"But in stepping in to book the season relatively late after Monterey Jazz unexpectedly parted ways with newly appointed artistic director Darin Atwater after only one season, veteran booker Bruce Labadie leaned into a sure-fire formula. Almost every one of the festival's four primary stages features a heavyweight roster of vocal talent. The big names are in the Arena, but the stages on the grounds brim with a bevy of brilliant singers, including several in their 20s who represent jazz's 100-watt future."
"That's not to say that Instrumental virtuosity will be wanting at the 68th edition of the world's longest continuously running jazz festival, which returns to the Monterey County Fairgrounds Sept. 26-28. Indeed, bass maestro Christian McBride's band Ursa Major; the father-and-son summit of bassist John and pianist Gerald Clayton; the state-of-the-art organ trio of Larry Goldings, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart; and Swedish multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling provide instant gravitas to any jazz event."
The 68th Monterey Jazz Festival returns to the Monterey County Fairgrounds Sept. 26-28 with a heavy emphasis on vocal performers across four primary stages. Booker Bruce Labadie, who stepped in after a late leadership change, curated many high-profile singers while retaining significant instrumental acts. Arena shows feature marquee names and will be simulcast in a screening room on the grounds. Grounds venues remain intimate and surrounded by food, beverage and merchandise booths. The festival lineup blends established stars like Gregory Porter and Christian McBride with emerging vocalists in their 20s, promising both tradition and new talent.
Read at The Mercury News
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