The 63rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival (Virtual) | Sept. 25th-27th, 2020
63rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival Virtual Lineup plus Socially Distanced Watching Parties in Monterey
To usher in their 63rd year, The Monterey Jazz Festival is going virtual, live on their YouTube channel. Friday, September 25th through Sunday, September 27th 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.”
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 Cécile 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.
If you’re a Monterey area local and you want to add a little of the real-life festival vibe to the Virtual MJF63, there are several safe, socially 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.
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.
The 63rd Virtual Monterey Jazz Festival partners include MedCom Solutions, Inc., Taylor Farms, Kaiser Permanente, District 7 Wines, Montage Health, North Coast Brewing Co., California State University Monterey Bay, Berklee College of Music, Yamaha, Inns of Monterey, DownBeat, and KSBW.
Supporters include The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Community Foundation for Monterey County, National Endowment for the Arts – Art Works, North Coast Brewing Company, Quest Foundation, California Arts Council, Harden Foundation, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, Sally Hughes Church Foundation, MC Gives!, Arts Council for Monterey County, Bill Graham Supporting Foundation, Pebble Beach Company Foundation, Wilhelm Family Foundation, Rotary Club of Corral de Tierra, Upjohn California Fund, Rotary Club of Monterey, William H. Donner Foundation, Inc., Yellow Brick Road Benefit Shop, Enterprise Holdings Foundation, and Monterey Peninsula Volunteer Services.