61st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival Package Tickets On Sale Monday, 5/1

Three-day Arena and Grounds Ticket Packages for the 61st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, September 21-23 go on sale Tuesday, May 1. Tickets can be purchased online at montereyjazzfestival.org or by calling 888.248.6499.

The Festival will feature over 120 performances from iconic and emerging jazz artists, educational events, conversations, films, and exhibits on eight stages, for 30 hours of live music spanning two days and three nights, accompanied by an array of 75 vendors selling international cuisine and merchandise on the oak-studded 20 acres of the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

The Artists-in-Residence for MJF61 will be Tia Fuller and Ingrid Jensen. Oscar Hernández & the Spanish Harlem Orchestra will debut the 2018 commission piece, and NEA Jazz Master recipient Dianne Reeves will be the Showcase Artist, performing four times over the weekend, including the premiere of a new Brazilian project with Reeves' guitarist, Romero Lubambo will be assembling with special guests for the Monterey appearance.

"I am so pleased that in a year when there is so much attention being paid to the inclusion of women, the 61st Monterey Jazz Festival will celebrate the talents of exceptional women jazz artists," said Colleen Bailey, MJF Executive Director.

"As we enter our seventh decade as the world's longest continuously-running jazz festival, I remain inspired and committed to producing and presenting the world's finest jazz artists, while making sure that we represent the music and the musicians in an inclusive, exciting and fun manner," said Tim Jackson, MJF Artistic Director.

A six-time JazzTimes Readers Poll winner, 2018's GRAMMY Award-winning Arena lineup on Friday night, September 21 includes Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, presenting Spaces with "Lil Buck" and Jared Grimes; Dianne Reeves; and a Tribute to Geri Allen, presented by Tia Fuller and Ingrid Jensen featuring Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Shamie Royston, Maurice Chestnut, DJ Val, and Robert Hurst.

The Saturday afternoon September 22 Arena lineup includes Oscar Hernández & the Spanish Harlem Orchestra debuting the 2018 commission piece; José James singing the songs of Bill Withers, and Thornetta Davis.

Saturday night includes the 60th edition of Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour with Cécile McLorin Salvant, Bria Skonberg, Melissa Aldana, Christian Sands, Yasushi Nakamura, and Jamison Ross; Remembering Ray Brown featuring Christian McBride, Benny Green, and Greg Hutchinson with special guests John Clayton, John Patitucci and Dianne Reeves; and Jon Batiste with the Dap-Kings.

The Arena lineup on Sunday afternoon September 23 includes Charles Lloyd & the Marvels with special guest Lucinda Williams, Bokanté; and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with Tia Fuller and Ingrid Jensen.

Sunday night in the Arena will feature Norah Jones with Brian Blade & Chris Thomas; a special tribute celebrating Michael Brecker with Randy Brecker, Donny McCaslin, Gil Goldstein, Adam Rogers, John Patitucci, and the Anat Cohen Tentet.

Full Weekend Arena Ticket Packages offer a reserved seat to each of the five concerts on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in the Arena (renewable annually) plus, access to the seven additional Grounds Stages, and all Festival activities. Full Weekend Arena Ticket Packages begin at $340.

Full Weekend Grounds Packages offer access to seven Grounds stages and activities. Full Weekend Grounds Packages are $155.

Grounds activities include over 100 events, conversations, films, and musical performances, with weekend highlights from Jane Bunnett & Maqueque; Jane Ira Bloom; Joey DeFrancesco & the People; Tia Fuller Quartet; Dave Grusin; Fred Hersch (solo, duo with Jane Ira Bloom, and trio); José James; Ingrid & Christine Jensen Infinitude; Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio; Wadada Leo Smith; Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio; Christian McBride Trio; Donny McCaslin Group; Dianne Reeves; Mwenso & the Shakes; Thumbscrew with Mary Halvorson, Michael Formanek and Tomas Fujiwara; DownBeat Blindfold Test with John Clayton; Julian Lage Trio; Bill Frisell Trio; MJF on Tour; Lisa Mezzacappa AvantNOIR; Jamie Baum Septet+; No BS! Brass Band; Thornetta Davis; Bobby Floyd Trio; Cameron Graves; Tammy L. Hall Peace-tet; Adam Rogers & Dice; Gabriel Royal; Kristen Strom; John Santos; Veronica Swift; Katie Thiroux Trio; Knower; Ladama; top student bands from the 2018 Next Generation Jazz Festival - Northgate High School Jazz Band I; Valencia High School Two N' Four; Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Jazz Combo I; SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Big Band; Colburn Jazz Workshop Thursday Night Band; University of Central Oklahoma Jazz Ensemble I; University of Denver Lamont Jazz Orchestra; Western Michigan University Gold Company; University of Nevada, Las Vegas Honors Trio; William Brandt, and others.

All weekend long, the exhibit The Color of Jazz: Album cover photographs by Pete Turner will be in the Pacific Jazz Café Gallery; plus the films Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time, and Two Trains Runnin' in the Jazz Theater; and much more.

