ARTISTS INCLUDE PETE ESCOVEDO, LEDISI, DELFEAYO MARSALIS, CHRISTIAN McBRIDE, GREGORY PORTER, DIANNE REEVES, TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE, and MANY MORE!
3-Day Ticket Packages On Sale Now
(MONTEREY, Calif.) April 11, 2025 – The Monterey Jazz Festival, the world’s longest continuously-running jazz festival, proudly announces its lineup for the 68th incarnation, which happens September 26-28 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. There are 79 shows on five stages. Ticket packages are on sale now. Single-Day tickets go on sale May 8.
The Monterey Jazz Festival is renowned for its cutting-edge variety and diversity in performers. Artists performing on the Jimmy Lyons (main Arena) Stage include: Latin jazz legend Pete Escovedo featuring Juan and Peter Michael Escovedo; Ledisi; Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra; MJF68 Jazz Legends Gala honoree Christian McBride & Ursa Major; Gregory Porter; Dianne Reeves; Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue; Cory Wong, and many more.
Four additional stages throughout the fairgrounds will feature a variety of world-renowned performers and emerging artists, including: Gunhild Carling; John and Gerald Clayton; Benny Green; Carmen Lundy; Ekep Nkwelle, Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble; Sullivan Fortner Trio; Davina & The Vagabonds; U.S. Navy Band Commodores Jazz Ensemble, and many others.
As an enduring example of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s ongoing commitment to youth music education, the festival will feature performances by the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, directed by pianist Gerald Clayton, and the Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo, directed by bassist Katie Thiroux. Additionally, the Texas Southern University Gospel Choir returns for a Sunday performance with dynamic arranger-composer Tammy L. Hall, and the North Carolina Central University Jazz Ensemble, three-time winners of the festival’s HBCU challenge, will perform.
While 2024 was a year of change at Monterey Jazz, the festival maintains smooth sailing under the stewardship of Managing Director Bobbie Young, who has been a part of the festival staff for over a decade.
“I’m thrilled to lead this organization into the future. We learned a lot last year. This year, we are committed to delivering the artists that our audience loves, along with some exciting fresh faces in the jazz world. We’re also committed to keeping the festival affordable. Despite a fragile economy, we have not raised most of our ticket prices in two years,” she said.
Each year, the Monterey Jazz Festival commissions an artist to create an original composition to debut at the festival. Past commissioned artists include Oscar-winner Kris Bowers, Miho Hazama, Maria Schneider, Christian McBride, Wayne Shorter, and many others. The tradition continues in 2025 with pianist (and previous MJF Artist-in-Residence) Christian Sands as the Commission Artist. He will debut an original composition.
Back by popular demand is Dizzy’s Den, a 500-seat, indoor performance space where some of the festival’s most memorable past performances have taken place. Also returning is Premier Club, which for an additional purchase, offers shaded lounge space with viewing of Arena stage performances, along with hors-d’oeuvres, free soft drinks, and a no-host top shelf bar.
An exciting array of food options and craft vendors will also be available on the grounds with items for purchase.
For a complete artists lineup, schedule, background information, listening samples, and other festival information, please click here.
Ticket Information and Pricing:
• 3-Day Arena reserved seat packages start at $430 and offer access to all performances on the Jimmy Lyons Stage as well as other stages throughout the fairgrounds.
• 3-Day Arena Lawn General Admission tickets offer full access to all the Arena performances at $295 without reserved seating on the lawn. Chairs will be available for rent.
• Single-Day Arena tickets include a reserved seat for all Arena shows and Ground Stages for one day of the festival at $99 for Friday, or $199 for Saturday or Sunday.
• Single-Day Arena Lawn tickets include a General Admission ticket for all Arena shows and Ground Stages for one day of the festival at $85 for Friday, or $125 for Saturday or Sunday.
• Full Weekend Grounds tickets include access to all Grounds stages, food, and beverage vendors for the weekend at $195. Grounds tickets do not include access to the Arena stage.
• Single-Day Grounds tickets for one day of the festival for access to all Grounds stages, food, and drink vendors at $60 Friday, or $85 Saturday or Sunday. Grounds tickets do not include access to the Arena stage.
• Please check the website for military and student discounts.
