Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/18/2026
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
See Event's description for location
Category(ies)
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, which is exactly what Caltech invites the public to do this Saturday, April 18, from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm on the Hameetman Center Patio.
By Melanie Hooks
The Caltech Jazz Band, under the direction of Barb Catlin, presents the annual Jazz Festival featuring three groups: The Caltech Jazz Band, the Joey Navarro Band, and the Chris Wabich Trio. The festival is outside with limited seating. Please bring your portable chair, blankets, and picnic items.
Parking is free.
The Players
Born and raised in the onion fields of Tolleson, Arizona, keyboardist Joey Navarro, a third-generation Mexican-American, cut his teeth on R&B, Jazz, Fusion, Mexican Heritage, and Latin pop of the late 1960s and ‘70s. His work includes Tierra, El Chicano, Andy Vargas, Pete Escovedo & the E Family, Jeffrey Osborne, Tom Scott, Sister Sledge, Walfredo Reyes Junior, Abraham Laboriel Senior, Oskar Cartaya, Leland Sklar, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jim Keltner, Dawn Robinson (En Vogue), Jennifer Paige, DW3, and Brian Bromberg. In 2022, Joey was recognized for his musical achievements and received a proclamation from his home state of Arizona. The Joey Navarro Band formed in 2010 and performs regularly at the legendary Baked Potato.
Multi Grammy nominee, Chris Wabich, is an original voice on drum set, steel drum, and percussion in Los Angeles. His versatility is reflected in the diversity of artists he has performed with, both as a musician and a producer. His work includes playing with Ludacris, Sting, Leonard Cohen, Stanley Jordan, Brian Johnson (AC/DC) Sheila E., Mark Murphy, “Joe’s Garage” produced by Gail Zappa and the Zappa Family, Steve Tyrell, Billy Vera, John Oats (Hall and Oates), Turkish superstar Omar Faruk and more. Soundtracks include “Malcolm in the Middle”, “American Idol”, “Better Homes and Gardens”, “Wild California” IMAX, and Lalo Shifrin’s “After The Sunset”. Chris was recently a recipient of the COLA master solo artist grant, making him the first percussionist to perform a solo show at the LA Grand Performances series in 2024. Chris’s Trio will feature pianist, Quinn Johnson and bassist Edwin Livingston.
For more information, please contact Hyesung Park by email at hschoe@caltech.edu. Event information on 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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