Donny McCaslin Group; Pamela Rose: Wild Women of Song; Scott Colley Trio with Chris Potter & Antonio Sanchez; California State University, Long Beach “Pacific Standard Time”; US Air Force Jazz Commanders; Chika Singer; Berklee Flamenco; Bill Carrothers Trio; Sarah Wilson Quintet; Elio Villafranca & the Jass Syncopaters; John Brothers Piano Company; DownBeat’s Annual Blindfold Test featuring Donny McCaslin
GROUNDS ARTISTS ● Sunday, September 18
Robert Glasper Experiment with Stokley Williams; Benny Green Trio with special guest Donald Harrison: Monk’s Dream: Fifty Years Fresh; Joey DeFrancesco Trio with special guest Bobby Hutcherson; Wil Blades Trio; Steve Coleman & Five Elements; Tia Fuller; Eldar; John Donaldson Quintet: The Music of Bheki Mseleku; Cow Bop; Zun Zun; Mamadou & Vanessa; Marin School for the Arts; Rio Americano High School AM; Hamilton Academy of Music Combo; Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Vocal Ensemble; Folsom High School Jazz Choir I; Chase Morrin Group; Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band; USC Thornton School of Music Jazz Orchestra; Conversation with NEA Jazz Master Orrin Keepnews; Presentation with Ashley Kahn on The Art of Impulse! Impulse Records: A 50-Year Retrospective
ALL WEEKEND
Jazz on Film: More To Live For featuring Michael Brecker; Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way; Judy Roberts on the Yamaha AvantGrand with Greg Fishman on saxophone; Arena Simulcasts in the Jazz Theater; Coffee House Gallery Exhibit: The Art of Impulse! Impulse Records: A 50-Year Retrospective. Partial list, with more artists to be announced. Artists subject to change.