Jazz at The Cherry: Julie Capili and Friends
2026-01-18 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
To kick off our 2026 concert season with elegance and energy, Jazz at the Cherry is thrilled to welcome local jazz vocalist Julie Capili to our stage. Julie’s subtle phrasing and exquisite vocal control radiate both creativity and playfulness, bringing a joyful sense of exploration to every song she sings. Influenced by a wide range of artists — from Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald to Eva Cassidy and Tori Amos — she draws from many traditions while forging a style uniquely her own.
While her voice may recall echoes of the great singers of the past, Julie brings a personal touch and emotional depth to each performance, delivering her music with the grace, soul, and spirit of jazz’s legendary women. She’ll be joined by three of the Monterey Bay area’s finest jazz musicians: Bill Spencer on piano, Pete Lips on bass, and Ben Herod on saxophone. Together, they promise an enchanted afternoon of timeless, joyful jazz.
Sunday, January 18th, at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the $45 ticket price. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.com.

SECOND SHOW - Bruce Forman & Paul Contos Performing "A Letter to Duke"
2026-02-15 17:00 - 19:00
SECOND SHOW ADDED!
Guitarist Bruce Forman and saxophonist Paul Contos join forces in this joyful, swinging tribute to one of jazz’s most revered icons: Duke Ellington.
A legendary bandleader, composer, and pianist, Duke Ellington is widely regarded as jazz royalty — and through their inspired interpretations of his timeless music, Bruce Forman and Paul Contos remind us why. Both artists have worked with members of the Ellington orchestra and will share some fun “insider” stories and personal reflections that bring the Duke’s legacy to life. With deep musical chemistry, storytelling flair, and a heartfelt reverence for Ellington’s genius, Bruce and Paul promise an afternoon that’s as illuminating as it is entertaining.
Don’t miss this unforgettable afternoon of jazz at its finest — a heartfelt tribute to one of America’s greatest musical voices.
SOLD OUT: Sunday, February 15th, at 2pm. (Doors will open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price)
SECOND SHOW ADDED – February 15th at 5pm. (Doors will open at 4:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price) Tickets are $45, and can be purchased on Eventbrite.com.

About the Artists
Bruce Forman began his musical journey on piano before picking up the guitar at age thirteen. After relocating to San Francisco in 1971, he became a fixture on the Bay Area jazz scene, performing with artists such as Eddie Duran, Vince Lateano, Ray Brown, George Cables, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, and Woody Shaw. He was a regular at the Monterey Jazz Festival and gained national attention while touring with Richie Cole from 1978 to 1982. His 1992 album Forman on the Job reached #14 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart. Bruce has also contributed to several Clint Eastwood film scores, including Million Dollar Baby.
Paul Contos has been a vital figure in West Coast jazz for nearly five decades, both as a performer and educator. He has served as Director of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and the Monterey County All-Stars, and is a longtime Saxophone Clinician for the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Education Program. Paul has shared the stage with jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Wayne Shorter, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Regina Carter, and Christian McBride. Contos is in his 17th year conducting the SF JAZZ All-Stars Orchestra in San Francisco.

2026 Thinking Out Loud Regional Art Competition
2026-03-07 - 2026-03-28
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is proud to announce Thinking Out Loud 2026, a regional art competition that challenges high school students to create works inspired by their lives. Each year, students from across Monterey County are invited to display their artwork across a wide range of media for exhibition in our gallery.
Thinking Out Loud will open with a reception for the student artists on Saturday, March 7th, from 2-4pm. The event is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4pm or by appointment. The exhibit will close Saturday, March 28th.

Established in 1948, the mission of the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is to enhance the quality and diversity of artistic, educational and cultural programs in Monterey County by encouraging public programs and interactions between artists and the community.
Thinking Out Loud is made possible, in part, through a grant from the Arts Council for Monterey County, Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and funds from:
Carmel Woman’s Club
Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Dion and Judith Dow
Gibson Family Foundation
Mitchell Family Charitable Fund
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store

Pictured: “The Neighborhood” – Regan Takashima, York School
First Place, 2025 Thinking Out Loud Art Competition
