Blog
Mid March TV, Shows, Inspiration Corner…
Notes from the…
Happy Spring!
Upcoming Dates:
Friday, 4/5/24, Pasadena, CA, 8pm: FFJN w/ JL & Friends, Facebook RSVP here.
Sunday, 3/24/24, Los Angeles, CA, 7pm: Zoe FitzGerald Carter (JL on guitar only)Tuesday, 3/19/24, NBC-TV, 8:30pm, Extended Family (sitcom) (Oops! Watch on Peacock streaming today!)
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.”
Much love and strength to you all.
J
Links:
The Passage of Time: tr.ee/Pu43vl20fg
First Fridays Jazz Night: jasonluckett.com/ffjn424/
Facebook RSVP for April 5: facebook.com/events/1130084121501178/
Zoe at Hotel Café: new.hotelcafe.com/event/zoe-fitzgerald-carter/
Extended Family: nbc.com/extended-family
First Fridays Jazz Night with Jason Luckett and Friends
Friday, April 5,
7:30 Doors,
8pm Showtime, runs until 10:30
Performing:
Jeanne Newhall
Little Brazil Trio
Jason Luckett
Hosted by Jason Luckett
Suggested donation: $20 at the door or online
Venmo: @jasonluckett
PayPal.me/jasonluckett
(100% goes to the musicians).
Lyd & Mo’s Photography Studio and Gallery
27 Mentor Ave
Pasadena, CA
In Playhouse Village in the heart of Pasadena, across from The Ice House
IG: @firstfridaysjazznight
Please add & stream my latest music here, it means a lot!
Apple Music
Spotify
Bandcamp
Amazon Music
TIDAL
Posted in Blog, Mailing List
FFJN 3/1/24 Casey Lipka & Tres Acústicos
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).
No shows booked at the moment.
-->
Posted in Blog, First Fridays Jazz Night
FFJN 3/1/24: Marcel Camargo
Marcel Camargo (@marcelcamargomusic) is a Brazilian guitarist, who’s spent a lot of time as Michael Bublé’s guitarist. He’s an incredible composer and arranger, as well. Recently, he was on tour with Brazilian Legend, Arthur Verocai. (FFJN alum Marcelo Bucater played drums on that tour!) He’s also worked with diverse artists from Herb Alpert, Sérgio Mendes, and Bebel Gilberto to Tom Harrell and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson to Macy Gray, Inara George, and Jason Mraz.
I met Marcel in the 90s when he was playing a lot with Gretchen Parlato, while both were students at UCLA. When I started this series, he was one of the first people I wanted on it, so I’m so happy that he’s finally able to do it.
No shows booked at the moment.
-->FFJN 12/1: The Brothers Figaro, Dorothy Coleman Pincus
The first Friday of the month is December 1st, so we’ll be doing The Holiday Edition of First Fridays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends. I’ll be joined by the Brothers Figaro (last time we were on a bill together was last century!!), and Dorothy Coleman Pincus, one of my secret vocal stars!
The Brothers Figaro are Phil Parlapiano and Bill Bonk. These guys made a huge impression on me as young artist when I’d open for them at Molly Malone’s. Their songwriting, singing and musicianship were so energetic and encompassed such a wide variety of sounds that it helped me to believe that so much was possible. I’m thrilled that they are going to bring their Old Time Christmas show to us on the 1st.
And Dorothy Coleman Pincus, has a résumé from Aretha Franklin to Barry Manilow, Stevie Wonder to Tupac Shakur. In fact, California knows how to party, in part, because of her vocals on that legendary collaboration “California Love” by Shakur and Dr. Dre (with Roger Troutman of Zapp fame — anyone ever slow dance to “I Want to be Your Man”? But I digress…). She’s sung with me and recorded over at my studio many times over the past couple decades. I’m going to accompany her on some holiday favorites. She always brings the love! Albeit, this evening, from a jazzier perspective!
-->Stream “Document: Freedom: Spring”
Apple Music
Spotify
Bandcamp
Amazon Music
TIDAL
So happy to announce that you can now stream the 2022 live album on all the usual streaming music platforms. Please add it and enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving!
FFJN 11/3: The Roswell Sisters
Kristi Callan and I know each other through the indie pop music scene and Harry Nilsson fandom. I love close vocal harmonies and at the last Nilsson birthday tribute we got to talking and she told me she was part of a group called the Roswell Sisters. I thought they’d be great addition to our eclectic First Fridays Jazz Night.
Check out this résumé!
A captivating close-harmony group from Los Angeles, modeled loosely on the legendary jazzy New Orleans 30s band the Boswell Sisters, but bringing unexpected, eccentric, and occasionally even glam rock touches to that vintage vocal style. Group leader Justin Tanner has a special gift for arranging songs from the 20s and 30s straight through to originals by Roswells pianist Kristian Hoffman in classic “old tyme” tight, dense harmonies, dazzling in their complexity. Justin (tenor) is a noted Los Angeles playwright (“Zombie Attack,” “Pot Mom,” “Day Drinkers”) and a classically trained pianist. Lisa Jenio (alto), lead singer and songwriter for L.A. pop band Candypants, has also collaborated with the Negro Problem and Ronnie Spector. Kristi Callan uses her varied experience working with a wide range of artists from David Gray to Dave Davies to her own alt-country band, Dime Box and 80s girl group Wednesday Week, to inform her role as the emotive soprano in the group.
