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Monterey Jazz Festival

Program No. 4628RJ
Join all the cool cats at the Monterey Jazz Festival where you’ll hear world-class performances, engaging lectures and panel discussions in the historic setting of beautiful Monterey.
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Start
Music FestivalsMusic AppreciationCity Discoveries
Length
5 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,049
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
5 days
4 nights
What's Included
9 meals ( 4B, 2BR, 1L, 2D )
4 expert-led lectures
5 performances
An experienced Group Leader
4 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). Walking at the lodge varies depending on room location; distances may be up to 300 yards.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Register at the front desk of Los Laureles Lodge to get your room assignments and welcome packet with any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. Please let us know if you will be arriving late. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Reception: 5:00 p.m. In the Lodge’s Saloon, we will meet fellow Road Scholars and have cheese and crackers; beverages from the bar available for purchase.
Dinner:
In the Terrace Garden Room.
Evening:
Orientation. In the Terrace Garden Room, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. All of our meals and classes will take place in the Terrace Garden Room overlooking the Lodge’s pool and scenic gardens. Our class instructor and Group Leader, Ali Ryerson — jazz flutist, teacher, international performing artist, and a frequent performing guest at the festival — will provide a brief overview of the festival, the longest running jazz festival in the world, first presented in 1958. Our tickets are for the same reserved seats in the Arena for all shows on the Jimmy Lyons Stage over the Festival weekend, and allows access to the other Grounds Stages. The Monterey Jazz Festival also features an international array of food, drink, and festivities. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Walking at the lodge varies depending on room location; distances may be up to 300 yards. At the 20 acre fair grounds, walking a minimum of 200 yards from entrance gates to Main Arena and other walking according to personal preference; mostly even pathways and unpaved grounds. Walking 1 to 2 mile throughout the day. Listening devices are available at no charge at Patron Services inside the festival. Deposit of a valid driver's license or current credit card is required.
Breakfast:
In the Terrace Garden Room.
Morning:
We’ll attend a Jazz History-Repertoire class led by our jazz teacher/performer who will discuss the festival performers and their repertoire. The first Monterey Jazz Festival in September 1958 featured jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, John Lewis, Shelly Manne, Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Ernestine Anderson, Harry James, Max Roach, and Billie Holiday.
Lunch:
In the Terrace Garden Room.
Afternoon:
In our next Jazz History-Repertoire class, we’ll learn more about the festival performers and their repertoire. Each year the Monterey Jazz Festival brings together hundreds of performing artists from all over the world. The Festival weekend features many performances across multiple stages. These artists cover a diverse and vibrant range of musical styles and influences, making the Monterey Jazz Festival a role model in the performing arts, reaching heights that founder Jimmy Lyons imagined it could ever be.
Dinner:
In the Terrace Garden Room.
Evening:
We will travel by bus to the Monterey County Fairgrounds and attend the 68th Monterey Jazz Festival. Bus drop-off will be on Garden Road by the Gate 3 ticket entrance. Our tickets permit us to explore the entire festival and attend the performances we choose in the Arena and other stages spread across 20 acres of oak-studded grounds. The Arena has backed reserved seats to relax and enjoy the performances. Every person and all belongings are subject to a security search. Security reserves the right to refuse entry. A Clear Bag Policy will be in effect. One sealed bottle of water or an empty stainless steel or other non-breakable individual use water container are allowed. Please review all festival policies at montereyjazzfestival.org/faqs. The first Arena performance is acclaimed singer-songwriter Gregory Porter (Classic Jazz, Jazz Vocals). With the Bakersfield Southern Gospel and Nat King Cole as fundamental influences, in 2013, Porter released his breakout Blue Note debut "Liquid Spirit" which grew into a global phenomenon, selling more than a million albums and earning Porter his first GRAMMY Award with NPR declaring him “America’s Next Great Jazz Singer.” The second Arena performers are Christian McBride and Ursa Major (Classic Jazz, Contemporary Jazz). Christian McBride is an eight-time GRAMMY Award winning bassist, composer, and bandleader, as well as Artistic Director of multiple jazz festivals, educator, and advocate. In Ursa Major, he is joined by four rising young master instrumentalists, saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, virtuosic pianist Mike King, and drummer Savannah Harris. For more detailed information on each performance and artist, please visit montereyjazzfestival.org. The bus will return to the lodge after the last scheduled concert ends. For those who wish to return to the lodge earlier, there will be an early bus each night approximately 1 to 1.5 hours before the last scheduled concert ends.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Walking at the lodge varies depending on room location; distances may be up to 300 yards. At the 20 acre fair grounds, walking a minimum of 200 yards from entrance gates to Main Arena and other walking according to personal preference; mostly even pathways and unpaved grounds. Walking 1 to 2 miles throughout the day. Listening devices are available at no charge at Patron Services inside the festival. Deposit of a valid driver's license or current credit card is required.
Breakfast:
In the Terrace Garden Room.
Morning:
In our next Jazz History-Repertoire class, we’ll learn more about the festival performers and their repertoire. Main Arena performances pay tribute to the rich history of jazz and the festival, while also expanding and challenging the scope and breadth of jazz, blues, and rock, looking towards the future of jazz.
