10 DTLA MUSIC TO YOUR EARS BY KERI FREEMAN
VOL 17. NO. 04 - JULY 28TH - AUGUST 3RD - 2022 WWW.DTLAWEEKLY.COM
JAZZ IN THE SKY
RETURNS TO THE CITY CLUB
W
ith Jazz in the Sky, legends of Jazz are invited to perform inside or atop of LA’s most luxurious commercial high rises, private clubs and apartment houses.
L
inda Sam is a member of the Leimert Park Jazz and Blues Society, and the founder of Jazzabration, a nonprofit organization whose mission has been preserving the legacies of Jazz and Blues Legends since 2010.
Linda Sam, Jerrell Ballard, Mikal Majeed, Clifton Brown & Roscoe Lee Owens attendance but also through sponsorships and collaborations”.
As the African proverb says, “…if you want to go far, go together.”
The Return of Jazz in the Sky
Shortly after the formation of the non profit, Linda caught the eye of a fellow Jazz ensemble booker Roscoe Lee Owens who had long founded JazzZone, Inc, in tribute to his late father, Legendary Jazz drummer, Jimmy Owens.
This weekend, the jazzy duo will be hosting their 16th Jazz in the Sky performance at the prestigious City Club in the Finance District.
Stuart Elster is a professional pianist based in the Los Angeles area. Elster has performed and/or recorded with various pop, R&B, Blues and Jazz artists. He has also released award winning Jazz recordings. In addition to playing piano, Elster also works as a musical director in a plethora of local clubs.
Jerrell Ballard is one of LA’s finest Fifty-one stories high, views from the City drummers. He has played with many Club are most impressive. The Los Angeles recording artists such as The Temptations, After years spent producing numerous Social club is rich in diversity, networking The DeFranco Family, Linda Hopkins and The Marvelettes. opportunities and caters to some of the Jazz shows throughout Los Angeles, the two would eventually co-found a series most passionate professionals in the City. A celebration of Jazz culture in Los of nonprofit events and organizations Angeles, Musical Director Charles Jazz in the Sky will return to the together including Jazz in the Sky, An Small and band will accompany Lettrice City Club, July 30th, adding an A-list Elevated Jazz Experience, featuring Jazz Lawrence and Marva Smith as they of talented performers, with honorees legends from around the world. will be singing tributes to the late great accepting awards during the event. Barbara Morrison. Despite showcasing hundreds of local Honorees include Luther musicians over the course of two Apart from soul moving Jazz decades, Linda perceives the current Hughes, Stuart Elster performances, the event will also state of Jazz in the Sky and her work over and Jerrell Ballard. feature a catered buffet. the years as simply scratching the surface. It is her goal to take the movement Bassist Luther Hughes has played For those who appreciate the Historically national. with some of the biggest names in black genres, Jazz & Blues, this will surely Jazz in a career spanning over 40 years. be an event to attend. RSVP required at In Linda’s words, “This is our passion He has performed or recorded with Jazz @jazzintheskyla and we want the world to know that this Legends such as Gene Harris, Mundell work needs to be supported not only in Lowe, Joe Henderson and many more.
