Monterey Jazz Festival Announces 51st Annual Meeting in 2008
Event: September 19-21, 2008
For their 51st Annual meeting, the Monterey Jazz Festival will hold a 3-day celebration of the best in jazz, with over 500 artists appearing on 9 stages spread throughout the Festival’s 20 acres of magnificent grounds.
Overview of the Festival
The Monterey Jazz Festival is the longest running jazz festival in the world. It is held annually on the 20-acre, oak-studded Monterey Fairgrounds, located at 2000 Fairground Road in Monterey, California. This has been the site of the Festival since its inception in 1958.
More than 500 top jazz artists perform throughout the weekend on 9 stages spread throughout the grounds. Outdoor areas include the Arena/Jimmy Lyons Stage, the Garden Stage, the Courtyard Stage, and the West Lawn Stage. Indoor areas include Lyons Lounge, the Night Club/Bill Berry Stage, Dizzy’s Den, The Jazz Theater, and the Coffee House Gallery. All five Arena concerts are simulcast in The Jazz Theater and in Klub Korbel.
From gate opening at 6:00 pm on Friday through Sunday night’s closing concerts, the Monterey Jazz Festival offers 3 nights and 2 days of nonstop jazz entertainment.

The show is held in two areas on the grounds:
(1) Arena Area
Friday: Cassandra Wilson, Joshua Redman Trio, Maraca “Cuban Lullabies”
Saturday: The Derek Trucks Band, Maceo Parker with The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Ledisi, NEA Jazz Master Nancy Wilson with special guests Terence Blanchard & tom Scott, Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, and Christian McBride Quintet
Sunday: Jamie Cullum, The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with Christian McBride, Buchanan High School Jazz Band “A”, NEA Jazz Master Herbie Hancock, NEA Jazz Master Wayne Shorter Quartet, and Kurt Elling
(2) Grounds Area:
Friday: Joshua Redman Trio, New Grooves, Matt Wilson Arts & Crafts, Anat Cohen, Spencer Day, Yaron Herman Trio, George Young Quartet, and Berklee-Monterey Latin Jazz All-Stars
Saturday: Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, Terence Blanchard Quintet, Tom Scott, Maraca “Cuban Lullabies”, Maceo Parker, Ledisi, Matt Wilson-Bill Frisell Duo, Ryan Shaw, Dan Ouellette Hosts His Annual DownBeat “Blindfold Test” with Cassandra Wilson, Tuck & Patti, Quantic, 4onefunk, Marc Cary Trio, La Tuque Bleue, Junko Moriya, Antonio Sanchez’s Migration featuring David Sanchez, Miguel Zenon and Scott Colley, Rebeca Mauleón & Afro Kuban Fusion, Sadza, U.S. Air Force “Falconaires”, Conversation with NEA Jazz Masters Nancy Wilson & John Levy: “Life, Love & Harmony: The Marriage of Music & Management” hosted by Clairdee, Jazz Theater, Electric Heart: Don Ellis The Man, His Times, His Music
Sunday: Kurt Elling, Christian McBride Quintet, Hammond B3 Blowout, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, Barbara Dennerlein Trio, Kyle Eastwood, Trio M with Myra Melford, Mark Dresser, Matt Wilson, Jamie Davis Big Band, Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band, Conversation: Clint Eastwood & Jamie Cullum, Quantic, 4onefunk, La Tuque Bleue, Brass Menažeri, Jazz Theater
My Name is Albert Ayler: The Albert Ayler Story, and Family Day Sponsored by Macy’s
Mp3’s From Past Festivals
(click to listen)
Ticket Prices and Information
Grounds Tickets:
$35.00 (Friday)
$45.00 (Saturday and Sunday)
$110 (all 3 days)
The event features an all-day pass, grounds entertainment, events and activities,
exhibitions, conversations, international shopping, food and beverages, and fun for
the whole family. Family day is Sunday and will feature jazzy music for kids, a
hands-on percussion playshop, the Jazzy Jumper, and more.
Arena Tickets:
$220.00 (3-day package) – based on availability
Arena Tickets offer a reserved seat 5 Arena concerts, including exclusive Arena
performances. Ticket holders will also have acess to all performances and activities
throughout the Grounds, plus all Grounds entertainment, conversations, exhibitions,
panel discussions, and more.
To buy tickets, call (925) 275-9255 or contact by email:
ticketoffice@montereyjazzfestival.org
Location: 2000 Fairground Road
Monterey, CA
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