May 20, 2008; Monterey, CA; Gerald Wilson, the legendary bandleader, composer, and trumpeter was honored for his musical and personal contributions to the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Monterey Bay area, and to the world of music on Friday, May 2nd, at the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Second Annual Jazz Legends Gala at the Tehama Golf Club in Carmel. Some of the fans and patrons honoring Mr. Wilson were the Mayors of Monterey and Seaside, Chuck Della Sala and Ralph Rubio, and the iconic Academy Award winning actor and director, Clint Eastwood.

The all-star affair was an evening devoted to music education, with all proceeds from the Gala going to support the Festival’s Jazz Education Programs, considered to be some of the most highly-regarded in the country.

One hundred and fifty jazz fans and patrons honored Mr. Wilson with a standing ovation as Mayor Della Sala congratulated him for his contributions to jazz, and presented an official proclamation in his honor, and can be read here: http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/2008/jlgproclamation.php

Gerald Wilson first appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1963, and he has since become an MJF favorite, on the stage or off. He has performed at Monterey nine times over the years and has created landmark compositions to celebrate the Festival’s 20th anniversary (1977), 40th anniversary (1997), and 50th anniversary (2007). Now eighty-nine years old, Mr. Wilson is one of the few remaining artists of the pre-World War II golden era of jazz and swing (and the modern era of today) still actively performing and composing.

Tim Jackson, General Manager for the Festival, introduced Mr. Wilson, saying that he had been a longtime friend, patron and supporter of the Festival throughout its history.

Mr. Eastwood recalled his own love of the era of the big bands, saying that Lunceford’s Orchestra was regarded as one of the nation’s best.

After he was brought to the stage and Mr. Eastwood presented him with the 2008 Jazz Legends Award, Mr. Wilson recounted that it was his dream to play at the Festival, and that he first came to Monterey in 1958 with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, in Carmel. He forged a strong bond with the Festival’s founder, Jimmy Lyons, who had booked the Ellington band. Wilson recalled that Lyons had featured his music both on his Los Angeles and San Francisco-based radio shows in the 40s and 50s, and that during the lean years for acoustic jazz in the 70s, he would call Jimmy for a gig. Gerald wrote his first Monterey-themed piece in 1977, for MJF’s 20th anniversary. The commissioned piece Gerald wrote in 1997 at the behest of Tim Jackson for the 40th anniversary, “Theme for Monterey,” was nominated for two Grammys. The piece Gerald created for the 50th in 2007, “Monterey Moods,” was one of the centerpieces of the MJF/50 festivities.

Mr. Wilson also laughed that he never imagined that he would be honored by MJF and that he would be sitting next to one of his favorite actors, saying that Eastwood’s character, Rowdy Yates, was always his favorite on the 1959-1965 TV western, “Rawhide.”

Patrons were treated to several other performances, including students from local high schools participating in MJF’s Jazz Education Programs; and Kim Nalley & her quartet. Ms. Nalley’s blues-laced vocals and classic repertoire capped off the evening, turning the stately Gala into an exclusive jazz nightclub.

In addition, an auction of MJF memorabilia, select artwork, a Caribbean cruise, special ticket packages and exclusive merchandise raised funds for the Jazz Education Programs of the Festival.

Starting with a modest $35,000 scholarship fund in 1970, the Monterey Jazz Festival now invests over $800,000 annually in jazz education through a variety of different programs, which serve as a model of arts education for the entire nation. These hands-on, cutting-edge educational components include the Traveling Clinician and Latin Jazz Programs, with professional musicians visiting Monterey County schools to teach students how to play and improvise in jazz and Latin styles; the Artist-In-Residence Program, which brings a leading jazz performer to work with students throughout the year; the MJF Summer Jazz Camp, the MJF Instrument and Sheet Music Library, the Digital Education Music Project, the Next Generation Festival, the Monterey County High School All-Star-Band, the MJF Middle School Honor Band and MJF Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.

In recent years, the Monterey Jazz Festival has been honored with the JazzTimes Readers’ Poll Award for Best Festival for three years in a row, from 2005-2008. In 2006, the Monterey Jazz Festival ranked #18 of the top 25 Bay Area non-profit arts organizations. In 2007, the 50th Festival broke all attendance records with a weekend total of 45,000 people.

The Second Annual Jazz Legends Gala was made possible by sponsors First National Bank and Howard & Rosalind Fisher.

The MJF wishes to thank the Second Annual Jazz Legends Gala In-Kind Donors: Applied Graphics, Bernardus Lodge & Winery, Bob Hopkins Entertainment , BOSE, Carmel Valley Ranch, Carmel Monterey Travel, Chaminade Resort & Spa, Charles & Char Carter, Concord Music Group, Inc., Earthbound Farm, Eddie Mendenhall, Gina Taro Photography, Jackson Booth, Jekel Vineyards, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, KWAV Radio, Mack Avenue Records, Michael Cuscuna, Monterey Jazz Festival Records, Mosaic Records, Reina Ramirez Floral Design, Richard Green Photography, Silversea Cruises, Tiffany & Co., and Trilogy Productions, Inc.

For high-resolution pictures of the Second Annual Jazz Legends Gala and slideshow of the event, please visit http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/2008/gala/index.php 

Photo credits: Richard Green.