At a time when cross border relations have become increasingly complex, the San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival (SDTJ Jazz) offers a welcoming vision of cultural unity. Returning for its second year after the unprecedented venture’s successful 2024 launch, SDTJ Jazz continues to showcase the deep cultural ties embodied by jazz and kindred musical idioms that connect the US and Mexico. Produced by San Diego Jazz Ventures, the three-day festival unfolds October 2, 4, and 5 with a series of concerts and celebrations highlighting the musical art forms of jazz and son jarocho, both inspired by African cultural traditions. SDTJ Jazz is also celebrating local jazz history in the life, legacy and 100th birthday of legendary multi-instrumentalist and NEA Jazz Master James Moody (1925-2010), who spent the last two decades of his extraordinary career as a San Diego resident. This year’s program builds on 2024’s triumph, which the San Diego Union-Tribune described as “audacious…sublime,” and “a tour de force… The San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival impressed enough to suggest its return next year won’t come a moment too soon.” With its roster of heavyweight American, Mexican, Mexican American and Latin American artists, the sophomore season represents a major step in establishing the festival as a region-defining cultural force. SDTJ Jazz kicks into high gear on Saturday, October 4, with a combination of free outdoor performances and a ticketed mainstage lineup indoors at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. The concerts in the main theater include rapidly rising star Lucía, an incandescent singer from Veracruz who was the first Mexican artist to win the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2022. Hailing from an illustrious family of son jarocho artists, she seamlessly weaves jazz classics, boleros, and son jarocho standards into performances punctuated by percussive zapateado, a son jarocho dance idiom from Veracruz. Eight-time Grammy-winning pianist/composer Arturo O’Farrill, described as the leader of the “first family of Afro-Cuban jazz” (The New York Times), is renowned for his weekly residency at Birdland, one of NYC’s top jazz venues. He makes a rare San Diego appearance with his eight member Afro Latin Ensemble. Son jarocho figures prominently in O’Farrill’s Fandango at the Wall project, originally recorded at Tijuana’s Fandango Fronterizo Festival organized by Jorge Castillo. Castillo’s son jarocho ensemble, Fandango Fronterizo Colectivo, reunites with O’Farrill for a portion of his set in the main theater. Much like last year’s festival highlighted Tijuana’s deep jazz roots beginning with New Orleans pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton, this edition highlights another seminal jazz artist’s Tijuana ties. O’Farrill plans to feature the composition “Tijuana Traffic,” a piece by the late composer Carla Bley, an NEA Jazz Master and mentor of O’Farrill’s. Bley recorded “Tijuana Traffic” on her acclaimed 2003 album “Looking For America,” and would likely be pleased at its inclusion on both sides of the US/Mexico border. A revered figure in jazz, James Moody is celebrated for his musical mastery and ebullience, and for his decades-long association with trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. The main theater tribute to Moody features an all-star quartet of Puerto Rican saxophone master David Sánchez, brilliant pianist Gerald Clayton, bass giant John Clayton, and drum maestro Lewis Nash (who is also contributing vocals on tunes indelibly linked to Moody). Top San Diego artists flutist Holly Hofmann and trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos also join as special guests. Outdoors, an Escondido native, the New Orleans-based jazz vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa, who has spent the past two years touring with tenor sax star Joshua Redman, steps to the fore with her own band. She will release her first Blue Note Records album in September. Like Lucía, her career ignited after winning the 2021 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Standard Tickets for the Escondido performances on October 4 are $42 – $118.80 including fees (face value $35-$99). No fees if purchased at the CCAE Box Office in person. VIP ADD-ON AVAILABLE to Orchestra section ticket buyers- $85 Add-On includes admission to the 2 other dates of the festival and a hosted dinner with the menu provided by Romesco at 6 p.m. on October 4 during the event in Escondido. Includes reserved seating to the other two event days. – Paella Tradicional & Paella Vegetariana – House Caesar’s Salad & French Baguette. Event Schedule: 3 p.m. Grounds open 3-3:45 p.m. (free outdoor stage) Iván Trujillo Ensamble 4-5 p.m. (main theater) Lucía 5:30-6:30 p.m. (main theater) James Moody @ 100 David Sánchez, John Clayton, Gerald Clayton, Lewis Nash, Holly Hofmann, Gilbert Castellanos 6:30-8 p.m. Dinner break – food trucks or VIP option 7-7:50 p.m. (free outdoor stage) Gabrielle Cavassa 8:15-9:30 p.m. (main theater) Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Ensemble with the Fandango Fronterizo Colectivo 9:30 p.m. Close
