To usher in their 63rd year, The Monterey Jazz Festival is going virtual, live on their YouTube channel. Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27 from 5-7pm PST each day. Festival participants will be treated to never-before-seen archival footage plus exciting new performances and personal messages from the MJF family of artists, volunteers, patrons and board members.
All proceeds from the event will support the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the jazz artists featured at the Virtual Festival.
“We recognize that jazz comes from the heart of Black culture, and during these volatile times where America is facing its legacy of racial injustice, we asked ourselves what the Monterey Jazz Festival could do to support the Black community,” says Colleen Bailey, Executive Director. Our historical legacy has always been to serve as a platform for artists to share social justice messages, and now we can be a platform for artists as well as the organizations that are on the front line of this important work.”
Staying true to its roots, the Virtual Festival will be a celebration of jazz legends and an introduction to up-and-coming stars.
“I’m excited to share with you our first virtual festival!” says Tim Jackson, Artistic Director. “I’ve worked hard to assemble exciting archival performances by some of your favorite Monterey artists as well as new and exclusive performances and interviews. While I’ll miss seeing you in person this year, I look forward to connecting with all of you during our virtual weekend together.”
63rd Monterey Jazz Festival Lineup
Die-hard MJF fans and newcomers alike will not be disappointed in the amazing line up including:
Friday, September 25, 2020
- Herbie Hancock
- Dianne Reeves
- Roy Hargrove & RH Factor
- Terri Lyne Carrington – Mosaic Project
- Christian McBride & Inside Straight
- Jamie Cullum
- 2020 Monterey Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence, Christian Sands
- 2020 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Directed by Gerald Clayton
Saturday, September 26, 2020
- Diana Krall
- Tribute to Dave Brubeck - Cannery Row Suite featuring Kurt Elling & Roberta Gambarini
- Kenny Barron Trio
- Regina Carter
- Our Native Daughters-Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla, Allison Russell
- Clint Eastwood in Conversation, hosted by Tim Jackson
- Berklee Institute of Jazz & Gender Justice Quintet -Founder & Director-Terri Lyne Carrington
- 2020 Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo Directed by Katie Thiroux
- 2020 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Directed by Gerald Clayton
Sunday, September 27, 2020
- Tribute to Quincy Jones, “The A&M Years”, featuring Hubert Laws and Valerie Simpson
- Sonny Rollins Tribute featuring Jimmy Heath, Joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis and Joshua Redman
- Anat Cohen Tentet
- 2012 MJF on Tour with Musical Director Christian McBride and Dee Dee Bridgewater on vocals
- 2018 MJF On Tour with Musical Director Christian Sands and Cecile McLorin Salvant on vocals
- Gerald Clayton Quartet
- Angela Davis in conversation with Terri Lyne Carrington
- Lila Downs
- 2020 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Directed by Gerald Clayton
There are some creative ways to enjoy these exclusive Monterey Jazz Festival musical gems being planned. To kick things off the week before, SiriusXM Real Jazz will broadcast a daily one hour show featuring content straight from the Monterey Jazz Festival archives, including special performances from Roy Hargrove, recordings from MJF Records, and the 2019 Monterey Jazz Festival. These special features will air at 8PM EST on SiriusXM Real Jazz September 21- September 24.
Don't Miss The Watch Parties
If you’re a local or are visiting the area, add a little of the real-life festival vibe to the Virtual MJF63, be sure to check out these social-distanced watching parties:
- Monterey County Fairgrounds: The home of Monterey Jazz Festival hosts two nights of drive-in style watching parties. The Drive-In style screening starts at 5pm PST with virtual MJF63 and then concludes with Clint Eastwood’s movie “True Crime” on Friday and “Play Misty for Me” on Saturday.
- Casa Munras: Jazz lovers are invited to view the Monterey Jazz Festival virtually and dine over a 3-course prix fixe meal curated by Executive Chef Gus Trejo each evening from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on the patio at the award-winning Estéban Restaurant. Reservations are required. Check out the menu here.
- Monterey Marriott: Offering a special Monterey Jazz Festival 2-Nights stay that includes both virtual and drive-in packages, hotel welcome amenity, valet parking and swag bag if booked before September 10.
