👋 LA Musician Newsletter
Here are some of the classiest places to hear jazz in Los Angeles, from small jazz joints to large concert halls.
🥔 The Baked Potato
A no-frills jazz club in the San Fernando Valley that’s been home to jazz legends for 5+ decades.
Frequency: Jazz every night
Price: $20–30 for tickets. $5 to $10 for drinks.
Location: Studio City (San Fernando Valley)
This legendary Los Angeles hangout is a musicians' club. There aren’t any extra frills. And high-class style isn’t something you’ll have to worry about.
This dive bar has been a local favorite in the Valley for over 50 years. Jazz legends and session players both jump in to jam every night of the week.
On average, expect to pay about $20–30 for tickets here, and there’s a 2-drink minimum. Don’t worry, the drinks are pretty cheap for LA. The Baked Potato’s website makes the point that drinks start at just $5.
When you’re hungry, load up with a baked potato made to order. Add meat, cheese, veggies, and sauces.
🥇Sam First
Sam First is a cocktail bar and jazz club right next to LAX. The drinks are stiff and the music selection is divine.
Frequency: Live jazz almost every night of the week.
Price: $25~
Location: LAX
Sam First is a true hidden gem. Classic drinks rule the night. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays there is live jazz. All in an unsuspecting club near LAX International Airport.
Expect to hear old standards, freestyle upright bass, experimental sax, and more. Depending on the lineup, tickets will cost between $25 and $30. There's usually a one-drink minimum! But at a place like this, it’s not a problem.
⛵ Catalina Jazz Club
Catalina is the best-of-the-best for classic jazz club atmosphere. Order a drink and watch nationally-recognized jazz bands perform.
Frequency: Jazz 4-5 nights per week.
Price: $30–$75 for tickets. $12–$20 for drinks.
Location: Hollywood, CA
Most people come to this small Hollywood club for the jazz, not the dinner.
Catalina Jazz Club is one of the city's most expensive jazz venues. If you’re a jazz fan, this is the place to be.
The club's monthly schedule features nationally touring jazz greats. You can also catch up-and-coming musicians from LA as well.
It's recommended that you make a reservation, or at the very least arrive early. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
⏱️ ETA
Hole-in-the-wall vibes keep ETA one of LA’s best kept secrets. It’s nothing fancy, but it delivers on the essentials.
Frequency: Sporadic, but about 2-3 times per week.
Price: $15-20~
Location: Highland Park
Every week, you can relax with a cocktail at one of Highland Park’s best drink spots. The best part is that you’ll be surrounded by live jazz.
The music is a great blend of old and new. And the interior design of ETA shows that off, with small touches of industrial decor interspersed with the chic jazz club aesthetic.
⭐ Hollywood Bowl
An outdoor amphitheater with dozens of concerts annually. Home to an annual jazz festival.
Frequency: Jazz festival every summer around June or July.
Price: $50-$150~
Location: Hollywood
A concert at the Bowl is the quintessential Los Angeles music experience. Luckily, the Hollywood Bowl has a very famous jazz roster.
Herbie Hancock is known for putting together an annual jazz series with famous musicians from all over the world.
The concert series kicks off with an annual jazz festival. The Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, which used to be called the Playboy Jazz Festival, is a two-day jazz event at this well-known venue.
💃 BroadStage
Beautiful acoustics and comfy seats make this theater a standout in town. There aren’t lots of jazz shows, but the guests and programming are always top-notch. Watch jazz, classical, theater, and more here.
Frequency: Scheduled music in a season.
Price: $50-$100
Location: Hermosa Beach (About 20 minutes south of LAX)
Located in Santa Monica, the BroadStage is beautiful year-round venue for theater, dance, and music thanks to the generosity of the Broad family.
The black box theater attached to the venue is just as cozy. It occasionally hosts performances as well.
🌊 Lighthouse Cafe
A mix of bar food, upscale fun, and views of the beach and ocean. Live music every night of the week with jazz jams and featured performers sprinkled into the calendar.
Frequency: Music every night. Jazz weekly.
Price: Free (Food + Drink purchase required)
Location: Hermosa Beach (About 20 minutes south of LAX)
This jazz club has been showcasing jazz and bebop musicians for over 80 years (which is crazy to say out loud). It was even featured in the movie La La Land!
Lighthouse Cafe one of L.A.'s premier clubs, offers a variety of genres every day of the week. Weekends are packed for jazz brunch, but weekday nights are free, so save your money for all-day drink specials and jazz happy hour.
It’s free to enter but expect to buy drinks and food to make up for it. Not every night has jazz. But there are jazz jams and featured artists about once a week at Lighthouse Cafe.
Royce Hall
Beautiful and large concert hall on the UCLA college campus. Jazz concerts are on the calendar every season.
Frequency: Music monthly. Jazz selections change every season.
Price: $40-$100~
Location: UCLA campus near Beverly Hills
The grand 1,800-seat theater at UCLA is named for the American philosopher Josiah Royce. It has been the site of legendary performances since the 1930s with folks like Duke Ellington.
The great jazz lineup at Royce Hall is a representation of LA’s old and new jazz scenes. Grab a drink at the Royce Bar and look at elegant architecture.
Hands down one of the best places to catch a live jazz show.