California Jazz Festivals

California's Most Travel-Worthy Music Festivals

California is also the home of lots of big music festivals.

Sacramento Music Festival - May

Formerly known as Sacjazz, Sacramento's jazz festival now incorporates a broad range of musical styles, from western swing to zydeco and mariachi, while still emphasizing all kinds of jazz.

The festival features more than 50 bands in more than 20 venues, including lots of nationally-known performers.

SLO Jazzfest - May

For a variety from funk to Latin Jazz to straight-ahead and New Orleans jazz and an intimate setting where you can actually get up close to the artists, attend the SLO Jazzfest, started in 2013 in San Luis Obispo, California. The surrounding college town, wine country, beaches, and attractions like Hearst Castle add to the fun.

Past performers include Poncho Sanchez and Joshua Redman.

San Francisco Jazz Festival - June

It's almost like a jazz festival all year in San Francisco, at the SF Jazz Center. June is the San Francisco Jazz Festival, with a month of performances spanning all kinds of jazz styles.

Hollywood Bowl Summer Jazz Series

There may not be a better place to enjoy a jazz concert than the Hollywood Bowl. The Philharmonic's Jazz at the Bowl Series includes blues, big bands, Latin jazz, and other styles.

The two-day Playboy Jazz Festival and Smooth Summer Jazz (formerly JVC Jazz) also bring jazz greats and exciting newcomers to the Hollywood Bowl's summer lineup.

Fillmore Jazz Festival, San Francisco - July

It's a big street party with three stages of continuous jazz performances, more than 300 artists’ booths, and plenty of food and beverages. Even better, it's free. In fact, it's the largest free jazz festival on the west coast, drawing up to 100,000 visitors.

It's held on Fillmore Street, with no admission fees and three performance stages. You can also browse through a few hundred artists' booths and graze through the international food stands. The date is always close to July 4, making it a good thing to do during an Independence Day getaway.

It's no wonder as many as 100,000 people attend every year - which is its only big drawback.

San Jose Jazz Festival - August

The San Jose Jazz Summer Fest is one of the biggest in California, with performers in a wide range of jazz genres including straight-ahead, contemporary, and Latin jazz, R&B and funk, blues, big band, and salsa. The performers run the gamut from promising newcomers to big-name headliners.

Online reviewers talk about how easy this event is to attend - and how affordable it is. Often, you can get tickets for the whole festival for less than the price of a ticket to see just one of the big-named performers somewhere else.

Russian River Jazz and Blues, Guerneville - September

Smoothjazz.com says this is one of the world's hottest and sexiest jazz festivals. Expect a mix of jazz and blues performers at this festival which has been going on for more than four decades. 

It's held at Johnson's Beach on the banks of the Russian River.

Monterey Jazz Festival - September

Founded in 1958, the Monterey Jazz Festival is the world's longest-running jazz festival, and it hasn't lost its appeal, selling out almost every year.

It's held at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, where jazz artists perform more than 50 concerts on nine stages. They also host interesting conversations and music-related interviews.

This classic festival is one of Smoothjazz.com's picks for the world's hottest and sexiest jazz festivals.

JazzTrax, Catalina Island - October

JazzTrax on Catalina Island lasts three weekends and features more than 30 artists. The location couldn't be nicer. It's no wonder people come from all over the world.

Summer Concert Series at the Hyatt Regency, Newport Beach

Smoothjazz.com says this is one of the world's hottest and sexiest jazz festivals. It happens every Friday evening from June through October. You can listen to the stars of contemporary jazz, pop, vocals, blues, and rock and watch the sunset over the beautiful Newport Beach Back Bay at the same time.

Past performers have included Smokey Robinson, Sheila E., Boney James and Brian Culbertson.

Jazz Fest, San Diego - November

Held over Thanksgiving weekend (fourth weekend in November), this festival offers a variety of experiences from large concert rooms with double dance floors to small, intimate "listening" rooms.

Their roots are in Dixieland, but you'll also hear traditional jazz, ragtime, swing, and rockabilly styles.