Monterey Jazz Festival
2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey, (888) 248-6499, montereyjazzfestival.org
In its past iterations, the Monterey Jazz Festival has brought in greats like Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie (nearly through every year in the ’70s), Odetta, Sarah Vaughn – hell, even Jefferson Airplane. But in its more recent festivals, MJF has proven it changes with the times, bringing fresh acts like Common, Norah Jones and Esperanza Spalding. With a dedication to honor both the past and the present of jazz in their lineups, the festival goes one further. It helps lay out blueprints for the future with their Next Generation orchestra and an artist-in-residence program. And the beat goes on.