Caltech Jazz Festival, 2018 (File Photo – ColoradoBlvd Instagram)
When the tunes are swinging and free, it only makes sense to bring a picnic and settle in. That’s exactly what Caltech invites the public to do this Saturday, April 18, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on the Hameetman Center Patio.
By Melanie Hooks
The Caltech Jazz Band, under the direction of Barb Catlin, will present its annual Jazz Festival featuring three groups: the Caltech Jazz Band, the Joey Navarro Band, and the Chris Wabich Trio. The outdoor event offers limited seating, and attendees are encouraged to bring portable chairs, blankets, and picnic items. Parking will be free.
Keyboardist Joey Navarro, a third-generation Mexican American born and raised in the onion fields of Tolleson, Arizona, developed his musical foundation in R&B, jazz, fusion, Mexican heritage, and Latin pop of the late 1960s and ’70s. Over the course of his career, Navarro has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Tierra, El Chicano, Andy Vargas, Pete Escovedo & the E Family, Jeffrey Osborne, Tom Scott, Sister Sledge, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Abraham Laboriel Sr., Oskar Cartaya, Leland Sklar, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jim Keltner, Dawn Robinson (En Vogue), Jennifer Paige, DW3, and Brian Bromberg. In 2022, he was recognized for his musical achievements with a proclamation from the state of Arizona. Formed in 2010, the Joey Navarro Band performs regularly at the Baked Potato.
Multi-Grammy nominee Chris Wabich is known in Los Angeles for his distinctive voice on drum set, steel drum, and percussion. His versatility is reflected in collaborations spanning genres and roles as both musician and producer. Wabich has performed with artists such as Ludacris, Sting, Leonard Cohen, Stanley Jordan, Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Sheila E., Mark Murphy, and John Oates (Hall & Oates), among others. His work also includes projects like “Joe’s Garage,” produced by Gail Zappa and the Zappa Family, as well as collaborations with Turkish artist Omar Faruk. His soundtrack credits include “Malcolm in the Middle,” “American Idol,” “Better Homes and Gardens,” the IMAX film “Wild California,” and Lalo Schifrin’s “After the Sunset.”
Wabich was recently awarded the COLA Master Artist Fellowship, becoming the first percussionist to perform a solo show at the LA Grand Performances series in 2024. His trio will feature pianist Quinn Johnson and bassist Edwin Livingston.
Additional event details are available on the Caltech Events website.
Caltech Jazz Festival Saturday, April 18, 2026 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Location Hameetman Center Patio 1200 E. California Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91125 Free. Recommended: bring your own chair.
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