Monterey Jazz Festival returns with Hancock, Marsalis headlining

Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter will reunite as a duo at the 69th Monterey Jazz Festival to honor the centennial of Miles Davis' birth. The festival runs Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

The one-time-only performance, billed as "For Miles," closes the Arena lineup Sunday at 7:45 p.m. on the Jimmy Lyons Stage. It is one of several marquee draws across 74 performances on five stages over three days, according to the festival's official announcement.

The world's longest continuously running jazz festival, held in Monterey since 1958, also marks a farewell. Friday's Arena program features the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and guest vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant. Festival organizers said it will be Marsalis' final appearance at Monterey as the orchestra's leader.

Saturday brings a premiere from Meshell Ndegeocello, who will debut her festival-commissioned piece "America 250" in the Arena at 7 p.m. A Blues Jam with Christone "Kingfish" Ingram and Shemekia Copeland, David Sánchez's Carib Ensemble and Ravi Coltrane Quartet fill out the Saturday bill. The festival is also marking the centennial of John Coltrane's birth; his son Ravi Coltrane performs with his quartet that evening.

Sunday's Arena card also includes the Charles Lloyd Quartet. Lloyd returns to celebrate the 60th anniversary of "Forest Flower," his landmark album recorded live at Monterey in 1966. Spoken-word artist aja monet makes her festival debut in the Sunday Arena lineup. On the grounds stages, author Amy Tan performs alongside pianist Joey Alexander.

An all-star group called the "Monterey Surprise" appears Saturday on the newly renamed Ray Drummond West End Stage. The ensemble features 2026 Artist-in-Residence Ambrose Akinmusire alongside Melissa Aldana, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Gerald Clayton, Larry Grenadier and Brian Blade. Clayton also serves as Artistic Adviser to the festival.

A "Bulldog Bass Jam" dedicated to the late Ray Drummond occupies the same stage Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m., with bassists Essiet Essiet, Larry Grenadier, Linda May Han Oh and Rufus Reid among others.

Tickets and logistics

The festival spans 20 oak-studded acres with roughly 70 food, arts and merchandise vendors. Nearly 30 hours of live music are scheduled.

Full Weekend Arena packages start at $465. Single-Day Arena tickets are $110 for Friday and $215 for Saturday or Sunday. Arena Lawn tickets are $85 for Friday and $135 for Sunday. Full Weekend Grounds packages are $230. Single-Day Grounds tickets were $65 for Friday and $90 for Saturday or Sunday through Sept. 20; prices increased Sept. 21.

Military and student discounts for Grounds tickets are available in person at the fairgrounds box office starting Wednesday, Sept. 23. Military ID holders can purchase up to four tickets; students are limited to one per ID.

Tickets are available at montereyjazz.org or by calling 888-248-6499.