About the Monterey Jazz Festival
Founded in 1958 by the late Jimmy Lyons and late jazz critic Ralph Gleason, the Monterey Jazz Festival is the longest continuously-running jazz festival in the world. Set upon the oak-filled grounds at the scenic Monterey Fairgrounds, the festival hosted virtually every major artist in the art form’s history, including Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis. In addition to the annual presentation of an iconic jazz festival, Monterey Jazz Festival is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) whose mission is to provide year-round opportunities for jazz education and performance for youth of all ages and backgrounds.
For interview opportunities, high-resolution photographs, and other MJF information, please contact:
Lauren Tobin
Director of Media and Strategic Relations
[email protected]
For additional information, please visit: https://montereyjazz.org
68th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival
September 26-28, 2025
All artists in order of appearance by day and stage
Friday, September 26
ARENA
Jimmy Lyons Stage
Gregory Porter, Christian McBride & Ursa Major
GROUNDS
Tim Jackson Garden Stage Presented by Alaska Airlines
Ivan Bonačić Quartet feat. Valerija Nikolovska, Edgardo Cambon & Candela, Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Quartet, Marcus Shelby New Orchestra: Black Ball
Dizzy’s Den
John & Gerald Clayton, Grace Kelly, Lyons Stage Simulcasts: Gregory Porter, Christian McBride
Pacific Jazz Café Presented by SFJAZZ
Caity Gyorgy Quartet, Alfredo Rodríguez Trio, Tyreek McDole Quintet, Benny Green
Courtyard Stage Presented by Folktale Winery & Vineyards
River Voices (2 sets), Next Generation Jazz Orchestra & Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo Jam Session
Saturday, September 27
ARENA
Jimmy Lyons Stage
Mr. Sipp, Dianne Reeves, Keyon Harrold, Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Cory Wong, Ledisi
GROUNDS
Tim Jackson Garden Stage Presented by Alaska Airlines
Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo, Davina & the Vagabonds, JC Smith Band, Tony Lindsay & the Soul Soldiers, University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band, Gunhild Carling
Dizzy’s Den
Texas Southern University Jazz Combo, Dominque Fils-Aimé, Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble, Carmen Lundy, Lyons Stage Simulcasts: Cory Wong, Ledisi
Pacific Jazz Café Presented by SFJAZZ
Christian McBride: The Monterey Jazz Conversation, hosted by Ashley Kahn, Ekep Nkwelle Quartet, Christian Sands, Camille Thurman & the Darrell Green Quartet, Brandon Woody’s Upendo, Sullivan Fortner Trio
Courtyard Stage Presented by Folktale Winery & Vineyards
Marcie Chapa Project, Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Quartet, Dave Holodiloff Group (2 sets), Marcia Christina & C340 Otter Jazz, HBCU Jam Session
Sunday, September 28
ARENA
Jimmy Lyons Stage
Next Generation Jazz Orchestra & Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo with Sullivan Fortner, Christian Sands (MJF Commission), Pete Escovedo feat. Juan & Peter Michael Escovedo; Echoes of an Era feat. Javon Jackson, Lenny White, Lisa Fischer, Orrin Evans, John Patitucci & Dr. Eddie Henderson; René Marie & Experiment in Truth “Jump in the Line!”, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
GROUNDS
Tim Jackson Garden Stage Presented by Alaska Airlines
Tammy Hall feat. the Texas Southern University Cadence Chorale, U.S. Navy Band Commodores Jazz Ensemble, Chris Cain, Nnenna Freelon, Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Vocal Ensemble, Monterey Jazz Regional Middle School Combo, Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Big Band, Along Came Betty
Dizzy’s Den
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Goldings/Bernstein/Stewart Organ Trio, North Carolina Central University Jazz Combo, Lucía, Lyons Stage Simulcasts: Echoes of an Era featuring Lisa Fischer, Lenny White, Javon Jackson, Dr. Eddie Henderson, Orrin Evans & John Patitucci; Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Pacific Jazz Café Presented by SFJAZZ
Cuba, Ahora! Yilian, Jorge and Dayramir, hosted by Ashley Kahn, Olatuja, Jorge Luis Pacheco Trio, Yilian Cañizares, Dayramir González Quartet, New Jazz Underground
Courtyard Stage Presented by Folktale Winery & Vineyards
San Jose Jazz High School All-Stars, Miranda Perl, Paul Contos (2 sets), High School Student Jam Session
