They're still talking about that September Saturday. The day Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews strode out onto the Jimmy Lyons stage with his band Orleans Avenue and proceeded to permanently and deeply carve his name into the tree trunk of Monterey Jazz Festival lore. "He absolutely owned the 2010 festival," says one longtime attendee. Guess what? He's gonna do it again. "I've … [Read more...] about This Is Jazz
Music
Monterey Jazz Festival’s Full Circle
Jazz musicians are an eclectic lot: highly individualistic and nonconformist— dancing to their own drummers, so to speak. They sing in chorus, however, when it comes to educating young people in the language of their chosen musical genre. From its inception 54 years ago, the Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) has funded programs designed to pass the torch onto the next generation of … [Read more...] about Monterey Jazz Festival’s Full Circle
Harry Connick Jr.
Hold a conversation about Harry Connick Jr. and chances are that sooner or later the term "Renaissance man" will pop up. Singer, musician, songwriter, arranger, composer, stage, screen and television actor, humanitarian, activist. And he's got three Grammys and an Emmy on his mantle—what doesn't this guy do? Asked the proverbial "desert island" question: If you had to choose … [Read more...] about Harry Connick Jr.
Sounds of Past and Present
Nine-time Grammy winner Wynton Marsalis brings the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to the Monterey Jazz Festival on Saturday and Sunday nights. Despite its standing as the longest continuously running jazz festival on Earth, the Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) will never be accused of resting on its laurels. Under the masterful booking hand of General Manager Tim Jackson, new … [Read more...] about Sounds of Past and Present
An Eye for Blues
Will Wallace has been a director of the Monterey Bay Blues Festival for 20 of the organization’s 23 years. “I came on board to chronicle the festival,”Wallace recalls. “I also handled press and publicity, designed and produced the programs, did whatever needed doing.” Today, in addition to continuing to document the event through his thoughtful photography, he is involved with … [Read more...] about An Eye for Blues