Home › 2023 ( › Page 2)
Yearly Archives: 2023

All Souls Are Free

Posted on by Jason Posted in Blog, Music, Video — No Comments ↓
"All Souls Are Free" Video Still

I started the year by posting this on Facebook, 2 Jan 2023. It feels even more important now. This is a collaboration with Todd Lawrence. 

Here’s what I wrote then:

_____

Hey Friends! My friend, Todd Lawrence, brought a line to our first ever writing session (after knowing each other for decades!) and we came up with this. I miffed a few words in recording this draft last night, but I like what we did. I’d love to hear people singing along to this! It was Todd’s idea to ride the “we…’ll” Stack those harmonies! Most of all I hope it could be used inspirationally to free some souls.

Here are the correct lyrics:

“When All Souls Are Free”

Words & music by Todd Lawrence & Jason Luckett

In this broken world
Your get used to the thought
That our prayers go unanswered
That our dreams are for naught

And all that is now
Shall always be
And it’s only in a child’s dream
That all souls are free

For a child see the world
Through innocent eyes
No false complication
Or logic that lies

And I have no answers
When they ask me
When will the time come
When all souls are free?

Till all are free
Till all are free
Till all souls are free
We’ll never be

With this broken heart
I walk out of time
Looking for traces
Of reason and rhyme

I struggle for answers
There’s none I can see
When will the time come
When all souls are free?

Till all are free
Till all are free
Till all souls are free
We’ll never be

And we’ll never feel real
And we’ll never feel right
And we’ll never have peace
Lie with us at night
We’ll be locked in a cage that we can’t even see
Till all are unshackled
Till all souls are free…

© 2023 Todd Lawrence & Jason Luckett

_____

“This is a time for resolve, and not revenge. For purpose, and not panic. And for security, and not surrender,” said soldier Lloyd Austin (US Secretary of Defense). 

Let’s resolve to free souls, to create peace, so that we all may be free. 

Here’s a link to the chord chart.

-->
Tagged with:
Posted in Blog, Music, Video

FFJN 10/6: Katie Ward

Posted on by Jason Posted in Blog — No Comments ↓

Katie was recommended to me by my friend, Nick Vincent, with whom I’ve done the Nilsson Tribute shows. Most recently he did the arrangement for “Nevertheless” for the 8th Annual show. (See it here.)

Katie, it turns out was part of Kenny Burrell’s 85th birthday concert, which gives us something in common, as I sang with him at the 75th and 80th!

She’ll be solo on the 6th, and here’s how she describes her music:

Katie Ward imagines a world in which jazz harmony and glittery synthesizers enmesh in a dreamy balancing act of consonance and dissonance. At times her musical world is chaotic and challenging, but it is matched with a lyrical sincerity that is unabashedly girly and whimsical. She aims to push musical boundaries as far as possible without straying from an emotional core.

I’m looking forward to hearing her live!

-->
Posted in Blog

FFJN 10/6: Gary Stockdale

Posted on by Jason Posted in Blog — No Comments ↓
Gary Stockdale Photo

Gary is someone I find a delight to be around! His voice is pure and his songs are witty, poignant, and effortlessly musical. I’m exited to have him join us on the 6th for a set.

Read some about him below:

GARY STOCKDALE is a 2-time Emmy-nominated composer, songwriter and singer who composed music for many TV shows and films, including Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Penn & Teller: Bullshit, Spongebob Squarepants, and The Aristocrats (not to be confused with the AristoCATS – this is the one about the world’s dirtiest joke told by the world’s funniest comedians). For some of these, he also wrote and was the primary vocalist on original songs. He was also the composer and Musical Director for the Emmy-nominated Penn & Teller’s Sin City Spectacular, one of the last true TV variety shows. Gary won a BMI Award for Music Composition for his work on the Penn & Teller show.

As a veteran studio singer, his voice can be heard on The Prince of Egypt, Star Wars: Rogue One, Star Trek: Beyond, The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, The Simpsons, & Family Guy. He has sung with Justin Timberlake, Adele, Aaron Neville, Neil Young, David Crosby & Johnny Mathis, and backed up Mary J. Blige on the 2018 Oscars. Gary’s onscreen performances include a featured solo in the cult-classic musical TV seriesCop/Rock, a lead vocal in the film Lucy In The Sky (as a singing Shriner),  a singing retiree in the first episode of B Positive, as well as wearing a pink choir robe, backing up Camila Cabello on the Ellen show in 2019.

With Spencer Green, Gary co-wrote the irreverent adult musical BUKOWSICAL, which won Outstanding Musical at the2007 New York International Fringe Festival. Gary also composed the score for the original Off-Broadway productionof PLAYDEAD, directed and co-written by Teller. He was the original keyboard player in the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Gary’s latest record, Keep Letting Go was released in 2018. After working with Gary, award-winning songwriters Barry Mann & Cynthia Weill (You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’, Somewhere Out There) called Gary “…one of the greatest singers on the planet.” That quote sure looks nice on a bio!

