Cool Cal Jazz Festivals
Pictured is the iconic Hollywood Bowl, the setting for the annual Playboy Jazz Festival — not the oldest such festival in California but close to it. In search of a theme for this year’s California jazz festivals we were hard pressed to summarize the wide range of offerings. For instance, Newport Jazz Festival advertises headliners such as Michael McDonald and Stephanie Mills, better known for rock, pop and R&B. Sac Music Festival with roots in Dixieland jazz advertises Pablo Cruise, a headliner best known for pop and soft rock. Mixed in with rock and smooth jazz performers are some of the best known jazz artists in the world, especially at Playboy Jazz Festival and the longest continuously-running jazz festival in the world, Monterey Jazz Festival. The line up for that mid-September fest is announced in the spring.
OLD:
- Monterey Jazz Festival turns 59
- Sacramento Music (Jazz) Festival turns 43
- Playboy Jazz Festival turns 38
NEW
- Santa Cruz Jazz Festival features university jazz musicians, high school jazz bands and even middle schools — the up & coming jazz musicians of tomorrow.
- SLO Jazz Festival in San Luis Obispo returns for a third season, thanks to ambitious jazz saxophonist Scott Andrews who has performed at famed Montreux Jazz Festival and countless events and venues.
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