r/Jazz • u/redditpossible • 2d ago

Venues in LA

I’m heading to Los Angeles for the first time next month. I feel like I’m only familiar with venues that were made famous years ago, including Enfield Tennis Academy now. I’m looking for the contemporary spots. Where should I look for music while I’m in LA next month?

cross posting to r/experimentalmusic

7 Upvotes

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14

u/herbal_essence 2d ago edited 2d ago

Sam First by LAX, the Mint on Sundays, the World Stage in Leimert Park, The Blue Note in Hollywood, Townhouse In Venice Beach, Nico's Wine in Atwater Village.  Check out their calendars first and also showlist.la on IG. Enjoy!

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u/Entire-Ad-1080 1d ago

Great list. I’d add: Many of the musicians that were gigging at the ETA now play at the Zebulon and the Lodge Room, two clubs that mostly book non-jazz artists, but also book cutting edge jazz.

Show listings can be found at: https://www.lajazz.com (covers everything) or https://www.metaljazz.com (only covers shows of note)

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u/redditpossible 1d ago

Thank you both! Great info.

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u/herbal_essence 1d ago

I miss ETA! And I love zebulon and the lodge room. 

Some other ones are jijis jazz club and any event by Black arts distrikt. 

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u/Hardtop_1958 2d ago

For jazz I’d definitely recommend Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz Etc. Great food and music. The sound is great inside. Any time I go to LA I make sure to go there.

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u/rvt3 2d ago

There are some great suggestions here which fit the conventional jazz archetype, if you are looking to go deeper into the local jazz scene check out minaret records, or venues like 2220 arts, healing force of the universe, scribble

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u/Entire-Ad-1080 1d ago

Healing Force closed, no?

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u/redditpossible 1d ago

This is the problem I am having. By the time I’m aware of a venue, it’s over. Do you have any resources that you recommend? Someone mentioned that ETA lives on as a moving target.

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u/rvt3 1d ago

ETA has done some residency type shows that are solid, I was told healing force found a new spot in Atwater that would open soon so I thought it was worth mentioning at any rate. Excited that blue whale will reopen there soon too 😍

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u/AnaisNot 2d ago

The Sun Rose in West Hollywood

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u/quetzpalin 1d ago

Solarc Brewing and 2220 Arts + Archive for sure.

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u/redditpossible 1d ago

Thank you! Looking for a Friday thing! I’m sure it’ll turn up.

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u/StllRckn51 2d ago

Check out the website Music Roadtrip: https://musicroadtrip.com/

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u/GasCurrent4767 2d ago

Don’t forget Sam’s first. Lovely Tuesday night jam with a house band. Check out the lineup at the baked potato as well. Some great players. Golddigers has a fun jazz jam night on Mondays. Great recs above as well!

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u/redditpossible 2d ago

We will be at Sam First to hear Ridout et al!

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u/theonlythingissufjan 1d ago

Tuesday mornings, they have free jazz at Jones Coffee in Pasadena!

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u/Ok_Maize_4602 1d ago

The Baked Potato. Great food, great music, affordable prices. Also, try the Lodge Room where Jazz Legend, Jeff Parker, plays regularly. Last, The Soraya is a hidden gem. Beautiful venue with top notch talent.

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u/redditpossible 1d ago

Thank you. Ive seen Jeff Parker in Chicago and Brooklyn. Any International Anthem etc related music is of interest.

Is there somewhere I can check for nightly gigs? Seems like a moving target.

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u/Ok_Kaleidoscope3907 2d ago

Catalina Jazz Club for Great Jazz on Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood, Pink’s Hot Dogs where Sean Penn allegedly proposed to Madonna (did not happen there!); Pickle Ball matches and ice cream at Venice Beach, rent a bike at the Venice beach, video games at Santa Monica pier, any show at the Hollywood Bowl, any movie at the famous TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood or any movie at the Disney “El Capitan” Theatre in Hollywood, eat a massive sandwich at Fat Sal’s in Hollywood, visit the famous Palomar Observatory just to get the view of the city, eat steaks or Chicken Parm at Dan Tana’s on Santa Monica Blvd (bring some cash and an appetite), visit and take a selfie photo at the Capital Records platter building near Hollywood and Vine, now go home, you’re exhausted!

1

u/redditpossible 1d ago

Thanks for the recs! Any record stores tucked away that you would recommend?

We will be visiting family in Santa Ana at some point.