“In my experience attending and covering the event over the past 30 years, I’ve never seen so many standing ovations. Almost every act got at least one. Truly, the music was exceptional. But it also demonstrates how excited those present were to hear the music live again and to be part of what will go down in history as one of the more interesting and unique episodes in the Monterey Jazz Festival’s long and storied career.” —Monterey County Herald
“After losing a year to COVID’s live music-slashing sword, this great American institution — which rightly touts its legacy as the world’s oldest continuous jazz festival — reconfirmed its cultural commitment, to inspiring ends.” —Allaboutjazz.com
“…the 64th Monterey Jazz Festival (Sept. 24–26) somehow pushed all the buttons its faithful audience has come to expect: knockout shows by established stars, appearances by up-and-coming artists, a commissioned new work, the traditional boogie-down Saturday afternoon and you’ll-hear-from-this-one high school talent.” —DownBeat
“More than ever before, after attending Monterey religiously for nearly three decades, I experienced this year’s festival as a glimpse into the music’s future, and the view was often enthralling. From preternaturally poised high school students to age-defying veteran masters surrounding themselves with brilliant upstarts, the talent displayed by millennial and Gen Z musicians was positively inspiring.” —San Francisco Classical Voice
“The festival is back and so was a sense of normalcy. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the festival to go dark last year for the first time in its history. This year, longtime fans had something to celebrate again.” —KSBW, Channel 8
“The music on opening night was superb, starting with guitarist Fox and her organ trio greeting jazz lovers as they entered the festival grounds … Metheny and his wonderful new trio project — Side-Eye — delivered the first bits of music played on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in two years. The tunes were bold and ambitious…” —San Jose Mercury News
“Herbie Hancock has not lost an ounce of his artistry over eight decades. Who else, at 81 years old, is so confident in his musicianship that he begins a festival-headlining set by telling the audience something to the effect of: I don’t know what we’re going to play … It’s the equivalent of watching a team of master painters paint. Herbie and his band painted a masterpiece on Friday night.” —Monterey County Weekly
“Singer-songwriter Ledisi proclaimed her East Oakland roots and her extended history as a Monterey Jazz Festival performer early in her Saturday night headlining set, and dancers partied up front about halfway through George Benson’s festival-ending performance on Sunday as he delivered hit after hit…” —San Francisco Chronicle
“Miho Hazama and her 13-piece M_Unit’s artistry on the Lyons Stage nearly rivaled the sun in brilliance. She unquestionably was a perfect choice for MJF64 Commission Artist, premiering the enthralling three-movement Exoplanet Suite.” —JazzTimes
