L.A. is undeniably the music capital of the world. Although many argue that New York is the mecca of jazz, in the 50′s the warm weather and new job opportunities offered by big studios started to attract the best jazz musicians NY had to offer to the city of Angels. For the most seasoned players the seedy night clubs and long brutal tours on the east coast were wearing them down..  And there were big changes in music and the music scene, and the musicians had to learn to change with it.

For example, after the war, swing bands were no longer affordable and many smaller combos took over.   Where they were once a part of a 20 or 25 piece Orchestra, the bands were now whittled down to 7 or 10 players.  Job opportunities for musicians in big swing bands dwindled, and the best jazz musicians moved to Los Angeles looking to be a part of the booming Los Angeles music scene.  Louis Prima, Frank Sinatra, Ray Brown, Johnny Hartman, and even the funk brothers from Motown all soon headed west and became LA Jazz musicians.

Starting in the 50′s, the growth of L.A’s music powerhouse scene created many new opportunities for all musicians, attracting the best of the best from all over the world.  Los Angeles jazz musicians found themselves in the middle of the new music scene, thanks to a vibrant movie industry. As the popularity of live jazz and jazz clubs decreased, the most lucrative work Los Angeles offered to the best jazz musicians shifted from clubs to studio work. Musicians were becoming increasingly versatile, discovering that they could be working all of the time if they were able to adapt to the changing times. Suddenly the super competitive “cats” and freezing blizzards of the East coast were less and less inviting, and the “Cool” jazz was where it was at.  Only the best musicians in Los Angeles were able to stay working in this new environment, and they honed their skills, becoming the kinds of musicians that could walk into any situation and play any style.  However they never lost their love of jazz.  When they weren’t in the studio playing on award-winning soundtracks they were back in the clubs working on the cutting edge of  the new jazz stylings

In more recent years, other changes in the world have brought some of the best new talent to Los Angeles.  The tragedy and devastation of Hurricane Katrina encouraged many New Orleans Jazz musicians to venture westward…many are now L.A.-based.   Their jazz brethren here, conscious of the enormity of disaster that brought them here, tried to open doors for them so that they could stay and build new lives as LA Jazz musicians.  Even the Thelonius Monk foundation recently relocated to Los Angeles. Los Angeles Jazz musicians are truly some of the best in the world.  They are the musicians you hear on CD’s and in movie soundtracks. Where have all the best jazz musicians gone? They’re right here in Los Angeles!

If you would like assistance booking live entertainment or DJ services for your next event please call our office at 818-902-1233