Brunch:
In the Terrace Garden Room.
Afternoon:
We’ll enjoy more of the 68th Monterey Jazz Festival. Saturday afternoon features many outstanding performances across the Jimmy Lyon’s Arena Stage and multiple grounds stages. Your jazz classes will provide background on the performers and their music so you can best select which performances you wish to see. The afternoon performing artists at the Arena stage are Mr. Sipp (Blues), Dianne Reeves (Jazz Vocals), Keyon Harrold (Class Jazz, Contemporary Jazz), and Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra (Big Band, Classic Jazz, New Orleans). For more detailed information on each performance and artist, please visit montereyjazzfestival.org.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The Monterey Jazz Festival hosts a number of diverse food and beverage vendors. MJF is cashless, so please remember to bring your credit card. Additional information is available at montereyjazzfestival.org/faqs.
Evening:
More of the Jazz Festival. Saturday evening features two main performances at the Jimmy Lyon’s Arena Stage and multiple performances across the ground stages. The first Arena performance is Cory Wong, Grammy-nominated guitarist, producer, variety show host, and podcast host (Blues, Contemporary Jazz, Funk). The second Arena performance is Ledisi (Contemporary Jazz, Funk, Jazz Vocals). This Grammy Award-winning artist is hailed as one of the most captivating vocalists of her generation. Ledisi’s commitment to artistic excellence extends beyond the music industry as an actress, author and advocate, having advocated many times on Capitol Hill for the rights of writers and performers and garnering an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee Scholl of Music. For more detailed information on each performance and artist, please visit montereyjazzfestival.org. The bus will return to the lodge after the last scheduled concert ends. For those who wish to return to the lodge earlier, there will be an early bus each night approximately 1 to 1.5 hours before the last scheduled concert ends.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Walking at the lodge varies depending on room location; distances may be up to 300 yards. At the 20 acre fair grounds, walking a minimum of 200 yards from entrance gates to Main Arena and other walking according to personal preference; mostly even pathways and unpaved grounds. Walking 1 to 2 miles throughout the day. Listening devices are available at no charge at Patron Services inside the festival. Deposit of a valid driver's license or current credit card is required.
Breakfast:
In the Terrace Garden Room.
Morning:
In our next Jazz History-Repertoire class, we’ll learn more about the festival performers and their repertoire. The not-for-profit Monterey Jazz Festival has been committed to music education since its inception, currently investing more than $600,000 annually in jazz education. The festival runs a number of educational programs including the “Next Generation Jazz Orchestra” that selects top high school musicians from around the county to celebrate the future of jazz in musical tours and a performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival.
Brunch:
In the Terrace Garden Room.
Afternoon:
We’ll attend the Jazz Festival and enjoy more great music. Sunday afternoon features many outstanding performances across the Jimmy Lyon’s Arena Stage and multiple grounds stages. Your jazz classes will provide background on the performers and their music so you can best select which performances you wish to see. The afternoon performing artists at the Arena stage are the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with the Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo, Christian Sands (Classical Jazz), Pete Escovedo featuring Juan and Peter Michael Escovedo (Latin Jazz), and Echoes of an Era featuring Javon Jackson, Lenny White, Lisa Fischer, Orrin Evans, John Patitucci, and Dr. Eddie Henderson (Classic Jazz, Jazz Vocals). For more detailed information on each performance and artist, please visit montereyjazzfestival.org.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The Monterey Jazz Festival hosts a number of diverse food and beverage vendors. MJF is cashless, so please remember to bring your credit card. Additional information is available at montereyjazzfestival.org/faqs.
Evening:
Enjoy the final performances at the Jazz Festival. Sunday evening features two main performances at the Jimmy Lyon’s Arena Stage and multiple performances across the ground stages. The first Arena performance is René Marie and Experiment in Truth (Classic Jazz, Jazz Vocals). René leads a 7-piece band on vocals, interspersing the most-beloved calypso selections of Harry Belafonte with lesser-known facts about his use of music to effect social change. The musical selections are arranged by trumpeter Etienne Charles and curated to engaged the heart and mind. The final Arena performance is Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue (Funk, New Orleans). Troy Andrews aka Trombone Shorty got his nickname at four when he made his first appearance at Jazz Fest, performing with Bo Diddley. At six he was leading his own brass band and by his teenage years, he was hired by Lenny Kravitz for his Electric Church World Tour. Since 2010 Trombone Shorty has released five chart topping studio albums, toured with many artists including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and has collaborated across genres with Pharrell, Bruno Mars, Foo Fighters, Ringo Starr, and countless others. The Trombone Shorty Foundation supports youth music education. He has performed at nearly every major music festival, at the White House six times, and over a dozen TV shows. In New Orleans, Shorty leads his own Mardi Gras parade, hosts the annual Treme Threauxdown shows, and has taken over the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival’s hallowed final set. For more detailed information on each performance and artist, please visit montereyjazzfestival.org. The bus will return to the lodge after the last scheduled concert ends. For those who wish to return to the lodge earlier, there will be an early bus each night approximately 1 to 1.5 hours before the last scheduled concert ends. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Lodge check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
In the Terrace Garden Room. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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