FREE EVENT: 30TH ANNUAL CENTRAL AVENUE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025

Join me at the Central Avenue Jazz Festival. It's a great day listening to music, eating, checking out arts and crafts, and people watching. I've been going since 2004 and it's always a great vibe. AND IT'S FREE!

Date: Saturday, September 20, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Price: $0.00! No tickets required! Just show up! (They threaten to double the price every year)

Location: Central Avenue between MLK Blvd. & Vernon Ave. , centered around Central Avenue Jazz Park on E. 42nd St., Los Angeles
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/hE9n6L4hdUWNEwcr6

Festival Map: https://www.centralavejazzfest.com/downloads/2025Central%20Ave%20Jazz%20Festival%20Map.pdf

Festival FAQ page, including parking info:
https://centralavejazzfest.com/know-before-you-go/

The best place for updated information is their Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/centralavenuejazz/

Festival Website: https://centralavejazzfest.com/

From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Avenue_Jazz_Festival

1996 documentary video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA8NcUgLtgI

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
https://centralavejazzfest.com/performances/

QUINCY JONES STAGE: Central & 43rd

• Gregory Porter - 5:30 to 6:45
• Dayramir Gonzalez - 3:45 to 4:45
• Jazmeia Horn - 2:00 to 3:00
• Kenneth Crouch plays Quincy & Sly - 12:30 to 1:30
• Jazzamerica - 11:15 to 12:00

ROY AYERS STAGE: Central & 41st
- Roy Ayers Tribute Project - 5:45 to 7:00

• Poncho Sanchez - 4:00 to 5:15
• Blaque Dynamite - 2:30 to 3:30
• Joel Ross - 1:15 to 2:00
• Sharada Shashidhar - 11:45 to 12:45

DUNBAR STAGE: Central & 42 pl.

• USC Jazz Ensemble - 3:30 to 4:15 & 4:30 to 5:00
• Ennis Harris & Harumi Kakimoto - 2:30 to 3:00
• Dr. Lorn S. Foster (presentation) - 1:15 to 2:00

The festival is free of charge, and in previous years has included free secure parking at a local school. Street parking is available, but sometimes hard to find.

The festival was started in 1996 and has regularly featured a number of prominent jazz, blues, and Latin Jazz musicians who got their start in the area, such as Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wilson, Arthur Blythe and Ernie Andrews. A strong component of the festival's format has been to spotlight young Los Angeles musicians, such as Kamasi Washington, and Kalil Wilson, as well as talent from the neighborhood's high school bands and choirs.