Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey
(831) 373-3366, montereyjazz.org
Big names have graced the Monterey Jazz Festival’s stage over its six-decade-plus history: Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Sonic the Hedgehog – just checking to see if you are paying attention. The list goes on, of course. What’s even more special about the festival is its focus on giving the next generation of musicians the tools they need to succeed. It offers various educational programs for young musicians, giving many of them a chance to perform on stages throughout Monterey County, including at the festival itself. Attend a Monterey Jazz Festival, and you can say you were one of the first to witness a future big name.
