2021 line up
Albert “Tootie” Heath
ft. Jacques Lesure
A 2021 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master (the highest honor that our nation bestows on jazz artists who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz), Albert “Tootie” Heath is the youngest of the three Heath Brothers and is the consummate jazz drummer, playing with everyone from John Coltrane to Ethan Iverson and performing on more than 100 recordings. Well-versed in various styles of jazz—including avant-garde, bop, and swing—he also delved into R&B, such as his work in the 1980s with his nephew, Mtume; studied improvisation in North Indian classical music; and has been praised for his ability to imbue his personality into any repertoire.
Self-taught, Heath received musical training from his father, a clarinetist in one of Philadelphia’s Black marching bands, as well as from his older brothers Percy and Jimmy (both NEA Jazz Masters), who were already establishing themselves in the jazz world. Still in high school, Heath was asked to accompany Thelonious Monk on the drums during his engagement at Philadelphia’s Blue Note Club. By 1957, he had moved to New York, where he had an auspicious recording debut with the legendary John Coltrane on his album Coltrane (and later played on Coltrane’s Lush Life). In 1958, Heath was the drummer for Nina Simone’s first album, Little Girl Blue.
In 1975, he joined his brothers and pianist Stanley Cowell to form the Heath Brothers, a group that remained active until the passing of Percy Heath in 2005. During the mid-1990s he was the drummer in the Modern Jazz Quartet.
Heath was an instructor at the Stanford Jazz Workshop summer camps for middle and high school students for more than 30 years. He has conducted clinics and workshops and performed at colleges and universities nationwide. In 2018, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Foundation of America. Living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, since 2013, Heath has immersed himself in the local jazz community.
Jacques Lesure, a resident of Inglewood,CA, is a Jazz Guitarist, Recording Artist and Motivator who has been performing for 35 years. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Jacques started playing Guitar in the Pentecostal Church, where he realized music was a natural calling for him. His first job as a professional musician was with the gospel group the Clark Sisters. He was also a founding member of the gospel group Commissioned. During his career he has worked with other famed artists such as Kenny Burrell, Carmen Lundy, Jimmy Smith, Paula West, Pharoah Sanders, and many others. His new release, Camaraderie, made Jazz Week’s Top 50 albums and received a 4-star rating from Downbeat Magazine. His music was even featured in the award winning film, La La Land. He is a board member for organizations such as JEKL Foundation, African American Jazz Caucus, Charles (Dolo) Coker Jazz Scholarship Foundation, and the Jazz Living Legend Foundation. Jacques accomplishes his goal of spreading peace and love through Jazz music by serving as an Artist Teacher. Learn more about Jacques and buy his music here.
Azar Lawrence
Azar grew up during an era of prolificacy and transcendence in Jazz music that to this day has stood the test of time. He's composed, produced and performed with acclaimed jazz luminary McCoy Tyner for over five years, Elvin Jones for many years and recorded Dark Magus with Miles Davis. While very young Azar began playing with many jazz legends and at such an early age his first professional gigs abroad were when he was seventeen with Clarke Terry and Muddy Waters.
Upon leaving Tyner, Azar recorded his own projects, including the recently reissued Bridge Into The New Age (1974), and Summer Solstice (1975), and People Moving (1976). Azar went on to record/write for luminaries such as Freddie Hubbard, Busta Rhymes, Roberta Flack, and Phyllis Hyman. His sensational collaborations of the period included writing and performing on Earth Wind & Fire’s highly acclaimed platinum album, Powerlight, and on Marvin Gaye’s Grammy award winning, Hear My Dear. In the early 2000’s, Azar surged back onto the jazz scene with new records Mystic Journey, Speak the Word, The Seeker and most recently 2018 Elementals continues to roar, electrifying audiences with outstanding original compositions inspired by his intense spiritual feelings, as well as songs from the Coltrane songbook
Azar’s band, The Azar Lawrence Experience (TALE) appears with as many as eight musicians and sizzles to the sounds of his original compositions. TALE dedicates itself to sharing a lifetime of Azar's music, art and spirituality with global audiences. Azar has a new album out in January 2022 ‘New Sky’.
DWIGHT TRIBLE
Dwight Trible is a singer who combines the best of vocal virtuosity with musicianship and improvisational skills. In addition to performing with his own group, the Dwight Trible Ensemble, Dwight is the vocalist with the Pharoah Sanders Quartet and is also the vocal director for the Horace Tapscott Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra. Dwight has worked with such notables as Oscar Brown Jr., Charles Lloyd, Billy Childs, Kenny Burrell, Kenny Garrett, Steve Turre, Harold Land, Harry Belafonte, Della Reese and Norman Conners, John Beasley, Patrice Rushen, Babatunde Lea, Ernie Watts, Kahlil El Zabar, as well as contemporary soul artists like LA Reid and DJ Rogers. Dwight’s collaborations with Horace Tapscott, Billy Higgins, Kamau Daaood and others have produced some of the finest musical moments in Los Angeles! Like his mentors, Dwight is not content to use his music just to entertain people. He uses his music to bring people together, to bridge the gap between the races, and to heal the human heart. He has received numerous awards for his humanitarian efforts. Learn more about Dwight and buy his music here.
