The 44th Jazz Bash Monterey Festival starts Friday, March 1

While many people may only know about the annual Monterey Jazz Festival that takes place in September, perhaps not enough attention is paid to its younger, humble but interesting cousin, Jazz Bash By the Bay, a three-day March event that has been happening for over 40 years.

The organizer is Dixieland Monterey, an initiative that celebrates roots of classic jazz, swing and ragtime and promotes the education of youth in the art of traditional jazz performance.

In 1980, Dixieland Monterey was the theme for the Monterey County Fair. The co-founders of the Monterey Bay Hot Jazz Society (now Monterey Hot Jazz Society), including Joe Ingram, Ned Brundage and John Fanning, were approached by the county fair and, voting to take on a event, appointed Ingram as the chairman of the Dixieland festival at the 1980 County Fair. John Keller and Ed Greco, owners of a local advertising agency, were recruited to help implement the Dixieland event.

Hence the Jazz Bash by the Bay came to being. The event will take place in the Portola Hotel and Spa in Monterey and in the Conference Center—with eight venues and six dance floors.

Each year, enthusiasts from all over the United States and Canada travel to Monterey to enjoy some of the hottest traditional jazz and swing bands from the U.S. and around the world. Enjoy all forms of American Classic Jazz including traditional, ragtime, swing, gipsy and blues. Also, there's a two-venue pre-festival special show today, Friday, Feb. 29.

Bands are: Blue Street, Pacific Brass, Ive Evens Trio and more. Featured artists are Clint Baker, Ryan Daniele, Brian Holland, Dave Stuckey and others.

Email info@jazzbashmonterey or call 888 349-6879 for details. Visit jazzbashmonterey.com.