Jazz musicians (including many world talents,) visit or live in California where the weather is fine, and the opportunities to perform jazz both in the studio and out in the concert venues offer the perfect mix. For those who love jazz, there are enough California jazz festivals and concerts throughout the year to help you get your fix.

However, summertime is when you'll find most concerts — and jazz season is coming on strong with one of California's favorites, the Sacramento Jazz Festival & Jubilee held on Memorial Weekend May 27-30, 2011. The event takes to the streets and venues throughout the city where the music is non-stop. Dancing, swinging, swaying and syncopating to the beats, girls dress for the occasion with their best dancing shoes, hot pink socks and swinging red dresses. It's a feast of sounds, sights, and scents as food vendors throughout the festival areas serve up hot sausages and cool brews to make for a weekend of pure escape. sacjazz.com

Also this weekend May 26-29th, 2011 the Los Angeles Jazz Institute hosts The Big Band Olympics at the Los Angeles Airport Marriot, 5855 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. The 4-day event will include ensembles led by Arturo Sandoval, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bill Holman and many others. These classic jazz musicians perform some of the finest jazz available on the Planet! For tickets or more information: (562)200-5477 or lajazzinstitute.org.

If you can't make it to Sacramento or Los Angeles on Memorial Weekend, Hollywood Bowl will host the Annual Playboy Jazz Festival on June 11 & 12, 2011, features Bill Cosby as the Master of Ceremonies. playboyjazzfestival.com

Throughout the summer Temecula Summer Jazz at Thornton Winery hosts jazz dinner concerts near the vineyards at Thornton Winery. Other events this year include jazz festivals in Healdsburg, Cotati, Huntington Beach, and the big Monterey Jazz Festival held September 16-18, 2011. montereyjazzfestival.org