JazzReggae Festival @ UCLA

Despite the festival's current reputation as one of Los Angeles' essential yearly events, the concert began in 1986 with humble intentions. Originally held at the UCLA Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, the one-day Jazz Festival at UCLA was created to provide more avenues for student musicians to perform in front of the public. As time moved on and interest in the event increased, a shift in focus occurred, and the festival began to pursue hiring professional musicians. Soon afterwards, a second day featuring Reggae music was added to the annual festival, and it was moved to its current location at the UCLA Intramural Field, where a much larger audience could be accommodated.

After many years of maintaining this format, 2007 marked the most recent structural change to the festival. Instead of limiting day one of the festival to jazz music alone, Jam Day was created to incorporate the tremendous spectrum of music that has also been strongly influenced by the jazz genre. This has allowed the festival to continue hiring premier jazz musicians such as Dr. Lonnie Smith, while also giving opportunities to up and coming stars such as Lupe Fiasco.

Since 2007 the festival has run the stage with bio-diesel fuel, partnered with Eco Limo, printed their flyers and other promotional material on recycled paper, and included an informational booth on site in which audience members can learn more about ways to be environmentally responsible.[3]

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The JazzReggae Festival @ UCLA is entirely produced by UCLA students, predominately through the Undergraduate Student Association Council's Cultural Affairs Commission,[4] making it one of the largest student-produced festivals in the nation.

Each year, the JazzReggae Festival also incorporates a great deal of live art into the day’s various amusements. Past festivals have included live interactive painting, sustainable art installations, realtime graffiti art, sculptures, and a gallery for all to browse and purchase works from LA artists. The visual art is another key component to the festival’s status as a cultural constitute of LA, showcasing LA’s art scene, further educating the community about music, art, and sustainability.

For the past 26 years, the JazzReggae Festival has teamed up with local restaurants and businesses throughout greater Los Angeles area. With over 70 diverse vendors, the festival is dedicated to working with the men and women responsible for helping continue the city’s tradition of culturally diversity that it celebrates. Additionally, in accordance with its mission to promote sustainability, the festival includes monetary incentives for its food vendors to provide biodegradable and compostable food service items.

In 2011, the JazzReggae Festival celebrated its 25th year, continuing on as the largest solely-student run event in the nation. Both days of the festival quickly sold out, with the show itself yielding a large amount of attendees. The Wailing Souls, Little Dragon, Lupe Fiasco, Talib Kweli, Steel Pulse, and Gyptian came together in this celebration of jazz, jam, and reggae music. Coming to represent jazz, reggae, neo-soul, and hip-hop artists alike, the reggae and jam days both showcased an array of music, live art, sustainability, and culinary vendors. A documentary was released with footage of the festival through the years, connected by the stories and experiences of past producers and participants.

2023

Hempress Sativa , Jordan Ward , Maxo Kream, Your Grandparents , Dj Q Bwoy ( Jamaican Gold Productions ), & Dj Proper of Equality Radio

2008

Jam Day (Sunday, May 25)

The Roots, John Densmore's Tribal Jazz, Immortal Technique, Amos Lee, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Goapele, Elevaters, JP and the Ambassadors, Brent Canter Trio

Reggae Day (Monday, May 26)

Capleton, Stephen Marley, Mr. Vegas, Alaine, Selena Serrano, Pangea Collective, DJ Courtesy of Krossfayah Sound, Rebelution, Arepa, Uma Verde, Seen Reds

Early hours of JazzReggae Festival 2008

Wikimedia Commons has media related to JazzReggae Festival @ UCLA.

• List of reggae festivals
• Reggae