As one of the world’s longest running and most iconic events, the Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates its 65th year with a must-hear once-in-a-lifetime ensemble. Featuring Tony and Grammy Award winning NEA Jazz Master vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater alongside Grammy Award winning vocalist Kurt Elling and critically acclaimed rising star saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, this stellar band will be directed by visionary pianist Christian Sands and anchored by his longtime rhythm section, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn.
The Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour concept began with our 50th Anniversary in 2007 with the idea of taking the musical spirit of MJF, along with artists who reflect that spirit, and fashion a musical program that engages all the artistry and energy of the festival and bring it to jazz fans throughout the country. That first tour included James Moody, Terence Blanchard, Benny Green, Nnenna Freelon, Derrick Hodge, and Kendrick Scott. The band debuted at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival where we recorded live and released the Grammy-winning CD Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars: Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival. We then embarked on 52 city tour of the US in January–April of 2008, from Bellingham WA to Long Island, NY. We have produced four subsequent tours in 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2019.
Artists involved include Christian McBride, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Gerald Clayton, Christian McBride, Benny Green, Bria Skonberg, Kenny Barron, Kurt Elling, Regina Carter, Nicholas Payton, Ravi Coltrane, Russell Malone, Chris Potter, Melissa Aldana, and Ambrose Akinmusire to name a few. In total, the MJF on Tour programs have played over 185 concerts to almost 150,000 people.
Fox Tucson Theatre in partnership with the Tucson Jazz Festival proudly presents this very special engagement.