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Photo: Stephen Laufer / KUSP

Miles Evans & Vince Mendoza

KUSP’s pick for the outright highlight of the 54th annual Monterey Jazz Festival is the performance of Sketches of Spain by the Still Ahead Orchestra conducted by Vince Mendoza and featuring Terence Blanchard. The tribute to Gil Evans and Miles Davis was preceded by performances of music from Miles Ahead and Porgy & Bess featuring more Blanchard and Gil Evans’ son, Miles. Evans, Mendoza and Blanchard (who was just about everywhere this weekend) sat down with KUSP’s Brett Taylor after the very powerful, very moving set.