A grounds pass to the 49th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival is a ticket to jazz bliss.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. For sheer musical value, it’s hard to beat a grounds pass for the Monterey Jazz Festival. A $40 ticket (or $30 for Friday evening) provides access to four venues where seating is first come, first served, and mix of music includes the world’s greatest jazz and blues artists, though as often as not they’re probably players with unfamiliar names.

Sure, everyone wants to get into the arena, where box seats are passed down from generation to generation, and it takes a really riveting performance to quiet down the revelers. The arena’s Jimmy Lyons Stage is where the big names cavort, and who doesn’t want to see Dave Brubeck unveil his latest composition, hear Bonnie Raitt belt the blues, or witness tenor sax great Charles Lloyd relive his star-making festival appearance in 1966, which led to his hit album Forest Flower? Unfortunately, those pricey tickets sold out back in the spring.

Ah, but savvy music fans know that much of the festival’s best action takes place in the smaller venues on the fairgrounds, where each space has its own particular vibe. On the outdoor Garden Stage, the mood is usually festive, with beach blankets and picnics set out on the grass. The Coffee House, on the other hand, is mainly the preserve of piano trios, a dimly lit room with the feel of a hushed, after-hours jazzspot.

Perhaps the best argument for a grounds pass is that it puts you in control. Hanging out in the arena means taking the acts as they come. But experiencing the festival on the grounds requires strategy and curiosity (and sometimes a willingness to wait in line, particularly when the bigger name acts leave the arena to play a smaller space).