*(Los Angeles, CA) — Thousands of jazz aficionados and music enthusiasts moved and got their groove on while enjoying the sounds of jazz and Latin Jazz at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
The Leimert Park Jazz Festival is a Southern California fixture and a beloved community celebration, known for serving up the best that music lovers come to expect. Everyone raved about the world-class show, held outside on the upper parking deck of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.
The festival has something for everyone. Guests listen to classic, original jazz compositions, eat and drink, shop at local retail pop-ups, pick up valuable information from the community resources booths, and browse the creative artwork on display in the art pavilion.
The annual Leimert Park Jazz Festival celebrated a milestone. This year it marked the 5th year of the Leimert Park Jazz Festival. Imagine that this amazing celebration of jazz, community, and culture grew out of the Sutro Avenue Summer Soirée Block Party started by executive producer Diane Robertson.
The Leimert Park Jazz Festival executive produced by Diane Robertson in partnership with The World Stage has witnessed tremendous growth in the local, state, national, and international jazz community.
The weather was nice, sunny with lots of clear blue skies for an outdoor festival. DJ Kase was on the ones and twos playing an eclectic soundtrack as jazz fans arrived at the festival. KJAZZ 88.1FM, Program Host Jose Rizo, and Comedian Ron G were the festival’s co-hosts.
The festival began with the young talented Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center Jazz Band featuring special guest trumpeter Nolan Rasheed.
This was their second time performing in front of a large crowd at a major jazz festival in a week. This is a testament to their commitment and dedication to carrying on the legacy of jazz. Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center Jazz Band kicked off the festivities with some arrangement of jazz standards.
The selections “Sky Dive,” “Red Clay,” and “Little Sunflower,” featured trumpeter Nolan Shaheed. The band continued with “Gibraltar,” “Swagism,” “Move with Purpose,” “Origins,” and “Pacemaker.”
The life and legacy of master jeweler and entrepreneur Sika were honored during the 5th Annual Leimert Park Jazz Festival.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stopped by to greet the lively jazz crowd. Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Councilmember Heather Hutt, and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto addressed the crowd.
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto presented Diane Robertson, executive director of the Leimert Park Jazz Festival with a Certificate of Appreciation.
Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos’s appearance at the festival served as a homecoming. Gilbert was a former member of Black Note, a band that frequently performed at The World Stage back in the 90’s. Gilbert Castellanos is a renowned trumpet virtuoso known for his exceptional skill and dynamic presence in the jazz world.
The quintet performed “Theme for Mariana,” an original composition written for his wife. They followed with a blues composition “Soul Station,” composed by Hank Mobley, “Melody for GC,” composed by Joshua White, and “Mr. Kenyatta,” dedicated to the late great drummer Billy Higgins, who appeared on the EP, by Lee Morgan.
They concluded their set with “Intrepid Fox.” The quintet consisted of Gilbert Castellanos on trumpet, Joshua White-piano, Luke Little-bass, Brian Levy on Sax, and Taylor Kreutel on drums.
Chris Powe is an exciting new talent in the jazz world, bringing his fresh perspective and dynamic saxophone sound to the stage. The future of jazz is in good hands of Chris Powe-sax, Veritus Miller-piano, Isaac Green-bass, and Wayne Matthews on drums.
They entertained the attentive crowd with the following selections “The First,” “Maiden Voyage,” “Yes or No,” “Watching the Night Pass,” and “Cycles.” “Maiden Voyage” by Herbie Hancock and “Yes or No” by Wayne Shorter featured some talented emerging artists who are making some noise (a good thing) in the jazz world.
Justo Almario is a renowned saxophonist, flutist, and composer celebrated for his vibrant fusion of Afro-Colombian rhythms and jazz.
Justo Almario’s Afro-Colombian Jazz Ensemble fired up the stage and the festival with some extra spicy Latin rhythms of Colombia with jazz to get the crowd dancing to their contagious sounds.
They performed “Dedication to Dexter Gordon,” “Cumbia,” “Silencio,” and “Como Dice Usted?” to name a few.”
Billy Childs is a celebrated pianist, composer, and arranger whose contributions to jazz and classical music have earned him international acclaim.
The Billy Childs Trio consisted of Billy Childs on piano, Dan Chmielinsky on bass, and Christian Euman on drums.
Their brilliance was on full display as they performed “Backwards Bop,” “The End of Innocence,” “The Great Western Loop,” “Peace,” and “Four by Five,” To the delight of the crowd.
Four-time Grammy-nominated guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan closed out a successful iteration of the Leimert Park Jazz Festival. The crowd was in awe of his fascinating guitar technique and the wonderful, melodious, unique sounds that he produced on this magical evening.
The show must go on. Sunday Jazz at Ora is a monthly series that captures the spirit of Leimert Park through its monthly showcase of jazz, community, and culture.
Please visit https://www.leimertparkjazzfestival.org for more information about Sunday Jazz at Ora and other events produced by the Leimert Park Jazz Festival. Stay connected on social media: https://www.facebook.ocm/leimertparkjazzfestivalor https://www.instagram.com/leimertparkjazzfestival
Ricky Richardson is a Southern California-based writer, music reviewer, and photographer. Contact him via: [email protected]
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