35th Annual Music Under the Stars 2026
JUNE 12-AUGUST 28, 2026
KICKING OFF FRIDAY JUNE 12, 7:30PM WITH SON COMO SON AND SATURDAY JUNE 13, 7:30PM WITH THE ALBUQUERUE JAZZ ORCHESTRA SWING DANCE WITH HILLARY SMITH
Exciting Summer 2026 Season Ahead!
The Outpost/New Mexico Jazz Workshop Summer Season 2026 kicks off with the 35th Annual Music Under the Stars series at the Albuquerque Museum, starting with the Cuban Salsa of New Mexico’s own Son Como Son, Friday, June 12, and the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra Swing Night with Hillary Smith, Saturday, June 13! Full & Half Season Passes are available for the series, which runs through Aug 28. Also coming up – Outpost’s 30th Annual Summer Thursday Jazz Nights, June 25 – Aug 13, featuring a great variety of New Mexico talent. And, the New Mexico Jazz Festival Stage at Route 66 Summerfest in Nob Hill on Saturday, July18, part of the City of Albuquerque’s Route 66 Centennial celebration! So much to look forward to for those warm summer days! FULL SCHEDULE AND TICKETS HERE!
Meanwhile, we are also planning an exciting 20th Anniversary of the New Mexico Jazz Festival, August 27-September 30! It’s going to be a fantastic month of world class music with artists including The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Esperanza Spalding, Chucho Valdes, Mingus Dynasty, Brian Blade, Fred Hersch, and so much more! Stay Tuned for full details coming soon! We are looking for SPONSORS for the 20th New Mexico Jazz Festival! Help Us Sponsor Every Concert and make the 20th anniversary a swingin’ success! Please contact alicia@outpostspace.orgfor more information. Your support makes it all happen and we truly appreciate it!
Plus, don’t forget Summer Session Jazz & Latin Music Classes for Youth & Adults at the Outpost, July 6 – August 26. AND Classes at the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, including Reharmonizing & Arranging Standards with Instructor: Michael Anthony, July 6-August 10!
We look forward to seeing you soon and often at the Outpost, the Albuquerque Museum and beyond this summer!
A 2026 Welcome from Outpost Director, Tom Guralnick!
Exciting news to report! It’s official! As of January 3, 2026, Outpost and the venerable New Mexico Jazz Workshop (founded 1976) have merged and joined forces to unite the spirit of jazz, creativity, and community under the Outpost banner. This is an exciting new chapter which brings together two of the state’s most respected arts organizations with over 80 years of combined experience in jazz education, performance, and community engagement. It will allow for expanded opportunities for musicians from all over and of all ages, more extraordinary live music presentations, art exhibitions, educational programs and more! There is much to look forward to in the year ahead and we will continue to update you as new directions and opportunities unfold!
One such opportunity includes Membership! With the merging of Outpost and the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, we are offering new membership categories and enhanced member benefits. Outpost members will continue to receive the current benefits like $10 ticket discounts, member-only concerts, etc. in addition to the benefits offered by the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, including early access to concerts, passes to summer Music Under the Stars concerts and more!
There’s a lot to look forward to in 2026, including another great spring season of music beginning in March (check out the schedule and purchase tickets here); expanded class offerings (at the NMJW building as well as at Outpost), art exhibits in the Inpost Artspace; a full summer season which includes Outpost’s 30th Annual Summer Thursday Jazz Nights; the 35th anniversary of the Music Under the Stars series at the Albuquerque Museum; the 20th anniversary of the New Mexico Jazz Festival; and the renovation of the Outpost building (tentatively scheduled to start in October), which will allow us to provide better facilities for expanded programming and services!
We look forward to seeing you soon and sharing all that this new chapter brings for all of us here at Outpost and for the community!
Sincerely,
Tom Guralnick,
Outpost Founder & Executive Director
Fall 2025 Season Just Ahead!
What a great 19th Annual New Mexico Jazz Festival it was! Such variety and artistry! From NEA Jazz Masters, internationally acclaimed artists, New Mexico’s own and more, it was another memorable month of music, art, film, and community. Thanks to all who came out to support and enjoy live music statewide and thanks to our sponsors, funders, partners, volunteers and all who make it happen! Now, we look ahead to the Outpost Fall 2025 Season which kicks off on Friday October 17 at Outpost with sitarist Purbayan Chatterjee & Amit Kavthekar on tabla. Then, it’s Adam Rudolph’s Sunrise Trio; Caity Gyorgy; Claudio Tolousse, The Story of, Part 2; Lorca Hart Quartet; Bébé La La’s 15 Year Anniversary Concert; George Cables Trio; Nnenna Freelon w. Alan Pasqua & Keith Ganz; Outpost’s Fall Record Fair (proceeds of which will go towards a major renovation of the Outpost building in 2026!); and much more! Check it all out and get your tickets here!
We look forward to seeing you this fall!
(Photo above- Legendary jazz pianist George Cables)
THIS WEEK AT THE 19th ANNUAL NEW MEXICO JAZZ FESTIVAL!
The 19th Annual New Mexico Jazz Festival continues this week with several shows at the Outpost, plus more! Tuesday, September 23, it’s bassist Linda May Han Oh’s The Glass Hours. Then, on Wednesday, September 24th, it’s saxophonist David Sánchez’ Carib project (he’ll also perfrom at the Taos Community Auditorium, Thursday, Sept 25 and at Unit “B” by Chocolate Maven, Santa Fe, Friday, September 26. Next, it’s drummer Nate Smith, Thursday, September 25 (two shows!). And on Saturday, September 27, The Musician’s Greenbook film screening with a concert and Q & A – presented in partnership with AFMX. AND, the festival comes to a close with Grammy nominated vocalist Carmen Lundy, Sunday, September 28! Click Here for New Mexico Jazz Festival Tickets & Info!
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