This free outdoor summer concert series presents World-Renowned Musicians in a friendly picnic atmosphere. Bring a picnic basket and a lawn chair and enjoy free seating. Or purchase reserved seating and specialty foods and wine.
Admission: General admission is free. Food vendors, craft beer, wine tasting, and even a few children’s activities are part of the fun. For paid Reserved Seating visit online: jazzontheplazz.com
July 17: MJF Regional Band & Vocal Ensemble www.montereyjazzfestival.org
Monterey Jazz Festival is thrilled to announce the return of the MJF Regional All-Star Band and Vocal Ensemble, along with the Regional All-Star Middle School Combo, in support of music education in schools. In the 2023-24 school year, students collaborated with top jazz educators from the county. Those meeting MJF Education Department's requirements will earn a Certificate of Excellence in Professional Musicianship. Rehearsing twice monthly, these All-Star Ensembles from across Monterey County focus on ensemble skills like phrasing, blending, improvisation, and rhythmic feel. Past venues for these ensembles include San Jose Jazz Fest, Jazz On The Plazz, and the Monterey Jazz Festival itself!
Photo of MJF Regional Band & Vocal Ensemble by Claudio Valenzuela courtesy of Jazz On The Plazz
JAZZ ON THE PLAZZ will run through August 21 with a different Jazz program each Wednesday night at 6:30pm. Since its inception in 2002, Jazz On The Plazz has grown to attract thousands of people every year with professional line-ups that have included Diane Schuur, Mose Allison, Pete Escovedo, The Drifters and Rita Coolidge, and has made a name for Los Gatos as a destination for world-class jazz performers. The festival also offers a wide-variety of new and up-coming artists such as the Monterey Jazz Festival Regional Band & Vocal Ensemble, and recognized artists the likes of Le Jazz Hot of San Francisco, Bay Area vocalist and songwriter Jessica Johnson, Kim Nalley Trio, pop and soul jazz saxophonist Michael Paulo, Nashville’s own Nicolas Bearde, blues guitarist and vocalist Chris Cain, and others. (Visit the website to see a full list of this year’s entertainers.)