Every July, Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend transforms from a quiet historic site into something closer to a jazz retreat by the Salish Sea. Under Centrum’s direction, the park hosts everything from blues and chamber music to fests celebrating the ukulele. But come late July, jazz takes over completely.

Running July 21-27, Jazz Port Townsend is less a festival than an immersive ecosystem. Think of it as jazz summer camp, except your instructors are some of the most accomplished musicians and educators, and your classmates might just become the next wave of innovators. Open to instrumentalists and vocalists 14 and older, the program brings together 160 participants for seven days of workshops, masterclasses, and ensemble sessions, diving deep into technique, improvisation, and the history of jazz.

Midweek, the campus cracks open to the public with Jazz in the Clubs (July 23-24). This is where the festival comes alive for audiences, turning Fort Worden’s historic buildings into pop-up jazz clubs to shuffle between and catch the ever-changing sets. A single wristband is your passport to catch artists like trombonist Ivan Malespin, saxophonists Jeff Lederer, trumpeter Terell Stafford, organist Pat Bianchi, drummer Matt Wilson, and vocalists Johnaye Kendrick and Sara Gazarek – to name a few.

On the mainstage

It all culminates with Mainstage Concerts at McCurdy Pavilion, where jazz’s many styles and sounds take center stage. Friday, July 25 features drummer Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble, joined by Anisha Rush, Jeff Lederer, Ben Allison, and Artistic Director Dawn Clement. Vocalist-guitarist Camila Meza brings her genre-fluid lyricism to the stage, followed by a tribute to the legendary bassist Buster Williams with pianist George Colligan and drummer Jeremy Dutton.

Saturday, July 26, splits into two shows. The afternoon concert is headlined by Bebop Brilliance, with baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan and trumpeter Jay Thomas leading a lineup featuring pianist George Cables, bassist Michael Glynn, drummer Jon Wikan, and guitarist Chuck Easton. Expect pianist Helen Sung to deliver a reflective and intimate set with Saturday Soliloquy, while saxophonist Christine Jensen’s Centrum All-Star Big Band featuring Ingrid Jensen breathes new life into the big band sound.

The evening concert kicks off with Pat Bianchi’s Organ Odyssey trio. Perfect Pairings follows, with duos featuring Dawn Clement, Johnaye Kendrick, Shane Endsley, Sara Gazarek, and others. The festival closes with “Säje Takes the Stäge,” where the GRAMMY-winning vocal quartet of Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage keeps expanding jazz harmony with their style-defying arrangements.

Dawn Clement sits at the festival’s core as Artistic Director. A  pianist, composer, and vocalist, she succeeded the iconic John Clayton and has spent two decades championing jazz’s traditions and exploring jazz’s outer edges – the perfect guide for a festival that looks back while still pushing forward. 

For additional information on schedules and for tickets visit: https://centrum.org/program/jazz/