The festival aims to celebrate jazz as America’s classical music while highlighting African, African American and Caribbean cultural influences.
The inaugural Los Angeles Jazz Festival will reveal its performer lineup and programming details during a press event on Thursday, April 30, in Santa Monica.
The announcement, timed to coincide with International Jazz Day, will feature remarks from festival founder and CEO Martin Ludlow, along with festival partners and cultural leaders.
The 17-day festival is scheduled to debut in August and is positioned to become the largest Black-owned jazz festival in history and the third-largest international jazz festival, according to its organizers. It aims to celebrate jazz as America’s classical music while highlighting African, African American and Caribbean cultural influences.
Programming is expected to include Jazz on the Beach, Caribbean Street Festival, Jazz in the Park, Jazz After Dark and Coastal Cultural Tours. The event will culminate with closing weekend concerts on August 22–23 at Dockweiler Beach in Los Angeles.
Organizers say the festival is expected to draw approximately 250,000 attendees and will emphasize social justice, environmental responsibility and support for minority- and women-owned businesses. Airbnb is the title sponsor.
