Filled with half-century pride, the Monterey Jazz Festival takes its all-star anniversary lineup on the road
 According to jazz vet James Moody, jazz’s intelligence may be just the cure to America’s ailing arts.
When you’re talking about the oldest jazz festival in the country, one birthday celebration hardly seems like enough. Or at least that’s what the Monterey Jazz Festival’s (MJF) General Manager Tim Jackson decided this past year. After playing at the 50th Anniversary Festival last Fall, this year’s all-star band—an impressive collection of jazz greats—is taking their show on the road. For the first time in history, people will be able to experience the magic of the MJF without going to Monterey. Heralded as a “meeting of three generations of jazz masters,” the touring band features James Moody on saxophone, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Benny Green on piano, Derrick Hodge on bass, Kendrick Scott on drums and Nnenna Freelon on vocals. Santa Cruz is one of the first stops on the band’s ten-week, 54-date tour that will take them all over the country. It’s a unique opportunity for jazz lovers from Atlanta to Indianapolis, as well as those Californians who have never taken advantage of the chance to experience the legendary festival. All-star bands have been an MJF staple since 1966, and a who’s who list of the members includes almost every big name in jazz since. The first festival alone featured Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Sonny Rollins, Gerry Mulligan with Art Farmer, Benny Carter, Max Roach, Dave Brubeck and the Modern Jazz Quartet, to name a few. Jackson and his team are hoping that audiences across the country will want a taste of what the jazz festival has come to mean over the years. In upholding the spirit of the festival, the MJF band will be playing music that explores all the corners of the jazz spectrum and celebrates the accomplishments of its members. That said, this concert is no “dummy’s guide to jazz.” First-time jazz listeners are welcome, but they shouldn’t expect History of Jazz 101. “We want things to be made so simple for us,” says vocalist Nnenna Freelon. “We want samples, we want 30-second soundbites. And this is not music that’s consumable in that way. There’s some kind of jazz for every taste. If you find that there’s something intriguing in the music, you have to figure for yourself what moves you.” By all accounts, Monterey is not just the “festival of all festivals” for the audience, but has come to be a great honor for artists as well. Freelon is a six-time Grammy Award-nominee, her latest nomination coming with the 2005 release Blueprint of a Lady: Sketches of Billie Holiday on the Concord label. Freelon is the winner of the Eubie Blake Award and was twice nominated for the “Lady of Soul” Soul Train Award. Even with tours to Europe and Russia planned for 2008 and the upcoming release of Better than Anything: The Quintessential Nnenna Freelon, she says she’s looking forward to three months on the road for this project. And she’s not the only one. To hear them talk about it, you’d think these jazz masters were school kids heading off to summer camp. Freelon can’t start playing with James Moody soon enough. Although they’ve played on the same bill before, this is the first time they’ll be playing together—at the show, listen for their rendition of the Fats Waller tune “Squeeze Me.” “James Moody holds a really special place,” says Freelon. “His tone is so warm and delicious and round and vocal-like for me. And the more experience I get in this music, the more I realize that the person you are really is reflected in the music. He sounds that way because of love.” A “perpetual student,” Moody claims to be looking forward to having the other band members teach him this time around. The famous jazz sax and flute man first played the festival as part of Dizzy Gillespie’s band in the early 1960s (at the height of the “Dizzy for President” frenzy, no less). In reflecting on today’s musical landscape, Moody is extremely critical. “When it comes to the arts,” he says, “America is a land of mediocrity. Twenty-five million people calling an automobile a television set doesn’t make it one.” In other words, some music just shouldn’t qualify as music. His sentiment may come across as a little narrow-minded, but Moody has probably earned the right to be snooty. Moody is possibly best known for his “Moody’s Mood for Love,” originally an instrumental improvisation on “I’m in the Mood for Love,” which has been recorded by artists as diverse as Van Morrison and Amy Winehouse. A true jazz legend, the versatile Moody has been developing his chops for over five decades, and will serve as Grand Master of the MJF tour. At age 82, Moody says he has no plans to retire, citing his belief that it’s just not something musicians do. As he puts it, “Jazz is intelligent music. And as far as you can count, that’s how far jazz will go.” And despite whatever preconceived notions you may have of jazz concerts, Freelon wants you to consider bringing the kids. “The earlier the exposure, the better,” she says. “I think we sort of underestimate what kids will dig. When I’m in Europe, if there’s something happening, something interesting, people come out and bring the kids, even very young ones, to get these cultural experiences that are fewer and far between.” In addition to the tour, the festival continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a series of recordings featuring never-before-released performances from the festival’s storied past. Released under the newly formed Monterey Jazz Festival Records label, Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival is available for sale during the tour, and features the same all-star lineup, as well as many of the tunes they’ll be playing. Also watch for the buzz around festival performer Terence Blanchard. His 2007 album A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina), which also features tour members Kendrick Scott and Derrick Hodge, has been nominated for two Grammys. The Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Tour plays the Rio Theatre at 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11 at 1205 Soquel Ave. in Santa Cruz. Tickets are $35 for general reserved seating and $50 for gold circle limited seating. For more information call the Kuumbwa Jazz Center at 427-2227.
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