News Summary
The San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival is set to take place this weekend, featuring a mix of free and ticketed performances across multiple venues. The event will kick off with free performances in San Diego’s East Village, followed by an impressive lineup of renowned jazz acts in Escondido. The festival concludes in Tijuana with more free performances, celebrating the life of jazz legend James Moody. This year’s festival emphasizes artistic collaboration between musicians from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
San Diego is set to host the second annual San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival (SDTJ Jazz) this weekend, emphasizing the vibrant fusion of jazz across the U.S.-Mexico border. The festival runs from Thursday through Sunday, featuring a mix of free and ticketed performances in various locations.
The festival kicks off on Thursday evening at 5 p.m. in San Diego’s East Village at the Quartyard. This opening night showcases free performances by the Irving Flores Afro-Cuban Jazz Sextet, The Less Likely, and the Binational Youth Ensemble. On Saturday, the festival transitions to the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, where ticketed performances begin at 3 p.m.. Tickets range from $35 to $99.
The Saturday lineup in Escondido is impressive, featuring renowned acts such as Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Ensemble, Fandango Fronterizo Colectivo, Gabrielle Cavassa, and Moody @ 100, a tribute band dedicated to the late saxophonist James Moody. Other performers scheduled for Saturday include Lucia and Iván Trujillo Ensemble.
On the final day, Sunday, the festival concludes in downtown Tijuana with another free performance starting at 3 p.m. This event showcases many of the same acts as seen on Saturday, including Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Ensemble and the Irving Flores Afro-Cuban Jazz Sextet.
A central theme of this year’s festival is to honor James Moody, one of jazz’s greats who passed away in 2010. The tribute band, Moody @ 100, features prominent musicians like David Sánchez, John Clayton, Gerald Clayton, Lewis Nash, Holly Hofmann, and Gilbert Castellanos, all performing to celebrate his legacy.
The festival not only highlights local talent but also emphasizes the significant artistic collaboration between musicians and communities on both sides of the border in San Diego and Baja California. As part of this initiative, the Binational Youth Ensemble will also perform, showcasing students from jazz programs in both San Diego and Ensenada to reinforce cultural exchanges.
Although the festival’s schedule was challenged by logistics, leading to its unusual Thursday start, the organizers viewed it as an opportunity to enhance their planning process for future events. Advance ticket purchases for the Saturday indoor concert are encouraged, with VIP packages available that include unique seating arrangements and dinner options.
Ultimately, the festival aims to inspire and engage audiences in both cities through an extensive array of performances and talented artists, showcasing the rich tapestry of jazz in this cross-border celebration.
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Additional Resources
- Times of San Diego: SDTJ Jazz Fest All-Star Tribute to Saxophonist James Moody
- San Diego Union Tribune: San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival 2025
- San Diego Magazine: Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
- Modern Luxury: October Events, Concerts, and Shows in San Diego
- San Diego Union Tribune: Jazz Greats and Rising Stars in San Diego
- Wikipedia: Jazz
- Google Search: James Moody jazz
- Google Scholar: Jazz Festivals
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Jazz
- Google News: San Diego Jazz Festival
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
