"Once a year, for three days, Monterey becomes the jazz capital of the world. Founded in 1958, the Monterey Jazz Festival takes over the Monterey County Fairgrounds the third weekend in September. Hundreds of internationally acclaimed artists perform on five stages, drawing 30,000 to 40,000 jazz fans from around the globe. As with all great gatherings of like-minded music lovers, it's more than a festival - it's a giant party."
"The rest of the year, after the visitors have gone home, Monterey's locals enjoy a more low-key jazz scene, with live music at bars, restaurants, and wineries almost any night of the week. These spots offer jazz as a sweetener for guests ordering drinks or dinner, and cover charges are rare or nominal. "I'd say, typically a local jazz audience can be anywhere from just a few tables worth of people, like 6 to 8 people up to 40 or 50 are probably the biggest crowds," saxophonist and composer Ben Herod said."
Monterey transforms into a global jazz hub for three days each September when the Monterey Jazz Festival fills the county fairgrounds with hundreds of acclaimed artists and tens of thousands of fans. Outside the festival weekend, a quieter local jazz scene offers live performances at bars, restaurants, and wineries almost nightly, usually with minimal cover charges. Musicians and venues use the Monterey County Jazz Facebook page to post shows. Typical local audiences are small, and performances function as atmospheric enhancements for dining and hospitality. Regular performers include vocalists like Akina Miyata and ensembles at spots such as MidiCi Pizza and local hotels.
Read at SFGATE
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