Santa Monica Jazz Festival

There are moments when a city’s soul perfectly aligns with its soundtrack. The inaugural Santa Monica International Jazz Festival, held from May 1–9, 2026, was one of those moments. Curated by the legendary bassist Stanley Clarke, in collaboration with BroadStage and KJazz, the festival wasn’t just a debut; it was a high-energy event celebrating a century of musical genius. The 1st annual Santa Monica Jazz Festival honored the 100-year anniversaries of Miles Davis and John Coltrane in addition to the iconic Route 66.

Santa Monica International Jazz Festival

*Hiromi, festival Executive Producer Martin Fleischmann and festival Artistic Director Stanley Clarke; Photo courtesy of the Santa Monica Jazz Festival*

The festivities kicked off on May 1 with Hiromi’s Sonicwonder at the Orpheum Theatre, setting a high bar for technical brilliance. By May 3, the energy shifted to the Third Street Promenade for a free community concert. Under the California sun, artists like Elijah Fox and Genevieve Artadi proved that jazz is thriving in the hands of a new generation. The momentum carried into Friday night at BroadStage, where Lakecia Benjamin and Isaiah Collier delivered a blistering centennial tribute to Coltrane that left the audience breathless.

Tongva Park SM Jazz Festival Finale

Santa Monica Jazz Festival — *Miles Electric Band featuring Kenyon Harrold; Photo by Richard Bilow*

The festival reached its peak on May 9 at Tongva Park in Santa Monica. The MC set a “celestial” tone, noting the astrological synergy of the titans: Miles the Gemini, Coltrane the Libra, and Route 66 the Scorpio.

The Miles Electric Band opened with “On the Corner,” featuring trumpeter Kenyon Harrold blowing with ferocious intent. While they skipped the Tutu era, bassist Daryl Jones (on loan from the Rolling Stones) provided a deep, funk-laden foundation. The set was a masterclass in modernization, blending aphorisms from Miles himself with DJ Logic on “Footprints” and hauntingly beautiful renditions of “Time After Time” and “Human Nature.”

Stanley Clarke & Stewart Copeland

The festival’s founder, Stanley Clarke, delivered a set that the teens sitting next to me described as “fire.” Jazz is indeed having a comeback. Reunited with his Animal Logic mate, Stewart Copeland of The Police, the duo brought the house down. When they launched into “School Days,” the sight of young people dancing to jazz fusion at Tongva Park felt like a beautiful glitch in the matrix. Then they closed with “Message in a Bottle,” a high-octane spotlight for keyboardist Cameron Graves.

*Stanley Clarke & Stewart Copeland; Photo by Richard Bilow*

Kamasi Washington

Finally, Kamasi Washington took the stage. Clarke introduced him as a “young lion” and a mandatory inclusion for the festival’s vision. Kamasi’s set was a specific, soulful nod to the centennials. With Terrace Martin as well as guest trumpeter Tatiana Tate, the band unleashed a two-drummer, two-sax barrage. From a soaring “Giant Steps” to a vocal-led “Round Midnight” by Patrice Quinn, the music felt “all celestial.” In a touching moment, Kamasi dedicated the set to his bandmate Ryan Porter. Then he asked the crowd for prayers before closing a night that vibrated at the highest energy.

As the first of three major jazz festivals hitting LA this year—preceding the Blue Note at the Hollywood Bowl and the LA Jazz Festival at Dockweiler—Santa Monica has set an impossibly high standard. This wasn’t merely a week of performances. It was the birth of a landmark event that already feels essential to the city’s identity.

Don’t miss next year’s Santa Monica International Jazz Festival. Visit the website for more info – https://www.smjazzfest.com