St. Michael's Jazz Fest

27/09/2026

We haven’t recovered from the sunset last night. Monette Marino and her band lit the sky on fire with their incredible, joyous set!! 🔥🔥🪘🪘💃🏼💃🏼

26/09/2026

Today's the day ... see you at Jazz Fest!

25/09/2026

23/09/2026

Come for the music, stay for the food! 🌮🍺 Food and drink vendors will be on site from about 11:00am - 7:00pm. The incredible GRILLED CHEESE KING 👑 will be here with their amazing blends on sourdough. And the delicious S Taco Loco will be with us cranking out their signature street tacos!

There will also be a variety of drink options available. Lemonade, w**e, sodas, water ... with your favorite San Diego Coffee | Mr Brown Bean serving up coffee and other refreshing drinks. We’ve got you covered!

Plus, a major highlight is Pizza Port Carlsbad on site with the “Lola’s Says Hola” Mexican L***r and a special fest-exclusive brew of our very own: Jazz Fest IPA! Get it while it lasts!!!🍺

22/09/2026

Jazz Fest Kids has some very special programming this year! Origami, Face Painting, Carlsbad Library’s Book Bike, and don’t miss a special appearance by local author and Jazz Fest artist Janell Canon performing a reading of her beloved picture book “Stellaluna” at 12:00pm!

21/09/2026

Performing Saturday, September 26th at 11:00am! The Robin Henkel Band with Horns (Robin Henkel) performs their own unique blend of jazz, blues, funk, and swing. Their performances honor the rich music traditions of blues, jazz, swing, and funk. Says Robin, “We love playing our own original music as well as digging into the styles of great artists from the past such as Duke Ellington and Slim Gaillard.”

This show features: Dave Castel de Oro (tenor saxophone), JP Balmat (baritone saxophone) who performs regularly with the Euphoria Brass Band and directs the Pacific Beach HS band, Kevin Esposito (trombone) who leads San Diego’s premier big band Big Time Operator, Paul Kimbarow (drums) who has performed with Sha Na Na, AJ Croce and Ashford & Simpson, Gunnar Biggs (bass) who has performed with Mose Allison and Buddy Rich. Band leader, Robin Henkel, has studied composing and arranging with Hal Crook. He prepares the music for his band, sings and performs with them.

As a solo artist, Robin performs the blues of style of the Mississippi Delta with an intensity rarely seen in California. Robin’s performances often include stories and anecdotes regarding the history of the blues and the unique vintage instruments he performs with. Robin has opened shows for Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt and many others.

Robin Henkel is a futurist and a historian.
- LA Times

19/09/2026

One week away! St. Michael’s Jazz Fest is back for its third year in the heart of Carlsbad Village on Saturday, September 26th! The event is free and will be held at St. Michael’s campus outside on the lawn. Attendees can enjoy local food and drink vendors, with beverages on tap from Pizza Port Carlsbad. It’s also a great event for families with a dedicated arts and crafts section features music-themed programming for kids, plus a special appearance by local Carlsbad artist and author Janell Cannon! At 12:00pm, Janell will read her beloved book “Stellaluna” to young attendees.

This year, the festival is showcasing a wealth of female musical talent, including the main stage headline act: world-class percussionist Monette Marino Keita, who has devoted more than three decades to mastering and sharing the traditions of West African drumming. Throughout the day you can also hear Euphoria Brass Band, Mercedes Moore, the Matt Smith Neu Jazz Trio featuring Teryn Ré, country bluesman Ben Powell, local icon Robin Henkel, The Soto Six, Dina Maeva, The Hot Club of Bird Park, and more!

It all adds up to another powerful survey of American music right up the Mississippi from country blues, early jazz, New Orleans brass band, swing, straight-ahead jazz, latin jazz, to leading edge fusion of jazz, funk, world music, and Afrobeat. The festival is even offering a taste of the music of western Mexico with a local mariachi school. All made possible through the many partners and volunteers dedicated to building community through music.

The music kicks off at 10:30am and runs all day until 8:00pm. Visit stmichaelsjazzfest.org for more!

30/01/2026

Don't miss this one! This Sunday at 4pm, the Jazz Evensong Quintet returns to perform Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert. Free to the public!

St. Michael's by-the-Sea
2775 Carlsbad Blvd.
Carlsbad, CA 92008

21/10/2025

Such an incredible year!! Thanks to everyone who came out and made it so special!