Christian McBride had one query for the massive crowd assembled earlier than him on Day 1 of the 68th annual Monterey Jazz Pageant:
“Whose idea was it to put me on after Gregory Porter?” remarked the gifted bassist, who was following the outstanding vocalist on the pageant’s massive Jimmy Lyons Stage on Friday on the Monterey County Fairgrounds. “I remember one time going on after Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. It was wrong. It did not end well for me.”
Certainly, Porter was a troublesome act to observe, as he delighted the viewers at this outside stage with a 75-minute set that was stuffed with dynamic vocal work, profitable persona and, on the whole, quite a few explanation why this Sacramento-born artist — who was raised in Bakersfield — is taken into account probably the greatest within the recreation.
Porter’s high-flying set, little question, would be the one the most individuals will likely be speaking about from Day 1 of the pageant. But, McBride — one of many prime instrumentalists and band leaders in all of jazz right now — additionally delivered the products throughout his personal 75-minute set together with his versatile band Ursa Main.
And, actually, every of these nice acts accounted for simply two of plenty of explanation why the 68th annual Monterey Jazz Pageant — which was co-founded by music critic Ralph J. Gleason and radio DJ Jimmy Lyons in 1958 — received off to such a superb begin. Different artists that delivered profitable Day 1 performances included saxophonist-vocalist Grace Kelly and Latin jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez.
But, we needs to be clear upfront about one factor:
Monterey Jazz stays, nevertheless, a pageant in transition.
It’s nonetheless recovering from its pandemic woes and looking for its footing within the submit Tim Jackson-era, after the longtime creative director stepped down from his place following the 2023 pageant. Jackson’s place was rapidly stuffed by acclaimed composer Darin Atwater, however that tenure proved to be very temporary — with Atwater and Monterey Jazz parting methods after only one pageant (2024).
Bruce Labadie, a particularly savvy booker identified for his work with San Jose Jazz Summer season Fest, the Mountain Vineyard, Villa Montalvo and too many different Bay Space arts organizations to say, has since stepped in as interim creative director and has executed an outstanding job with what he’s needed to work with.
But, that hasn’t stopped folks from noting — and complaining — that the 2025 version is a downsized model of the pageant, with fewer units of stay music, fewer phases and fewer marquee names on the invoice than what followers had been accustomed to seeing previous to the pandemic.
And whereas all of that’s true, it actually hasn’t stopped each followers and artists from having fun with being again in Monterey.
“I love how y’all get down at the Monterey Jazz Festival,” remarked Grace Kelly, searching on the crowd halfway by means of her energetic set on the Dizzy’s Den stage on Day 1. “We’ve got people in cowboy hats dancing in the aisles”
Rising up as a musical prodigy, the 33-year-old artist has actually carried out at some spectacular venues and massive events over her still-young profession. For starters, she carried out at 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama at age 16 and as a soloist with the Boston Pops — enjoying an authentic composition — at simply 14. Since then, she’s performed the Hollywood Bowl, frolicked as a member of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” home band and launched greater than a dozen albums.
But, she was nonetheless thrilled to be making her debut in Monterey — on the longest constantly run jazz pageant on the planet — on Friday.
“Thank you everyone for coming out,” stated Kelly, who proved to be an equally entertaining vocalist, saxophonist and frontwoman throughout her Monterey Jazz set. “It’s the start of a great weekend.”
Opening day would attain its crescendo — as McBride alluded to — with the efficiency by Porter, who was opening the pageant’s predominant area stage for this 68th version.
Porter sounded sensible as he melded jazz, pop, R&B, Motown and gospel into his personal distinct vocal method — one which has twice gained him a Grammy in the very best jazz vocal album class. He’d spotlight each of these profitable albums (2013’s “Liquid Spirit” and 2016’s “Take Me to the Alley”) throughout his set, whereas additionally taking time to inform tales and joke round with the group.
“It’s wonderful to look out on this crowd and see so much wisdom,” Porter stated to a combination of groans and guffaws from the group. “Hey, nobody is calling you old.”
The 2025 Monterey Jazz Pageant is ready to proceed by means of Sunday. Followers can count on to see performances by supremely gifted vocalists Ledisi and Dianne Reeves, in addition to bluesmen J.C. Smith and Mr. Sipp, on Saturday. Sunday’s anticipated highlights embody New Orleans favorites Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Latin jazz nice Pete Escovedo.
For extra data, go to montereyjazz.org.
Initially Revealed: September 27, 2025 at 10:22 AM PDT
