Photo by Roberto Cifarelli

Monterey Jazz Festival has announced the lineup that will assist in celebrating its 65th anniversary–a notable milestone for the planet’s longest continuously-running jazz festival. The festival will pay homage to jazz greats and welcome new and diverse sounds to Monterey County Fairgrounds, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Big Sur mountains, in Monterey, Calif. on Sept. 23-25.

Music icons headling the festival include Gregory Porte, The Cookers featuring sounds from veteran musicians including Eddie Henderson, David Weiss and Billy Harper, and two-time Grammy Award-nominated drummer, composer and producer Nate Smith. The festival will also see the Moodswing Reunion with four of the original members: pianist Brad Mehldau, saxophonist Joshua Redman, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade. Nicholas Payton is also set to also honor the legacy of Black American Music with unrestrained raw style.

Other notable highlights include the debut of the new Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour ensemble starring vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater and Kurt Elling, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, pianist Christian Sands, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn.

Earlier this year the festival shared a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement which reads: “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 lineup reflects those efforts with appearances from the MJF Women in Jazz Combo led by Katie Thiroux, the Berklee Jazz and Gender Justice Group, and more.

Additionally, the festival will have a completely revamped food and drink program, curated by California chefs, brewers and vintners who are pushing the boundaries of the state’s world-renowned culinary scene.

Find tickets and further information here.

65th Monterey Jazz Festival Lineup
(In alphabetical order)

Friday, Sept. 23

ARENA:
Chucho Valdés – La Creación (w/ the Yoruband Orchestra directed by Hilarío Durán & John Beasley)
Incognito w/special guest Maysa

GROUNDS:
Akira Tana & Otonowa
The Bad Plus
Berklee Jazz and Gender Justice Group
Emmaline
John Hanrahan Quartet
Julian Lage Quartet
Nicholas Payton
Mo’Fone
Reunion Trio (w/ Bruce Forman, John Clayton & Jeff Hamilton)
Samara Joy

Saturday, Sept. 24

ARENA:
Artemis (w/ Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Alexa Tarantino, Nicole Glover, Noriko Ueda, Allison Miller)
Butcher Brown
Las Cafeteras
Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour – Celebrating 65 (w/ Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling, Lakecia Benjamin, Christian Sands, Yasushi Nakamura, Clarence Penn)
Moodswing Reunion (Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Brian Blade)
Veronica Swift

GROUNDS:
Artemis (w/ Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Alexa Tarantino, Nicole Glover, Noriko Ueda, Allison Miller)
Butcher Brown
The Cookers (w/ Eddie Henderson, David Weiss, Donald Harrison, Billy Harper, George Cables, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart)
Dan Wilson
Dave Stryker Eight Track Band
Emmet Cohen Trio
Fleurine
Joel Ross “Good Vibes”
Matthew Whitaker
MJF Women in Jazz Combo (led by Katie Thiroux)
Moy Eng – The Blue Hour Project
Sal’s Greenhouse
Terrie Odabi

Sunday, Sept. 25

ARENA:
Gregory Porter
Melody Gardot
Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Directed by Gerald Clayton (ft. Artist-in-Residence Christian Sands)
Ravi Coltrane Cosmic Music (ft. Special Guest Brandee Younger Trio)

• Contemporary Exploration into the Music of John and Alice Coltrane

SuperBlue – Kurt Elling ft. Charlie Hunter

GROUNDS:
Brandee Younger Trio
Brubeck Brothers Quartet
Gerald Clayton Trio
Keyon Harrold
Kim Nalley
Kyle Eastwood Group
Emil Afrasiyab Trio
Emma-Jean Thackray
Flor de Toloache
Michael Zilber Quartet
Molly Miller Trio
Nate Smith + KINFOLK
Sunday Morning Gospel (w/ Brown, Sturgis & Brown)