LA JOLLA – The La Jolla Music Society’s second Jazz Mini Festival, celebrating the birth anniversaries of musical giants Miles Davis and John Coltrane, continues with concerts featuring acclaimed contemporary artists and a free panel and courtyard concert.
The Brian Levy Quartet will perform a free tribute to the music of John Coltrane in honor of his centennial at 4:30 p.m. on Friday at Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series, 7600 Faye Ave.
Coltrane 100 brings together saxophonists Joe Lovano and Melissa Aldana, pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts for a collective tribute at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave.
In honor of the music series and its importance, Times of San Diego caught up with Leah Rosenthal, LJMS artistic director, to get the backstory on this concert series.
TOSD: Tell us about the genesis of this birthday celebration of jazz greats at LJMS.
Rosenthal: The Jazz Mini Festival really grew out of our last strategic plan, where we were looking for ways to bring a more festival experience into the Main Season. At first, we weren’t sure it would be a jazz festival every year, but after the success of the first festival, and with our growing organizational commitment to jazz, it felt like the right place to focus.
The Mini Festivals are meant to be a deep dive into a specific theme or moment in jazz. From the beginning, the idea was to create something that goes beyond a traditional series of concerts. By using multiple venues, both at The Conrad and off-site, we’re able to more deeply connect with audiences through performances and learning and engagement activities.
This year’s festival came together organically with the convergence of the centennials of John Coltrane and Miles Davis. It felt like a rare opportunity to honor their legacies in a way that goes beyond just the performance experience, but also through conversation, learning, and deeper engagement with the music.
TOSD: How does jazz figure into the overall scheme of activities and performances presented by LJMS?
Rosenthal: Jazz has become an increasingly vital part of LJMS’ artistic identity. While classical music remains the foundation of the organization’s history, jazz plays an essential role in expanding both the breadth of our programming and the audiences we serve.
TOSD: Is this mini festival with different venues a new concept?
Rosenthal: We’ve long presented jazz at The Conrad, across both of our performance spaces and in the courtyard, as well as at off-site venues like the Balboa Theatre and Jacobs Music Center. What the Mini Jazz Festival does is bring a greater sense of cohesion to that work, shaping it into a more intentional, multi-venue experience.
Access is always top of mind for us, and while La Jolla is home, presenting downtown creates entry points for those who may find it more convenient.
TOSD: Tell us how you went about selecting the artists who will be performing the works of these two jazz giants.
Rosenthal: My curatorial lens always begins with artistic excellence, alongside a commitment to bringing together a meaningful range of voices. From there, the real challenges begin. It becomes an intricate puzzle balancing my artistic desires with the practical realities of who is actually touring and available. Building a festival within a defined window inevitably narrows the field, and it is always a little difficult trying to align artists and schedules.
This year, I am especially thrilled where we landed and that we were able to bring such an extraordinary group of artists to honor John Coltrane and Miles Davis. From pianist Emmet Cohen, winner of the American Pianist Awards, to legendary five-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Terence Blanchard, and Ravi Coltrane, Doris Duke Artist Award recipient and son of John Coltrane, in a special duo performance at the Balboa Theatre.
At The Conrad, audiences will also experience some of the most compelling voices in jazz today, including NEA Jazz Master Joe Lovano and rising star Melissa Aldana, the first female instrumentalist and first South American musician to win the prestigious Thelonious Monk Competition.
TOSD: How is this second version of the fest different from the inaugural event?
Rosenthal: This second edition builds directly on the success of last year’s festival. We took what resonated most, both artistically and with our audiences, and leaned more deeply into those strengths. While the inaugural festival established the framework, this year’s program is more thematically focused, with a clear throughline centered on the legacies of John Coltrane and Miles Davis.
TOSD: We’re assuming there will be a third installment to follow. Any idea yet what that one will feature?
Rosenthal: Yes, there will be! You’ll have to wait until the 2026-27 season is announced later this spring for the details.
Brian Levy Quartet, Friday, 4:30 p.m., Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series, free, 7600 Faye Ave.; Coltrane 100. Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave.; Tickets available at the LJMS box office at (858) 459-3728, and TheConrad.org.
