Daren Atwater hasn’t wasted any time putting his stamp on the Monterey Jazz Festival. Taking over from Tim Jackson as only the third person to serve as artistic director of the nation’s longest running jazz festival, the Washington, D.C., pianist, composer, conductor and educator has leaned into the festival’s embrace of gospel music while expanding the MJF roster to include Baltimore/D.C. musicians who’ve rarely if ever played in the region.
One secret to finding the most interesting acts at Monterey is looking past the bandleader into a combo’s personnel, information that can be hard to find before purchasing a festival program on the fairgrounds. Here are 10 acts not to miss, with some inside dope on the indispensable side players.
G. Thomas Allen
The first male singer to win the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Chicago-based G. Thomas Allen, a sweet-toned tenor, makes his California debut with a quartet featuring Los Angeles drummer Jonathan Pinson. Details: Pacific Jazz Café, 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Tim Green Quartet
A powerful tenor saxophonist from Baltimore, Tim Green has played in the region with bassist Christian McBride’s big band, but makes his Northern California debut as a leader with a quartet featuring drummer Carroll Dashiell III. Details: Pacific Jazz Café, 7:30 p.m. Friday and 7:45 p.m. Saturday.
Sean Mason Quartet
North Carolina-reared pianist Sean Mason made an impressive festival debut last year accompanying vocalist Catherine Russell, and he’s back leading his own quartet focusing on music from his excellent debut album “The Southern Suite.” Details: Main Arena, 9 p.m. Friday.
Joel Ross Good Vibes
A startlingly brilliant vibraphonist and composer, Joel Ross, 29, leads a band brimming with young talent, like Monterey-raised bassist Kanoa Mendenhall. Details: West End Stage, 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Christie Dashiell
With an irresistible sound steeped in jazz, R&B, gospel and soul, the rapidly rising Washington, D.C., vocalist Christie Dashiell makes her festival debut with a hard-grooving quartet powered by her brother, drummer Carroll Dashiell III. Details: Main Arena, 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo, ‘El Arte Del Bolero’
After working together for more than 20 years in Miguel Zenón’s quartet, Venezuelan pianist Luis Perdomo and the Puerto Rican alto sax star recorded two sublime duo albums interpreting classic Latin American ballads, the format and repertoire they’re bringing to the fairgrounds. Details: Pacific Jazz Café, 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Tarbaby
The collective trio Tarbaby brings together mid-career masters Orrin Evans (piano), Eric Revis (bass), and Nasheet Waits (drums), three smart and creatively ambitious improvisers known for their work in other ensembles. Details: West End Stage, 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
Julia Keefe Indigenous Jazz Ensemble
A fascinating ensemble co-led by Nez Perce vocalist Julia Keefe and Diné trumpeter Delbert Anderson, this nonet showcases a rising generation of Native American improvisers while celebrating a little-known jazz legacy dating back to the music’s New Orleans roots. Details: Garden Stage, 3 p.m. Sunday.
Marquis Hill: Composers Collective
Known for his work as a bandleader, Chicago-reared, New York trumpeter Marquis Hill has assembled a collective quintet featuring leading conceptualists like vibraphonist Joel Ross and drummer Makaya McCraven, who both spent formative years in Hill’s Blacktet. Details: West End Stage, 5 p.m. Sunday.
James Brandon Lewis’ Red Lilly Quintet
A tenor saxophonist hailed by Sonny Rollins himself as a major voice on the instrument, James Brandon Lewis performs with one of jazz’s deepest working combos featuring drummer Chad Taylor, cornetist Kirk Knuffke, bassist Chris Lightcap and cellist Janel Leppin. Details: Main Arena, 9 p.m. Sunday.