Stewart Copeland, the powerhouse drummer forever linked with The Police, is set to hit Santa Monica next weekend, joining Stanley Clarke & Friends for the outdoor finale of the inaugural Santa Monica International Jazz Festival in Tongva Park on Saturday. His appearance drops a rock heavyweight into a program pitched as both a tribute to jazz history and a showcase for boundary-pushing sounds.
The nine-day festival runs through this week and next, with events spread across the Third Street Promenade, BroadStage and Tongva Park, according to the official schedule. Full programming and ticket details are available on the Santa Monica International Jazz Festival website.
The Tongva Park finale is headlined by saxophonist Kamasi Washington, with Stanley Clarke leading "Stanley Clarke & Friends," featuring Copeland, Kiefer and Keyon Harrold. They will share the bill with the Miles Electric Band and KNOWER. BroadwayWorld notes that the set is being framed as a tribute to Miles Davis and John Coltrane while also tipping its hat to electric, genre-blurring material.
What To Expect At Tongva Park
Gates for the Tongva Park concert open at noon next Saturday, with re-entry allowed, bag checks in place and food trucks and bar service on site. The festival FAQ lays out the entry rules in detail, and organizers told the Santa Monica Mirror they are planning for large crowds along with on-site food and beverage options.
Copeland, who broke through as the drummer for The Police, has long mixed his rock pedigree with jazz, world-music collaborations and film scoring, a blend that festival organizers say fits Clarke’s broad, cross-genre vision. Wikipedia outlines Copeland’s solo releases and extensive scoring work alongside his high-profile band career.
Stanley Clarke's Citywide Vision
The festival was created and curated by bassist Stanley Clarke and is presented by BroadStage, SM Festivals and the City of Santa Monica as a citywide event timed to Jazz Appreciation Month and centennial remembrances for Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Stage and Cinema reports that the Tongva Park finale will mark the first full-scale concert ever staged in the park, a milestone that organizers say is meant to help reestablish Santa Monica as a live-music destination.
Tickets And Practical Info
General-admission and reserved tickets for the Tongva Park finale are available through Ticketmaster, and organizers are urging attendees to arrive early because park capacity is limited. Ticketmaster lists the full lineup for the day along with purchase options.
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