The Roswell Sisters are backed by Kristian Hoffman (Ann Magnuson, Prince Poppycock, Rufus Wainwright, Mumps, Klaus Nomi) on piano and Pierre Smith (El Vez, Ann Magnuson, New Marines, Human Hands) on guitar. The response to this young combo has been wildly enthusiastic, and audiences have been transfixed by the gorgeous harmonies the Roswells bring to classic 30s songs like “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and modern pop gems like the Mumps’ “Just Look, Don’t Touch.”
From their show-stopping version of “42nd Street” to their spectacular original “Imaginary Friend,” the group delivers a mesmerizing performance every time. The Roswells have played eclectic venues all over the greater Los Angeles area and are currently in the studio recording their debut.
And on 11/3 they’ll be with us!
No shows booked at the moment.
-->
Posted in Blog
FFJN 11/3: Jennifer Leigh Warren
Jennifer Leigh Warren is a new friend of mine whom I met celebrating the 25th anniversary of Nana-Ama Danquah’s memoir, Willow Weep for Me. (Nana-Ama included an essay of mine in the anthology, The Black Body.) We started talking and laughing and I thought she’d be a great addition to our series. I asked her. And I’m so glad she said yes!
Her resume is rich with Broadway, touring and TV experience. For FFJN, she’s trying something new with just guitar accompaniment, from me. And we’ll duet on a couple things. It’s been so much fun seeing what we can do together.
Here’s her bio:
Jennifer Leigh Warren has been lauded for her theatrical work, from her show-stopping performance as “Alice’s Daughter” in the original Broadway cast of Big River (singing a song written for her by Roger Miller), to originating the role of “Crystal” in the Alan Menken/Howard Ashman Off-Broadway hit Little Shop of Horrors, to her performance in the original Broadway cast of Marie Christine at Lincoln Center. In the television musical event RENT: LIVE, she showcased her versatility as Mrs. Jefferson, Mrs. Cohen, Support Sue and the infamous bag lady. With the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, in the Disney Concert Hall, she performed as the narrator/vocalist in the “Rock my Soul” festival and performed her “Diamonds Are Forever: The Songs of Shirley Bassey” concert directed by Richard Jay Alexander in the Renberg Theater in Los Angeles. She starred as “The Blues Singer” in all four national tours of A Night with Janis Joplin (USA, Canada) streaming now on Broadway HD.com. For REPRISE! she was Lalume in Kismet, Cleo in The Most happy Fella and stopped the show as Shelia in Hair (with a vocal arrangement made for her by the great Peter Matz). On The Tonight Show, CONAN and Jimmy Kimmel, she performed with Broken Bells, The Kills, Trombone Shorty, Lisa Loeb and OK GO. In Japan, she re-created her Big River role (in Japanese) and in Denmark sang with Al Jarreau (televised LIVE throughout Europe). Film: Garry Marshall’s Valentine’s Day, The Other Sister and Dear God, Allison Anders & Martin Scorsese’s Grace of My Heart, Sean Penn’s The Crossing Guard, Larry David’s Sour Grapes. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and a proud SAG-AFTRA AEA member.
No shows booked at the moment.
-->Choosing Joy — First Anniversary
Choosing joy ….creates so much room for love, growth, and experience.
10/21/23
I didn’t want to let this day pass without acknowledging the anniversary of Document: Freedom: Spring and the life saving surgery that happened the same day, 10/21/22. It was a little bit like two births. And what’s come from it has been so life affirming. Thanks to the sweet people who wrote testimonials for the record, Todd Lawrence, Dee Madden, Imani Tolliver, Steve Hochman, and Mark Davis. Thanks to Simko for taking pictures when I realized that I didn’t have any photos from the concert! Thanks to Ray Moore for helping to make it sound like a record.
Then Anne Dixon introduced me to Raspin Stuwart who brought me to Lyd & Mo’s, where Mo tried to convince me that I was playing jazz and asked me to curate a monthly jazz night — and I’d be the featured artist. It seemed a little outrageous to me, but it pushed me to reach out to amazing musicians like Russell Ferrante, Edwin Livingston, Reggie Quinerly and Nailah Porter who joined me to do a Jazz Vespers at All Saints Church where I did my best to channel Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke. I felt so bolstered by that experience.
And the gift Mo gave me, I’ve been able to share with my friends, giving other artists a chance to do something different or re-energize what they’ve always done before this incredible loyal audience of deep listeners at our First Fridays Jazz Nights.
Somewhere along the way this has also re-energized my recording studio and I’m starting to record more people there, holding a safe space for creativity.
This is only a snippet of the good that’s come in the past year or so when I decided to put something positive into the world on surgery day. Choosing joy and letting go of what’s toxic in one’s life creates so much room for love, growth, and experience. I feel high and so grateful.
Thank you to my family. Thank you to the good people at Kaiser. Thanks to Bandcamp. Thanks to the Warner Grand Annex. Thanks to you for being such loving supporters of what I try to do with music and building – and supporting – community.
You are a gift to me.
-->
Posted in Blog
All Souls Are Free
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.
-->
