Concord's Jazz Legacy: 50-Plus Years of Music & Magic
How a small park gathering in 1969 evolved into the world-class Concord Jazz Festival.
The Concord Jazz Festival started as a small outdoor music event in a city park during the summer of 1969 and has grown into one of the premier jazz events in the country. After a 15-year hiatus, the festival returned in 2019 to celebrate its 50th anniversary and drew some of the biggest names in jazz to the 12,500-seat Concord Pavilion.
According to Concord Jazz Festival historian Ellen Herdegen, the idea to start a jazz festival in Concord came from a local visionary, Carl Jefferson, a Lincoln/Mercury auto dealer. He was a loyal jazz fan and an avid collector, but he wanted to go beyond simply collecting records. He envisioned bringing a cultural event to the city by transforming a local summer fair into a top showcase for jazz music.
The first summer music showcase was called the “Jazz in the Park Festival,” and it was held at an undeveloped 8-acre field next to Concord High School. More than 17,000 jazz enthusiasts attended the first year, and the list of performers did not disappoint. Spectators enjoyed music from Vince Guaraldi, Stan Kenton, Jean Luc Ponty, Carmen McRae, Don Ellis, Mel Torme, and the Buddy Rich Band.
Six years after the first festival, Jefferson started a record label aptly named after the city that supported his enthusiasm—the venerable Concord Jazz Records. The internationally recognized label became known for the style called straight-ahead jazz, and it offered many of Jefferson’s favorite musicians an outlet for recording. After the successful launch of the record label, he moved his attention to finding a permanent facility to hold the annual festival.
Jefferson persuaded Concord city officials to support the funding to build an outdoor summer concert amphitheater. And on May 16, 1975, sitting on the eastern edge of Concord, the Concord Pavilion officially opened with a benefit concert featuring world-renowned jazz singer Sarah Vaughan and conductor Henry Mancini. The $4.5-million venue was built on land donated by homebuilder Ken Hofmann, and it was designed by architect Frank Gehry.
“I feel really fortunate to have had a front-row seat to watch Carl Jefferson, and others involved, make things happen. Watching this evolve from an idea to a record company, and then a summer festival. (It shows) the power of one person—and that we all can make things happen if you put your mind to it.” Herdegen
Some of the most legendary jazz performers of the past have performed at the event, including Oscar Peterson, BB King, Pearl Bailey, Peter Nero, George Shearing, Ella Fitzgerald, Gerry Mulligan, Rosemary Clooney, Benny Goodman, Carlos Santana, and, of course, Concord’s native son, Dave Brubeck.
50th Anniversary Concord Jazz Festival
The 50th-anniversary festival in 2019 featured a diverse all-star lineup with some of the biggest contemporary names in jazz. Featured artists included the first jazz artist to win in the Best New Artist Grammy category, bassist Esperanza Spalding, along with Chick Corea’s Spanish Heart Band, and the legendary Count Basie Orchestra.
Other well-known names included contemporary jazz greats Dave Koz, Summer Horns, Poncho Sanchez & his Latin Jazz Band. Patti Austin, Jamison Ross, and Carmen Bradford.
*All photos from the Concord Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary, August 2019
2024 Concord Jazz Around Town
Two Days of Live Events Celebrating Concord's Jazz Heritage
Jazz Shop
Jazz fans can pick up exclusive Concord Jazz Festival merchandise (including tees, pins and drink ware) at the Concord Visitor Center or online at Visit Concord Store.
Concord Visitor Center
Are you visiting Concord or welcoming visitors here? Be sure to stop by the Concord Visitor Center in located at 2151 Salvio Street, Suite T, in Todos Santos Plaza. We are ready to help with free advice, maps, guides, brochures, Concord merchandise and more!