Garystockdale.com

JASON LUCKETT  

Date City Venue
Jason Luckett Pasadena Residency: First Fridays Jazz Night w/ JL & Friends
Saturday, 12/14/24 Pasadena, CA Archetype Yoga
Add
Time: 7:30pm. Admission: $20 suggested donation. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 638 E. Colorado Blvd. Ste. 301. Venue phone: 626-345-5676. Our new venue, and my annual holiday show, featuring Jami Lula and Phil Parlapiano. Related post.

Subscribe: RSS | iCal

-->
Posted in Blog

First Fridays Jazz Night w/Jason Luckett & Friends: Gary Stockdale, Katie Ward, Friday, 10/6, Pasadena

Posted on by Jason Posted in Shows Past — No Comments ↓

DETAILS:

Posted in Shows Past

FFJN Sept 1: Cathy Segal-Garcia & Gary Fukushima

Posted on by Jason Posted in Blog — No Comments ↓

Cathy and I met probably a decade ago when her group Fish To Birds, an a cappella improvised singing group, was forming, I even sat in with them a few times! She’s been a long time influential presence on the jazz vocal scene in Los Angeles and a tireless champion of jazz of all kinds, and now hosts live broadcasts from Kulak’s Woodshed. Cathy & jazz pianist Gary Fukushima have had a wonderful musical relationship for many years. They are the founders of “The Moment”, a quirky modern-jazz & improvisational quintet with synth, guitar, tenor, and percussion. On the 1st, the band will include Chuck Manning on tenor and special guest percussionist.

First Fridays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends, 9/1/23

Cathy Segal-Garcia & Gary Fukushima
MASAUKO
Jason Luckett

Hosted by Jason Luckett
Doors: 7:30
Showtime: 8pm

Suggested donation: $20 at the door or online at PayPal.me/jasonluckett (100% goes to the musicians).

Lyd & Mo Photograpy Studio & Gallery
27 N Mentor Avenue, Pasadena, CA, United States, California

In Playhouse Village in the heart of Pasadena

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1292436704720195/
IG: @firstfridaysjazznight

-->
Tagged with: , , , ,
Posted in Blog

FFJN Sept 1: MASAUKO

Posted on by Jason Posted in Blog — No Comments ↓

I think Masa and I may have first met at UCLA, but we became friends through the community around The World Stage in Leimert Park. We were the guys with acoustic guitars, who would fill that room without a mic during poetry nights. We were kin.

Masa also helped to facilitate my first collaboration with Peter J Harris, “Winter in Brazil,” after I’d heard what he had done with Peter’s words.

Soon after we met, Masa partnered with Neo Muyanga to form Blk Sonshine, and beauty was taken to another level! And he continues to grow and inspire me with the power of his voice and writing.

Here’s MASAUKO’s bio:

Masauko is a Malawian-American singer/songwriter, born in Los Angeles while his parents were in political exile. His primary instruments are the acoustic guitar and the voice. Masauko’s sound is a unique mixture of Southern African traditional music with jazz, folk, funk, hip hop and reggae. 

He performed at the request of Nelson Mandela in South Africa in 2005 and became a Mandela 46664 Ambassador. Mandela dared his ambassadors to use their art as a form of activism. From that time forward Masauko has used his music to support women and orphans in remote villages of Malawi. 

He received a Limon Roots award in August 2014 for his unique contributions to the culture of Costa Rica through African music.

In 2022, Masauko received a certificate of recognition from Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo for his work as an activist and artist in the USA and Africa. On September 1, at First Fridays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends, Masauko will share songs and stories about growing up in Pasadena and making music around the world.  

http://www.masauko.com

-->
Tagged with:
Posted in Blog

First Fridays Jazz Night w/Jason Luckett & Friends: MASAUKO + Cathy & Gary, Friday, 9/1/23, Pasadena

Posted on by Jason Posted in Shows Past — No Comments ↓

It’s a holiday weekend when Masa is in town! And Cathy is a Los Angeles jazz treasure! I’ll be playing, too! So please join us!

Cathy Segal-Garcia & Gary Fukushima
MASAUKO
Jason Luckett

Lyd & Mo Photograpy Studio & Gallery
27 N Mentor Ave
Pasadena, CA

Hosted by Jason Luckett
Doors: 7:30
Showtime: 8pm

Suggested donation: $20 at the door or online at PayPal.me/jasonluckett(100% goes to the musicians).

In Playhouse Village in the heart of Pasadena
IG: @firstfridaysjazznight

DETAILS:

-->
Posted in Shows Past

The Victory Theatre Center, Sunday, 08/06/23, Burbank

Posted on by Jason Posted in Shows Past — No Comments ↓

More info here: https://thevictorytheatrecenter.org/tickets-events/backstory

DETAILS:

  • Artist: JASON LUCKETT
  • Date: Sunday, 08/06/23
  • Time: 7:30pm
  • Venue: The Victory Theatre Center
  • City: Burbank , CA
  • Country: United States
  • Admission: $10
  • Age restrictions: All Ages
  • Box office: 818.841.4404
  • Notes: Using the title of a classic stage play or movie as inspiration, storytellers and poets write poems and stories to be read aloud. Writers may pen a personal story inspired by the themes of the play. They may write in the voice of a character from the play and tell his or her back story. Or they may simply riff on the words in the title. Whatever the writer’s approach, BACKSTORY has consistently been a fascinating and eclectic night of theatre. This month the play is “A Raisin in the Sun.”
  • Add to Google Calendar|Download iCal

Posted in Shows Past

FIRST FRIDAYS W/JASON LUCKETT & FRIENDS – Birthday Edition! 8/4/23, Pasadena

Posted on by Jason Posted in Shows Past — No Comments ↓

This will be new! A rare occurrence… kind of like my crooning in this photo by Cary Baker from this month’s 8th Annual Nilsson tribute. 

