Kamasi Washington, Stanley Clarke Set for Santa Monica Jazz Festival Debut

Los Angeles will welcome a new multiday music event this spring as the inaugural Santa Monica International Jazz Festival takes place May 1 to 9 across multiple venues in Santa Monica, with Kamasi Washington set to headline.

BroadStage, SM Festivals and the City of Santa Monica unveiled the initial artist lineup for the festival, which is curated by four-time Grammy winner and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Stanley Clarke. Additional artists and special events are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Washington, the Grammy-winning saxophonist known for her collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, will perform “A Day In The Park” on May 9 at Tongva Park. The closing-day lineup also includes Clarke with Kiefer and Keyon Harrold, Miles Electric Band and Knower.

“I’ve performed at the finest jazz festivals around the world, and I can’t think of a locale to stage an annual international jazz festival comparable to Santa Monica, California,” Clarke said in a statement. “I’m excited about the extraordinary lineup of major global jazz artists we have set to perform as well as some new young jazz musicians.”

Washington also shared her enthusiasm for the event, saying, “Los Angeles! I’m excited to join one of my musical heroes and incredible artist Stanley Clarke for his inaugural Santa Monica International Jazz Festival this May. Come hear incredible music at the beautiful festival site in Tongva Park!”

| RELATED: Third Annual Montreux Jazz Festival Miami Announces Initial Lineup |  

The festival opens May 1 with a pre-festival event at The Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles featuring Hiromi’s Sonic Wonder. Tickets for that performance are sold separately.

On May 3, the festival will present Sunday On The Promenade, a free public event on the Third Street Promenade featuring Elija Fox, Genevieve Artadi, Duffy X Ulhmann, Billy Mohler, Instant Alter, Varad Sahasrabudhe, Aidan Farrell and the Samohi Jazz Combo.

Additional highlights include a May 8 tribute to John Coltrane at BroadStage, featuring Isaiah Collier, Lakecia Benjamin and Tenor Madness.

“This has been the opportunity of a lifetime working alongside BroadStage Artist in Residence Stanley Clarke over the last three years developing this incredible new festival from the ground up,” said Rob Bailis, executive and artistic director of BroadStage. 

“It not only celebrates Stanley’s signature artistic vision, blending generations and styles, it also lifts up the world-class appeal of Santa Monica as the ideal setting for a destination festival.”

For more information, visit SMJazzFest.com.