When it comes to historically and artistically important world-class jazz festivals within doable driving distance from Santa Barbara, all roads lead to Monterey. Well, mainly two roads — the 101 for expediency and Highway 1 through Big Sur for scenic splendor. At the risk of aging myself, I caught the Monterey Jazz Festival bug 40 years ago and haven’t missed one yet. It got to be a habit with me, like many others from NorCal and down the coast and beyond.
To be in the warm embrace of the Monterey Fairgrounds every third weekend of September, immersed in a varied sampler and overview of jazz in the present moment, makes for a potentially addictive annual pilgrimage for jazz fans of the diehard or newbie variety. Among the high points of the 68th annual program next weekend (September 26-28), on the main arena stage, are Christian McBride, Dianne Reeves, Gregory Porter, Christian Sands (the commissioned artist this year), crowd pleaser Trombone Shorty and Ledisi. Around the grounds, keep ears perked for the wondrous pianist Sullivan Fortner — a show-stealer last year — John and Gerald Clayton; Larry Goldings; young male vocalist dynamo Tyreek McDole, a Haitian-American now all of 24; and the superb 26-year-old female singer Ekep Nkwelle.