On August 4, for First Fridays Jazz Night, with Jason Luckett & Friends, we’ll have various alumni from the first six shows returning… and mostly they’ll be covering me! 

“What?!?,” you say!?!

Each time I’ve done these shows, I’ve wanted everyone back for the next one because that night had felt so good! So, for August, I wanted to have people come back to celebrate a successful first 6 months, and my birthday! I couldn’t conceptualize it fully though, so one of the artists suggested that they cover my songs. 

I could be nonchalant about it, but, whoa! The idea touched me deeply.

The songs and artists are still being finalized, but I’m really excited to share this night with them and you all! 

Of course, I’ll play a set of my own stuff, too, with a standard or two as a respectful nod to the tradition. 

So please plan to come for the night, celebrate our intertwined communities of artists, family and friends. 

Friday, August 4, 
7:30 doors, 
8:00 showtime, show goes until 10:30
$20 suggested donation (at the door or in advance @paypal.me/jasonluckett) 

Lyd & Mo Photography Studio and Gallery (Events – Lyd & Mo Studio & Gallery)
27 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena

#pasadena #livemusic #lydandmophotography #singersongwriter#friendssupportingfriends #jazz

DETAILS:

  • Artist: JASON LUCKETT
  • Jason Luckett Pasadena Residency: First Fridays Jazz Night w/ JL & Friends
  • Date: Friday, 08/04/23
  • Time: 8:00pm
  • Venue: Lyd & Mo Photography
  • City: Pasadena , CA
  • Address: 27 N Mentor Ave
  • Country: United States
  • Admission: $20 donation
  • Age restrictions: All Ages
  • Notes: On August 4, for First Fridays Jazz Night, with Jason Luckett & Friends, we’ll have various alumni from the first six shows returning… and mostly they’ll be covering me! “What?!?,” you say!?! Each time I’ve done these shows, I’ve wanted everyone back for the next one because that night had felt so good! So, for August, I wanted to have people come back to celebrate a successful first 6 months, and my birthday! I couldn’t conceptualize it fully though, so one of the artists suggested that they cover my songs. I could be nonchalant about it, but, whoa! The idea touched me deeply. The songs and artists are still being finalized, but I’m really excited to share this night with them and you all! Of course, I’ll play a set of my own stuff, too, with a standard or two as a respectful nod to the tradition. So please plan to come for the night, celebrate our intertwined communities of artists, family and friends. Friday, August 4, 7:30 doors, 8:00 showtime, show goes until 10:30 $20 suggested donation (at the door or in advance @paypal.me/jasonluckett) Lyd & Mo Photography Studio and Gallery 27 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena #pasadena #livemusic #lydandmophotography #singersongwriter #friendssupportingfriends #jazz
  • Add to Google Calendar|Download iCal

-->
Posted in Shows Past

FFJN 7/7 Babilonia, Ann Pattillo, Phil Vieux

Posted on by Jason Posted in Blog — No Comments ↓
From last month, with David Sutton.

On Friday, July 7, I have Celia Chavez, Ann Pattillo, and Phil Vieux joining me for “Jazz Night.”

Celia’s spent time globetrotting as a backup singer with artists including P!nk, Melody Gardot and Enrique Iglesias, to name a few. I met her through the community of musicians at Genghis Cohen years ago. She’s taken a brand new moniker, Babilonia, to launch her new EP, “If I Ever Think To Double Back.” It “braids together strands of music she’s lived and loved: from her parents’ jazz and soul records back in her hometown of Seattle, to the vibrant scene of New York City’s Lower East Side, to the songcraft capital of Laurel Canyon. Written during a painful two year break from her life partner, it’s a record of liberation against a backdrop of deep cultural change.”

I met Phil Vieux at The World Stage in Leimert Park in the 90s. He floored me. Like a time machine to the future. Check out his solo to “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise.”

He’s played with artists from Horace Silver and Tootie Heath to Ray Charles and Eddie Palmieri. And on the 7th, he’ll play a few tunes with me!

My newest friend on the bill is Ann Pattillo. My sister and I met her and her sister at a Kurt Elling show a couple years ago. She’s “a public school music teacher who loves singing jazz and all things Brazilian!” And she swings in a sort of Betty Carter way. I’m excited to accompany her for her set!

If you can join us, the vibe is kind of a house concert in a gorgeous photography gallery and studio. Bring whatever you like for refreshments and snacks, for yourself or to share. The suggested base donation is $20, all of which goes to the musicians. Mo offers his place to us for free.

[Facebook RSVP]

-->
Posted in Blog