The Monterey Jazz Festival turns 50 this year, and it's pulling out all the stops to celebrate.

The event, which takes place September 21-23 at the Monterey Fairgrounds, is getting the party started early this year, releasing five legendary Monterey Jazz performances on CD on August 21. The releases are part of the launch of the new Monterey Jazz Festival Records, a joint venture between the festival and Concord Music Group.

The five previously unreleased recordings come from the biggest names in the history of jazz music. The releases include: Louis Armstrong's headlining set on the first night of the festival in 1958; the West Coast debut of Miles Davis' quintet in 1963; Thelonious Monk's expanded five-piece group in 1964; Dizzy Gillespie's sextet in 1965, and Sarah Vaughn, who was joined for one track by the Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars in 1971.

Monterey Jazz promises plenty of releases to come, with "more than 1600 tapes with more than 2000 hours of concerts in the vault."

But Monterey Jazz Festival Records' General Manager Jason Olaine said releases won't simply focus on past recordings.

"We're not going to be stuck in a jazz time warp," he says. "We're excited to deliver important historical music, as well as assemble special projects and all-star ensembles to debut at the festival each year."

Two performances at this year's festival will be recorded for possible release.

The first is an all-star quartet comprising of bassist Dave Holland, pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, saxophonist Chris Potter, and drummer Eric Harland.

The second is the festival's 50th-year project, featuring trumpeter Terence Blanchard, saxophonist James Moody, vocalist Nnenna Freelon, bassist Derrick Hodge, drummer Kendrick Scott, and pianist Benny Green, who serves as the musical director. The latter ensemble is set to play a 50-date national tour in January 2008.

Click here to stream Miles Davis' performance of "Autumn Leaves" at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1963.

Click here to stream Thelonious Monk's performance of "Rhythm-a-Ning" at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1964.

Click here to stream Dizzy Gillespie's performance of "Poor Joe" at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1965.

Click here to stream Sarah Vaughn's performance of "'Round Midnight" at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1971.

Click here to stream Louis Armstrong's performance of "Mack the Knife" at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1958.