Summer means festivals, and if you’re California dreaming, it’s time to plan for the annual Stanford Jazz Festival, celebrating its 53^rd year with an outstanding lineup of musical talent.

From June 22 to Aug. 1, Stanford University will host jazz luminaries including Fred Hersch Trio, Jeremy Pelt Quintet, John Pizzarelli, Anat Cohen and Marcello Gonçalves, Lizz Wright, Joel Ross: Good Vibes, Taylor Eigsti Quartet featuring Ben Wendel, and the John Santos Quintet with Special Guest Yilian Cañizares.

Ranking as the second-oldest West Coast jazz festival, the Stanford event regularly draws huge talent and happy crowds. It was founded in 1972 by Jim Nadel, an accomplished educator, saxophonist and arranger. Today, the festival is under director and bassist/composer Cory Combs, and coincides with Stanford Jazz Workshop, a summer educational intensive that allows participating students to receive complimentary tickets to festival events.

“Being part of the Stanford Jazz Festival means curating more than just concerts — it’s about cultivating moments where artistry, education and community intersect,” said Combs, executive director, Stanford Jazz Workshop. “This year’s festival lineup captures the incredible breadth of the jazz tradition, and I’m continually inspired by how these artists bridge generations and styles, reminding us why jazz remains such a vital and evolving art form.”

Other festival highlights will include Indian Jazz Journey featuring Mahesh Kale and George Brooks on June 22, Tiffany Austin Presents Sassy: 100 Years of Sarah Vaughan on June 29, and Ken Peplowski: The Unheard Bird on July 6. Campus venues include Dinkelspiel Auditorium and Campbell Recital Hall. A full schedule of events, performances, locations and times is available on the festival website.