Presentation by Morgan Freeman Happens Sunday, September 29 at Monterey Jazz Festival

Followed by Eastwood Symphonic Performance

MONTEREY, Ca – (September 24, 2024) 

 Film director, producer, actor, and longtime Monterey Jazz Festival board member Clint Eastwood will be honored with the inaugural Cultural Leadership Award on Sunday, September 29 as part of the 67th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival.

This prestigious award will be presented by Mr. Eastwood’s long-time friend and artistic collaborator, Morgan Freeman.  The two Hollywood heavyweights have worked together on many iconic films including Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby and Invictus.  They also share a deep love of music.

While best known for his contributions to film culture in front of, and behind the camera, Clint Eastwood’s influences on  film music are just as noteworthy.  He composed film scores for Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Flags of Our Fathers, Grace is Gone, Changeling, Hereafter, J. Edgar, and the original piano compositions for In the Line of Fire.  He also wrote and performed the song heard over the credits of Gran Torino and co-wrote “Why Should I Care” with Linda Thompson and Carole Bayer Sager, a song recorded in 1999 by Diana Krall.

The presentation will be followed by Eastwood Symphonic, sponsored by Taylor Farms and the Montage Health Foundation and in partnership with the Monterey Symphony.  Eastwood Symphonic is a musical project led by American jazz musician and composer Kyle Eastwood.  The project features his quartet along with an orchestral ensemble performing the movie themes from his father’s films such as Gran Torino, Letters from Iwo Jima, Flags of Our Fathers, and Bridges of Madison County.  The orchestral arrangements were done by Luxembourg composer and arranger Gast Waltzing.

About the Monterey Jazz Festival:

The mission of Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) is to inspire the discovery and celebration of jazz, anchored by an iconic festival. Founded in 1958, MJF envisions a sustainable organization that sets the standard of excellence for jazz, connects a diverse community, and helps people appreciate and learn about jazz as fans and performers.

About the Monterey Symphony:

The Monterey Symphony was founded in 1946. Our mission is to entertain and engage our community through musical performance and education.

Contact:

Lauren Tobin
Director of Media and Strategic Relations
Monterey Jazz Festival
831-233-3711