Blue Jay Jazz Festival 2026:

Style and Sass!

The Blue Jay Jazz Foundation is excited to announce its 19th Annual Festival and its stellar lineup. Our mission is to pay tribute to this uniquely American art form and all its relatives: blues, R&B, traditional big bands, rock, funk, Latin jazz, and pop. Tickets go on sale June 1.

Our immersive 3-day live jazz experience includes two evenings at Arrowhead Lake Association’s Tavern Bay Beach Club and one evening at the beautiful San Moritz Lodge in Crestline.

Best of all, the 2026 Jazz Festival is for a good cause – Proceeds help provide instruments, equipment and music making opportunities for our local youth.Best of all, the 2026 Jazz Festival supports student scholarships and playing opportunities while bringing first class Jazz entertainment to our community.

Aug 27

Thursday, August 27
Tavern Bay Beach Club, Lake Arrowhead, CA.
Gate time 5pm.  Opening show: 6pm – Main Show:  7pm – 8:30pm.

The Carl Verheyen Band

The Carl Verheyen Band

Thursday, August 27

Carl Verheyen is best known as a longtime member of Supertramp and leader of the Carl Verheyen Band. Ranked among the world’s top guitarists, he has recorded 16 albums, played on hundreds of records, major film and TV soundtracks, and toured globally. A sought‑after session musician and influential teacher, he is acclaimed for his virtuosity across rock, jazz, blues, and country styles.

Opening Act
6 Beats Apart

Opening the concert event will be 6 Beats Apart. Members Ed Wynne, Andy Waddell , Mark Gasbarro, Bruce Lett and MB Gordy are some of the top studio musicians in L.A. Their credits include numerous top-selling albums, feature films, television shows, and live performances with jazz greats such as Freddie Hubbard, Red Garland, Eddie Harris, and Nancy Wilson to name a few.

There will be a special awards ceremony featuring Blue Jay Jazz Foundation’s 2026 Future Generation Jazz Scholars.

Aug 28

Friday, August 28
Tavern Bay Beach Club, Lake Arrowhead, CA.
Gate time 5pm.  Opening show: 6pm – Main Show:  7pm – 8:30pm.

Tierra Legacy, The Legacy Continues

Tierra Legacy, The Legacy Continues

Friday, August 28

Tierra Legacy, the show-stopping, eye popping, legendary Latin R&B band led by David Salas, son of the band’s founder, Rudy Salas. The band was founded in 1972 and was the first Latino group to have four songs on the national charts at the same time. Family members and longtime collaborators honor the band’s heritage and keep it spicy. Bring your dancing shoes. They say, “If you got the suit, we got the Zoot!”

Opening Act
Ellis Hall Group

Opening the concert event will be “The Ambassador of Soul” – Ellis Hall.
Musician, vocalist, songwriter, and arranger Ellis Hall, brings his five octave range and deep love of performing from his years with Tower of Power, Sheila E., Herbie Hancock, James Taylor, Patti Labelle, and Toby Keith.

Aug 29

Saturday, August 29
San Moritz Lodge, Crestline, CA.
Gate time 4pm.  Main Show:  5pm – 6:30pm.

Niki Haris
with the L.A. Jazz Salon


NIKI HARIS is a multi-talented singer, dancer, actress and choreographer.  She is the daughter of GRAMMY Award-nominated jazz pianist GENE HARRIS.  Best known as “The BIG VOICE” behind Madonna for over 18 years. Niki appeared with Madonna in the movie “Truth or Dare” and many of her videos. Her long list of vocal collaborations reads like a “Who’s Who” of the music business, from working live with Stanley Turrentine, Joe Sample and the Jazz Crusaders, to recordings with Ray Charles to Mick Jagger and from Whitney Houston to Sheryl Crow, and many others.

Niki Haris
Jazz Salon All Stars

Saturday, August 29, the Festival offers the Los Angeles Jazz Salon All Stars with vocalist Niki Haris with their take on the Great American Songbook and jazz standards.

Dave Ross, Judd Pillot, Nolan Shaheed, Rickey Woodard and Mitch Forman.

Opening Act
Digital Audio Projekt

Opening the concert event will be DAP with André Berry, Bruce Rubio and Harold Allen Jr.

DAP

Opening Saturday will be The Digital Audio Projekt showcasing locals André Berry, Bruce Rubio and Harold Allen, Jr. One of the busiest sidemen in the business these days is bassist André Berry played with David Sanborn for a decade, while supporting Warren Hill.   He has toured with Dave Koz, Rick Braun and Mindi Abair and continues to be one of the most sought-after bass players in the industry.

Professional saxophonist and long-time Lake Arrowhead resident, Bruce Rubio has ticked an impressive list of stints with top professional jazz bands, rock bands, and tribute bands and native New Orleans born drummer, Harold Allen Jr. has performed with various artists including The Brothers Johnson, Jermaine Jackson, Ivan Neville, Leo Nocentelli, Percy Sledge, Jean Knight, Harmonica Fats, Michael Haggins and many others.

Major Partners & Supporter

Support the Blue Jay Jazz Foundation

We know times are challenging, and we are grateful to each of you for sticking by us. Our education programs provide annual jazz education scholarships, awards, instrument lending and live performance opportunities for students and other young people in the San Bernardino Mountain communities. We also believe that festivals in general, and the Blue Jay Jazz Festival specifically, are an incredible gathering of community around amazing music – it brings joy to our lives, and solace to our souls.

Donate Today

We ask you to consider supporting
the Blue Jay Jazz Foundation today
with a donation – so we can bring live
music to you now and for years to come.

Stay up to date with our Newsletter

Blue Jay Jazz Foundation

P.O. Box 3334
Blue Jay, CA 92317

info@bluejayjazz.org
501c3 • Federal ID/EIN # 20-4934987

Donate