Jazz festival kicks off in style with Diana Krall and much more

We’re in the midst of one of the best weekends of the year.

And one of the busiest as well, especially if you’re a jazz fan fortunate enough to be in Northern California.

Yes, it’s time once again for the annual three-day Monterey Jazz Festival, arguably the genre’s top showcase of talent, which runs through today at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

The event features hundreds of talented musicians, ranging from promising high school players to some of the top acts in the business. The action runs from early in the day (at least on Saturday and today) until late at night, on eight stages, providing fans with countless cool options but just as many tough decisions.

There are two main ways to spend a day at the festival. The first is to chill out, pick a few acts you want to see and leisurely go about your business, enjoying the vibe, food and drink as much as the music. Then there’s the manic attempt to take it all in, which requires plenty of footwork and, if we’re honest, establishes pretty much impossible goals to meet.

I went with the latter option on Day One (Friday) of the festival, running around like crazy, probably missing as much good stuff as I was catching, but still having a great time.

I was in the gate and ready to go before the music started, having grabbed a good spot at the lovely outdoor Garden Stage. It seemed like there were only a few dozen others in attendance when the acclaimed Allison Au Quartet — which won the Montreal Jazz Festival TD Grand Prix de Jazz — officially kicked off the weekend of music at 4:30 p.m. The Juno Award-winning quartet, led by Au on saxophone, sounded strong as it made its debut at Monterey Jazz.

After about 25 minutes of Au and company, I was over to the Jazz Theater for a screening of the new must-see documentary “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool,” which was a fascinating, enlightening and, most important, balanced portrait of one of the most significant artists of all time.

As the closing credits were rolling on the film, I was off to the Night Club stage to witness the Monterey Jazz debut of the Connie Han Trio. That turned out to be a wise decision, because Han — a gifted Los Angeles-based pianist — was absolutely marvelous on the keys.

I would’ve liked to have stayed for Han’s hourlong set but instead left after about 30 minutes and made my way to the legendary Jimmy Lyons Stage — the same stage where Jimi Hendrix (literally) fired up his guitar at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 — to see the tribute to Mary Lou Williams.

It was a moving tribute to the pioneering pianist-composer-arranger — whom Duke Ellington once described as “perpetually contemporary” — led by bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Allison Miller and featuring pianists Shamie Royston and Carmen Staaf and vocalists Jean Baylor (of the Baylor Project), Johnaye Kendrick and Michael Mayo.

Again leaving that set sooner than I would’ve liked, I was on my way to Dizzy’s Den to see the hardcore improvisation and jamming of the Chris Potter Circuits Trio — led by Potter on saxophone and featuring keyboardist James Francies and drummer Eric Harland — which was nothing short of electrifying.

Then I crossed the courtyard back to the Night Club for Bria Skonberg, whose vocals and trumpet work were equally impressive as she and her versatile backing band delivered one of the best sets of the night.

It was hard to tear myself away from Skonberg, but fully committed to seeing as much as I could, I left and sat in for a bit at the Blue Note at Sea Tent for “Remembering Mary Lou Williams,” which was a round table-type discussion with Allison Miller and other participants in the tribute held earlier in the night.

Then it was over to the Pacific Jazz Cafe for some time with Taylor Mcferrin, the eldest son of Bobby Mcferrin and a promising Dj/producer/keyboardist/vocalist/beatboxer. I also took a spin through the “Jazz Impressions” exhibit, featuring the amazing work of R.R. Jones shot at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz.

That brought me right up to 10 p.m., when I ventured back to the Jimmy Lyons Stage to finish out Day One of the 2019 Monterey Jazz Festival with the great Diana Krall and her band of guitarist Anthony Wilson, drummer Karriem Riggins, bassist John Clayton and saxophonist Joe Lovano.

It was a terrific start to one of the best weekends of the year.

The festivities continue today with acclaimed artists such as Jazzmeia Horn, Ambrose Akinmusire, Candy Dulfer, Bob James, David Sanborn and Marcus Miller.