José Rizo's Mongorama
Grammy-nominated Mongorama is a latin-jazz ensemble formed by KJazz 88.1 radio personality Jose Rizo (host of 'Jazz on the Latin Side'), exploring the early Mongo Santamaria charanga-jazz material of the 1950's and early 1960's. Conga legend Mongo Santamaria, saxophonist Chombo Silva and flautist Rolando Lozano performed an exciting latin jazz sound driven by cuban charanga rhythms and straight ahead jazz. "MONGORAMA" celebrates this music preserving the classic charanga-jazz element , yet refreshing it with a modern perspective.
The debut self-titled "Mongorama" CD (on Saungu Records) received a Grammy nomination last year. The CD includes special guests Hubert Laws and Poncho Sanchez, performing early Mongo Santamaria material, freshly arranged by Oscar Hernandez and Francisco Torres. The Mongorama 2nd CD, "Baila Que Baila", again features conguero, Poncho Sanchez, and also features Jazz guitar legend, Kenny Burrell, performing on one of his classic compositions.
The new Mongorama CD "Mariposas Cantan" (means ... butterflies sing) charted on the national Jazz Charts (JazzWeek) at #10. This new CD includes 6 more originals and early Mongo Santamaria and Cal Tjader compositions.
Mongorama features Justo Almario (tenor saxophone), DaniloLozano (flute), Dayren Santamaria (violin), JamesZavaleta (lead vocals), Ramon Banda (timbales), Joey De Leon (congas), AlfredoOrtiz (perc/vocals), Rene Camacho (bass), and Joe Rotondi (piano).
SY SMITH
"Sy Smith is one of the most versatile and compelling vocal artists anywhere around." ~ HuffPost
You've heard her with Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti (Live in Boston & PBS Great Performances). You've heard her on the viral video hit "Let's Stay Together" with the legendary percussionist Pete Escovedo. You've heard her poignant self-produced single "Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete" on Stevie Wonder’s Radio Free KJLH in Los Angeles. You may have even seen her early in her career backing artists like Whitney Houston, Brandy, Macy Gray or later with The Foreign Exchange or Sheila E. But if you've never seen Sy Smith's solo performance, you are in for a treat. You don't want to miss this rare sighting in our area as Sy Smith joins us Saturday, August 28th at the Leimert Park Jazz Festival!
Katalyst Collective
Katalyst is an Instrumental band formed on September 27th, 2014, after a show for L.A. Renaissance. Since then, Katalyst has gone on to play in the prestigious Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, backing recording artist Dion at Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek’s Reflection Eternal concert at the Belasco Theater, and a host of events and concerts in the Los Angeles area. Katalyst is also the creator of
#Inglewoodstock, a mini-festival series featuring many of Los Angeles' most talented bands, rappers, and vocalists. Katalyst's style of music can best be described as “Contemporary Instrumental". Katalyst is not just a band. It is a collective of producers, composers, session musicians, and writers. Whether it's scoring an independent film, producing tracks for artists, or arranging and performing an artist's music for a live show, Katalyst has all the elements to bring musical visions to life. The nine members of Katalyst are: Emile Martinez - Trumpet; David Otis - Alto Sax; Jonah Levine - Trombone; Corbin Jones - Tuba; Brandon Cordoba – Piano; Brian Hargrove - Synth; Marlon Spears - Bass; Greg Paul - Drums, Founder; and Ahmad Dubois - Percussion.
ADAAWE
Based in Los Angeles, CA, the talented musicians of ADAAWE originate from Kenya, Morocco, Israel, Panama and across the United States. Their powerful diversity enriches their music, and shows intercultural understanding in action. ADAAWE is committed to building community through music, celebrating diversity, and promoting the rights of women and people around the world to live in a safe and just environment.
ADAAWE has supported benefits such as “Human Rights Watch,” with Annette Benning, “Roots & Shoots,” with Jane Goodall, the “Urban Peace Awards” with Harry Belafonte, as well as “Global Soul,” Heifer International,” and “Jewish World Watch.” In 2018, they performed at the wedding of Stevie Wonder, were “Pick of the Fringe” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and with their full nine-piece fusion band, toured the East Coast with the Levitt Pavilion Foundation.
HOST: LEROY DOWNS
LeRoy Downs has been an icon in the jazz industry for the past twenty years. The Los Angeles jazz radio program & festival host, journalist, television producer, and curator of the Just Jazz concert series has continued to contribute to the art form. Currently, he hosts a weekly Sunday night radio show called, “Just Jazz” on 89.9 FM KCRW.com.
The love of the music continued on another platform with the creation the Just Jazz App which features jazz radio archives, jazz television shows interviews, articles and other multi-media projects that have been created throughout the years.
LeRoy is an in-demand festival host who has graced the stages at many jazz festivals and performances including the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Central Avenue Jazz Festival, the Angel City Jazz Festival, The Playboy Jazz Cruise, The Jazz Cruise, Winter Jazz Fest in New York, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz performances, and YES, the Leimert Park Jazz Festival.
There are some great plans, partnerships and collaborations for future endeavors, and LeRoy Downs will certainly be there continuing to carry the torch, push the music forward, and create new platforms of prominence for jazz music!