Monty Alexander Trio

Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 8pm

“Audiences find Monty Alexander’s music instantly accessible, exciting and exhilarating, and they quickly warm to it and respond to it.”

— Billboard

Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander has become a jazz icon after almost 60 years of living in the United States. With a Grammy nomination under his belt, he tours globally, dazzling audiences with his vibrant personality and soulful sound. Alexander has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival 23 times since 1976 and is well known for his endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, and romantic spirit. He applies his unique approach to a diverse repertoire that includes jazz, Jamaican folk songs, blues, gospel, bebop, calypso, and reggae. Cited as the fifth greatest jazz pianist ever, Alexander has over 75 recordings as a leader and sideman.

Pat Metheny Dream Box Tour

Friday, October 27, 2023 at 8pm

Winner of 20 Grammy Awards, Pat Metheny is one of the brightest stars of jazz. With relentless versatility, a richly melodic voice, and a trademarked playing style, Pat Metheny reinvented the traditional jazz guitar sound for a new generation of players.

Through a career in which he has performed with artists as diverse as Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, and David Bowie, Pat has remained a champion of emerging talents.

Artist Sponsor: Alexander Stimpson

Diane Schuur at 70: An Evening of Songs and Stories

Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 8pm

“Her voice is impressive in its size, range, and brightness. A song can suddenly fly up an octave into little-girl squeals, then make a swan dive into the murky depths. She uses her twirling vibrato as rhythmic punctuation. After drawing out a note, she dispenses that vibrato like the cherry on a sundae.”

– The New York Times

Long regarded as one of contemporary jazz’s leading vocalists, two-time Grammy winner Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. With a career spanning four illustrious decades, she sings the treasured standards from the Great American Songbook with intimate tenderness, pitch-perfect execution, and an assured sense of rhythm and phrasing.

Performance Sponsors: Tom Rogers and Sally Anderson

Back at It!

A Tribute to the Terry Gibbs Dream Band

featuring Nick Mancini, vibraphone and Tawanda, vocals

Friday, January 12, 2024 at 8pm

The West Coast Jazz Hour Big Band — led by pianist

Josh Nelson and drummer Kevin van den Elzen — pays homage to The Terry Gibbs Dream Band, one of the most significant big bands of all time. This special concert, true to the Dream Band legacy, includes the finest jazz musicians currently working in Los Angeles, along with acclaimed vibraphone player, Nick Mancini and Sarah Vaughan Vocal Jazz competition winner, Tawanda.

Performance Sponsor:

SAVE 30% when you subscribe to the 7-concert Jazz series. Packages start at $37 per show.