Please join us as we celebrate the life and music of Harry Nilsson – live and in person at Molly Malone’s on Tuesday July 9th. Doors will open at 7pm. Show will begin at 7:30pm.
Scheduled performers include:
Adrian Bourgeois Alex Vincent Allison MacLoed Alyssandra Nighswonger Andras Jones Brandon Jay Carolyn Soyars Danette Christine Dave Soyars David Bash Evie Sands Feef Mooney Fernando Perdomo Gabi Lima Gal Musette Hunter Hawkins J. Elvis Weinstein Jami McNeill Jason Berk Jason Luckett Julian Velard Kaitlin Wolfberg Luis Enrique Lopez Lyn Bertles Michael Culhane Miles Stenhouse Milo Binder Nick Vincent Noël Wells Paul Zollo Ryan Bennett Stephen Kalinich Tara Austin Teresa Cowles Willie Aron and more….
Tickets are $15 advance /$20 day of show
This show is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend Zak Nilsson.
Join us Friday, July 5, for First Fridays Jazz Night with Jason Luckett & Friends! We’ll feature a set by Lisa Crawley. And a set by Francisco Ruiz. Jason Luckett performs and hosts, too.
First Fridays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends Friday, July 5, 2024 8-10:30pm (doors: 7:30) Lyd & Mo Photography Studio & Gallery 27 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
Performing: Francisco Ruiz Lisa Crawley Jason Luckett
Join us Friday, June 7! We’ll feature vocalist and arranger Alison Lewis accompanied by pianist Sandro Rebel. And in a set of classic jazz and Bossa standards, we’ll have vocalist Tiffany Lantello, with JL on guitar. Jason Luckett performs and hosts.
First Fridays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends Friday, June 7, 2024 8-10:30pm (doors: 7:30) Lyd & Mo Photography Studio & Gallery 27 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
Performing: Alison Lewis Tiffany Lantello Jason Luckett
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 “The Color Purple.”
The Victory Theatre Center presents BACKSTORY: THE COLOR PURPLE June 2nd, 7:30pm PST 3326 West Victory Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505
Library Girl Presents: It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding). Deluxe Mother’s Day Night show! Inspired by a Dylan song, not a Dylan tribute! Featuring readings by Karen Croner, Jeff Greenstein, Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Anna Goodman Herrick, O-Lan Jones, Darrell Larson and Maggie Sennish. Featuring music by Jason Luckett. Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Ave, Santa Monica 90405. $20 includes dessert and free parking. Get tickets NOW at ruskingrouptheatre.com – Click See a Show and look for Library Girl icon. Cover Photo: Cow Girl from Rite of Passage by Tom Chambers. Library Girl, now in its 15th year, created and curated by Susan Hayden
Join us Friday, May 3! We’ll feature the Danny Moynahan Trio, and Jennifer Leigh Warren, with JL on guitar & vocals. Jason Luckett performs and hosts.
First Fridays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends Friday, My 3, 2024 8-10:30pm (doors: 7:30) Lyd & Mo Photography Studio & Gallery 27 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
Performing: Jennifer Leigh Warren Danny Moynahan Trio Jason Luckett
Ha! I’m laughing because this month as I write it is 68º and clear in LA. And for my new list members (welcome!), here’s the song that inspires friends to text me the weather report on these charmed days: “Good Day in LA” (on Bandcamp). It’s decidedly not even jazz adjacent, thus only been played once at First Fridays Jazz Night, by request! But we have a variety of things to catch up on, so enjoy it again, or for the first time, depending on what brought you here. (Scroll to the end for all the links and detailed info.)
To start, for First Fridays Jazz Night, w/ Jason Luckett & Friends on April 5 my guests will be the returning Marcelo Bucater, with the group, Little Brazil Trio, featuring Natália Spadini on vocals, Bruno Justi on guitar, and Marcelo on drums.
Jeanne Newhall is my other guest. We met doing the Aretha and Smokey tribute in January. Her piano and vocal arrangement of “Daydreaming” blew me away. I’ll accompany her on at least one tune, too.
Per usual, I’ll do a brief intro section, then close the night with a full set of my own. Can’t wait!
Before that, I’m going to be playing guitar and bass with Zoe FitzGerald Carter at Hotel Café, on Sunday, March 24, at 7pm. She’s in town promoting her new album, Before the Machine.