Also on sale May 1 are Full Weekend Premier Club hospitality passes, priced at $340. Benefits include a furnished setting offering closed-circuit Arena simulcasts, wines from Monterey County and gourmet cuisine, private restrooms, indoor and outdoor patio seating, a hosted bar, and more. Arena or Grounds Ticket purchase is required.

The 12th Annual Jazz Legends Gala, held at the Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, will honor Dianne Reeves on Thursday, September 20, 2018. Hosted by Christian McBride, special performances at this beautiful location will feature the Christian McBride Trio with special guest Benny Green, and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. Cost is $325 per person. Proceeds from this event benefit Monterey Jazz Festival's jazz education programs. Contact 831.233.3711 for more information.

Single Day Arena and Daily Grounds Tickets go on sale May 11.

The full lineup for the 61st Monterey Jazz Festival can be found on montereyjazzfestival.org.

Lineup for the 61st Monterey Jazz Festival, September 21-23, 2018
(in order of appearance / Partial list, more to be announced)

Friday, September 21
ARENA:
Jimmy Lyons Stage: Tribute to Geri Allen with Tia Fuller, Ingrid Jensen, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Shamie Royston, Maurice Chestnut, DJ Val, and Robert Hurst; Dianne Reeves; Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis present Spaces with "Lil Buck" and Jared Grimes

GROUNDS:
Garden Stage: Hristo Vitchev; Tammy L. Hall Peace-tet; Berklee College of Music
Dizzy's Den: Jane Bunnett & Maqueque; Christian McBride Trio
Night Club: Adam Rogers & Dice; Knower; Cameron Graves
Pacific Jazz Café: Lisa Mezzacappa AvantNOIR; Jane Ira Bloom; Thumbscrew
Courtyard Stage: Addison Frei on the Yamaha AvantGrand (Two sets)
North Coast Brewing Co. Education Stage: Student Performances (All evening)
Jazz Theater: Simulcasts from the Arena
Pacific Jazz Café Exhibit: The Color of Jazz: Album cover photographs by Pete Turner (All weekend)

Saturday, September 22
ARENA:
Jimmy Lyons Stage: Thornetta Davis; Lean on Me: José James Celebrates Bill Withers; Oscar Hernández & the Spanish Harlem Orchestra (MJF Commission); Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour with Cécile McLorin Salvant, Bria Skonberg, Melissa Aldana, Christian Sands, Yasushi Nakamura, Jamison Ross; Remembering Ray Brown featuring Christian McBride, Benny Green, Greg Hutchinson with special guests John Clayton, John Patitucci and Dianne Reeves; Jon Batiste with the Dap-Kings

GROUNDS:
Garden Stage: No BS! Brass Band; Thornetta Davis; José James Celebrates Bill Withers; No BS! Brass Band; Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio
Dizzy's Den: Kristen Strom; Akili & Ayana Bradley Quintet; Jamie Baum Septet+; Dave Grusin; Tia Fuller Quartet; Donny McCaslin Group
Night Club: Top bands from the 2018 Next Generation Jazz Festival; 32nd Street Brass Band; John Santos Unusual Standards; Ingrid & Christine Jensen Infinitude; The Baylor Project; Mwenso & the Shakes
Pacific Jazz Café: Conversations with Dave Grusin and Dianne Reeves; Top bands from the 2018 Next Generation Jazz Festival; Fred Hersch (solo); Fred Hersch and Jane Ira Bloom; Fred Hersch Trio
Courtyard Stage: Addison Frei on the Yamaha AvantGrand (Three sets)
North Coast Brewing Co. Education Stage: Student Performances (All afternoon)
Jazz Theater: Simulcasts from the Arena; Jazz on Film: Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time

Sunday, September 23
ARENA:
Jimmy Lyons Stage: Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with Tia Fuller & Ingrid Jensen; Bokanté; Charles Lloyd & the Marvels with Lucinda Williams; Anat Cohen Tentet; Celebrating Michael Brecker with Randy Brecker, Donny McCaslin, Gil Goldstein, Adam Rogers, John Patitucci, and Antonio Sanchez; Norah Jones with Brian Blade & Chris Thomas

GROUNDS:
Garden Stage: Top bands from the 2018 Next Generation Jazz Festival; Gabriel Royal; Katie Thiroux Trio; Ladama
Dizzy's Den: Aya Takazawa Quintet; Gary Meek Quartet; Veronica Swift; Wadada Leo Smith; Dianne Reeves with Romero Lubambo; Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour with Cécile McLorin Salvant, Bria Skonberg, Melissa Aldana, Christian Sands, Yasushi Nakamura, Jamison Ross
Night Club: Top bands from the 2018 Next Generation Jazz Festival; MJF High School Honor Vocal Jazz Ensemble; MJF High School All-Star Big Band; Bobby Floyd Trio; Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio; Joey DeFrancesco & the People
Pacific Jazz Café: DownBeat Blindfold Test with John Clayton; Conversation about Michael Brecker; Top bands from the 2018 Next Generation Jazz Festival; Julian Lage Trio; Bill Frisell Trio
North Coast Brewing Co. Education Stage: Student Bands (All afternoon)
Courtyard Stage: Addison Frei on the Yamaha AvantGrand (Four sets)
Jazz Theater: Simulcasts from the Arena; Jazz on Film: Two Trains Runnin'

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