An afternoon in Carmel Valley with the Dave Douglas Quintet

Dave Douglas

Formed in 1978, the Big Sur Land Trust has since protected more than 38,000 acres of land and natural landscapes.

Now in its 56th year, the Monterey Jazz Festival preserves, promotes and advances America's great original art form.

On Sunday, the two got together to celebrate the Land Trust's 35th anniversary.

The scene: the Gardener Ranch in Carmel Valley, 24 acres of oaks and meadows and lush green grass. The crowd: a lot of Californians who seemed to know each other. The main draw (for us): a performance by the Dave Douglas Quintet, a week before their appearances at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

We went, ate barbecue, drank wine, strolled the grounds, and listened to music under the sun. Too late, I realized I'd left my straw hat at home.

Photos by John Whiting.

Bill Leahy, Big Sur Land Trust executive director

Tim Jackson, Monterey Jazz Festival artistic director

The Dave Douglas Quintet

Dave Douglas

Jon Irabagon

Linda Oh

Matt Mitchell

Rudy Royston

The crowd was much bigger, but many people had sought shade.