August 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2024
Announcing a stellar lineup of all-star performers including Grammy Award winning percussionist Poncho Sanchez. The “King of Latin Jazz” opens the festival Thursday, August 22 with his fiery stew of jazz, gritty soul, and infectious Latin rhythms.
You don’t go to a Poncho Sanchez concert to sit in your seat. You can’t. His explosive grooves blast you to your feet.
“I invite fans to come have a good time,” Sanchez says. “We’re going to jump, shout and shimmy.”
Don’t miss the Festival’s mind blowing Friday, August 23rd show featuring Grammy winning, International Superstar, Lee Ritenour. Lee has contributed to over 3000 sessions and has charted over 30 contemporary jazz hits since 1976. Stay tuned!
The festival concludes Saturday, August 24 with Grammy Award winning pianist John Proulx and soul-stirring vocals from guest star Val Geason, a former Ray Charles “Raelette”. John and Val will be backed by the acclaimed LA Jazz Salon, featuring sax legend Ricky Woodard, drummer, writer, producer and director Judd Pillot and trumpet master Nolan Shaheed who played with Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Ray Charles, to name a few.
As an enduring example of the Blue Jay Jazz Festival’s ongoing commitment to youth music education, the festival will feature performances by the 2024 Future Generation Jazz Scholars. Thursday, August 22 will also feature the Speakeasy Band led by internationally acclaimed guitarist Tom Fernandes performing music from the Great American Songbook.
Blue Jay Jazz Foundation (BJJF) is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization. In addition to presenting world-class jazz, our mission is to promote music education, inspire performance excellence, and develop audience appreciation for our American musical culture.
The Blue Jay Jazz Festival serves as a major funding source for the Foundation’s music education programs including scholarship awards to Rim School music students, an instrument lending library, Instrument Petting Zoo and live performance opportunities for promising music students during the Festival.
