By Barbara Smith, Contributing Writer

The Monterey County Fairgrounds became an intersection of jazz and joy at this year’s Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF), delivering on its original promise 68 years ago to elevate jazz, connect a diverse community in celebration of America’s cultural heritage, and inspire young musicians to continue the legacy. Attendees soaked in a blend of iconic veterans and new voices across five stages with such renowned artists as Gregory Porter, Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Carmen Lundy, John and Gerald Clayton, and Delfeayo Marsalis, along with fresh contemporary performers including Dominique Fils-Aimé, Ledisi, Cory Wong, Keyon Harrold, promising HBCU student artists, and saxophone phenom Grace Kelly.

Vocalist Gregory Porter’s opener on Friday was clearly a

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