The bucolic campus of Caltech, more commonly associated with quantum physics and astronomical breakthroughs, will momentarily shift its focus from scientific inquiry to artistic expression this Saturday as its annual and popular Jazz Festival unfolds on the Hameetman Center Patio.
The free outdoor event, running from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., presents a carefully curated triptych of performances that traverse the landscape of contemporary jazz.
Under the stewardship of director Barb Catlin, the Caltech Jazz Band opens the proceedings with an ambitious program featuring compositions by luminaries Mary Lou Williams and Duke Ellington, alongside works by Jessika Smith and Thad Jones.
Perhaps most intriguing is their inclusion of selections from Carla Bley’s “National Anthem Suite,” a work that challenges conventional patriotic musical expressions.
As afternoon shadows lengthen under warm skies, the Teryn Ré Quartet takes the stage. Ré, who has cultivated a reputation as both performer and pedagogue, brings a vocal style that evokes the improvisational dexterity of Sarah Vaughan and the rhythmic precision of Ella Fitzgerald.
When not channeling these influences in her performances, Ré serves as Director of Vocal Jazz Studies at Fullerton College. Her recordings with both her big band and trio configurations have found their way onto national radio playlists, suggesting an artist whose influence extends beyond regional boundaries.
The festival’s denouement arrives with cornetist Bobby Bradford, a living connection to jazz’s experimental past.
Bradford’s trajectory from Cleveland, Mississippi to the avant-garde circles of 1950s Los Angeles places him at a crucial intersection in jazz history. His early collaborations with Ornette Coleman and participation in the vibrant Central Avenue scene alongside Don Cherry and Charlie Haden mark him as a significant, if sometimes overlooked, architect of the music’s evolution. Following his service in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1958, Bradford spent 44 years as a lecturer at Pomona College, teaching jazz history and leading the institution’s jazz ensemble.
Bradford’s appearance carries additional resonance this year as he performs selections from “Stealin’ Home,” his 2018 suite honoring baseball pioneer and Pasadena hometown hero Jackie Robinson’s centennial.
Bradford’s presence also serves as a poignant reminder of community resilience—festival organizers note his recent survival of the Altadena fires, which claimed his possessions among those of many others in the area.
This gathering continues a tradition that has previously welcomed notable performers like saxophonist Kirsten Edkins and mandolin innovator Eva Scow, who featured in the 2024 festival. Edkins, who also performed at the 2013 festival, has collaborated with Arturo Sandoval and Stevie Wonder.
Beyond the music itself, the festival functions as a cultural bridge between Caltech’s academic environment and the surrounding community, offering common ground where scientific and artistic pursuits temporarily converge.
Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs, blankets, and picnic provisions to this limited-seating outdoor venue. Free parking is available on campus.
For more information, contact Haruka Schoe at (626) 808-2641 or email hschoe@caltech.edu.
