Five top US jazz gatherings

New Orleans is an great place for music. Photo / Thinkstock

1. New Orleans Jazzfest

The annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. The website says, "the music encompasses every style associated with the city and the state: blues, R&B, gospel music, Cajun music, zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, folk music, Latin, rock, rap music, country music, bluegrass and everything in between. And of course there is lots of jazz."

When: April/May; nojazzfest.com

2. Playboy Jazz Festival

Playboy Enterprises sponsors this jazz fest at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The annual event features established and emerging jazz musicians.

When: June; playboyjazzfestival.com

3. Newport Jazz Festival

Newport Jazz Festival claims the title of being the first jazz festival held in the United States and has featured big names such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis.

When: August; newportjazzfest.net

4. Detroit International Jazz Festival

Michigan's Labor Day holiday tradition is a free jazz festival on the Detroit riverfront and has been lauded as the largest free jazz festival in the world. Notable performers have included The Manhattan Transfer and Wynton Marsalis.

When: August/September; detroitjazzfest.com

5. Monterey Jazz Festival

With more than 500 jazz artists performing on multiple stages over the weekend, the annual California festival also hosts jazz conversations, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, clinics, and an international array of food, shopping and festivities throughout the 8ha Monterey Fairgrounds.

When: September; montereyjazzfestival.org