And I thought on Tuesday, March 26, you’d be able to see and hear me in a very unusual setting, on the sitcom Extended Family, starring Jon Cryer, Donald Faison, and Abagail Spencer. But it wasn’t the season finale (episode 13) it was the penultimate episode (#12) of a cute show about a divorced couple where the husband to be is the owner of the Boston Celtics (who aren’t playing well during most of the season, in contrast to real life). People started asking me about it when I got home this evening after writing this, so I found out it aired tonight. I filmed it in January and you can stream it on Peacock tonight.
For the inspiration corner…
… I’d guide you this month to the extended interview of Paul Simon on Stephen Colbert’s show. He was there to promote a new documentary on his music. What really got me was his spontaneous recitation of the lyrics for “Darling Lorraine,” a song he called one of his favorites, from the 2000 album, You’re the One. It’s a little known album and song, comparatively, but it’s one of my favorite Simon albums, and “Darling Lorraine” is one of my favorites on it. It was actually a big influence on my song, “The Passage of Time,” that I released on my live album a little while ago.
Another interview that I loved this month was Rick Beato interviewing George Benson. So much of it reminds me of my father, who was about 5 years older than Benson. For guitarists, this is a who’s who of the greats and beautiful memories of tutelage and mentorship. My favorite bit is when he talks of his step-father bringing an electric guitar home and how it blew the 7-year-old’s mind. It was a ploy to get the kid interested in music, just like my pops would sit me in front of the speakers to find what I liked before I could even speak. And, of course there were the George Benson albums he brought home to me later when I’d already taken to guitar, to nudge me towards jazz, specifically “The Other Side of Abbey Road,” which listening to now, I absolutely love, but didn’t completely get back then. But isn’t that the way gifts from your elders creep up on you. Rest in Peace, Pops: 25 years gone as of last week, so this interview felt like a hug.
Anyway, I hope you’ll join me in the coming days at some of these events. If you can make it on April 5 to Pasadena, you can bring drinks and snacks for yourself or to share, it’s kind of a salon/living room type experience. (As you might gather from the photo of last week’s artists: l to r, Casey Lipka, Marcel Camargo, Dusty Brough)
Lastly…
In the spirit of springtime, I’ll sign off with one of my favorite Desmond Tutu quotes:
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
Excited to have Marcelo Bucater back to FFJN, this time with his Little Brazil Trio. In addition to producing, performing, and recording with artists such as Carrie Underwood, Ladybug Mecca, Arthur Verocai, Adrian Younge, Tinto Tango and Adam Levy, Marcelo is the Drum Department Chair at Los Angeles College of Music (LACM).
We’ll also have composer, pianist and singer Jeanne Newhall, whom I met at the Aretha & Smokey tributes I did in January. She did an amazing version of Aretha’s “Daydreaming,” which floored me, highlighting the more psychedelic edges of the tune, but in a more jazz context. I’m really excited to hear what she’ll do one our night.
Of course, I’ll be playing, too!
Hope you can make it!
Doors: 7:30 Showtime: 8pm
Suggested donation: $20 at the door or online Venmo: @jasonluckett PayPal.me/jasonluckett (100% goes to the musicians).
In Playhouse Village in the heart of Pasadena IG: @firstfridaysjazznight
Marcel Camargo introduced me to Casey Lipka, who will bring her new group, Casey Lipka & Tres Acústicos, to FFJN on March 1. Marcel is one of the Tres. And, though Casey is singing backed by the three nylon stringed guitars, she’ll play a bit of bass with me on my set!
Singer-songwriter and LA Native, Casey Lipka (@caseylipka) has toured as a bassist with rock band CAKE, played on NPR’s Mountain Stage, composed music for ballet and fronted an 18-piece orchestra celebrating the music of Motown legends Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. She’s been described as “an amalgam of pop, folk, and jazz wrapped in a neo-classical vibe, where her ethereal sound exudes both vulnerability and strength.” The guitarists joining her, in addition to Marcel, are Nadav Peled (@peled.guitar) and Dusty Brough (@dustybrough).
JASON LUCKETT
Date
City
Venue
Jason Luckett Pasadena Residency: First Fridays Jazz Night w/ JL & Friends
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.
