Summer 2023

C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 3 117 J o HN F. K ENNEDY SAID , “C HANGE IS THE LAW OF LIFE . A ND THOSE WHO LOOK ONLY TO THE PAST OR PRESENT ARE CERTAIN TO MISS THE FUTURE .” S UCCESSION OF LEADERSHIP IN ANY ORGANIZATION IS INEVITABLE . F OR INSTANCE , SINCE 1958 THE U NITED S TATES HAS HAD 13 PRESIDENTS , BUT ONLY TWO PEOPLE HAVE GUIDED THE M ONTEREY J AZZ F ESTIVAL (MJF) IN THOSE 65 YEARS , J IMMY L YONS AND T IM J ACKSON . T HAT ’ S ABOUT TO CHANGE WHEN J ACKSON STEPS DOWN THIS YEAR AFTER 32 YEARS WITH MJF, FIRST AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THEN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR . R ADIO PERSONALITY AND JAZZ PROMOTER L YONS AND HIS FRIEND , MUSIC CRITIC R ALPH J. G LEASON , COOKED UP THE IDEA OF A WEST COAST JAZZ FESTI - VAL AS AN ANSWER TO R HODE I SLAND ’ S N EWPORT J AZZ F ESTIVAL . H IS IDEA WAS TO TAKE THE MUSIC OUT OF DANK CLUBS AND “ OUT IN THE OPEN , WITH LOTS OF TREES AND GRASS … IN THE WIND , UNDER THE SKY WHERE IT BELONGS .” T HAT ’ S AN APT DESCRIPTION FOR THE LOCATION CHOSEN FOR THEIR PRODUC - TION , THE P ATTEE A RENA AT THE BUCOLIC M ONTEREY F AIRGROUNDS . T HE ARTISTS L YONS BOOKED FOR THAT SHOW INCLUDED D IZZY G ILLESPIE , H ARRY J AMES , D AVE B RUBECK AND B ILLIE H OLIDAY . Jackson with MJF Founder Jimmy Lyons. Jackson is only the second person to run the festival since its inception in 1958. Photo: Monterey County Herald