Happy to be back with these wonderful wordsmiths! Join us!
8/9/25, Saturday, Pasadena, Birthday Show Second Saturdays w/JL & Friends
It’s my birthday show at Archetype on August 9 with a gang of guests from past Second Saturdays and First Fridays! I’ll do a set, too!
Second Saturdays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends
Saturday, August 9, 2025
7:30 Doors,
8pm Showtime, runs until 10:30
Performing:
Jason Luckett
Some of your favorites from the past 3 years, and more!
Hosted by Jason Luckett
Suggested donation: $25 at the door or online
Venmo: @jasonluckett (venmo.com/jasonluckett)
PayPal.me/jasonluckett
Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/3FMPOZo
Archetype Yoga
638 E. Colorado Blvd. Ste. 301
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-345-5676
Please RSVP to coordinate accessibility options. Elevator is in the back so we’ll need to meet you there.
In Playhouse Village in the heart of Pasadena, just around the corner from the Playhouse, plenty of parking on Colorado or in the city lot behind Urth Cafe.
Enter through the front, we’re on the third floor. Let us know if you need an elevator and will let you in the back through the alley. 626-345-5676
IG: @secondsaturdaysjazznight @jasonluckett @archetypeyoga
Thanks to Kimberly Fongheiser for the photo of me!
DETAILS:
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Posted in Shows
Sunday, 8/10/25 One of many at … Beatle Jam!
Always a joy! Not singing this time — I’m “just” playing the solo for “Something” (!!!!! — What? Yeah! One of my favorite guitar solos of all time! So much feel!!)
Nearly 50 of LA’s finest musicians will take the stage to celebrate The Beatles’ timeless catalog! Join us — sing along to your favorites, discover deep cuts, and soak in the magic. As always, they’ll kick things off with an acoustic opener to set the tone.
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Posted in Shows
10/4/25 San Luis Obispo, Solo Show Adobe Court behind the Palm Theater
Songwriters at Play presents a concert in San Luis Obispo featuring Jason Luckett, L.A.-based singer-songwriter. The show will be outdoors in the Adobe Courtyard, 964 Chorro Street (behind the Palm Theater). Special guest Bailey Drew will open at 2pm. Tickets are $20 general admission, available now at https://jasonluckettinslo.eventbrite.com
Musician and writer Jason Luckett — raised in Southern California, with roots in Maine, Mississippi, and Hawaii — has released 7 albums, performed in the US, Europe, and India, including the Glastonbury Festival and South by Southwest (SXSW) as well as UCLA’s Royce Hall (with jazz legend, Kenny Burrell) and the ALOUD series from the LA Public Library. Primarily known as a singer and guitarist, his music mixes elements of classic singer-songwriters with the jazz, soul and samba he grew up hearing at home.
Fearlessly addressing topics of social justice in his songwriting, has led to publication of his lyrics and original essays in various anthologies, including The Black Body (Seven Stories) and Voices from Leimert Park (Tsehai). He writes music for theater and film, and has appeared in films and TV (La La Land, Scandal, Extended Family…). Jason has played, recorded or shared the stage with artists ranging from Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman, BB King, Jeff Buckley, The Indigo Girls, Melissa Etheridge, and many more
Artist website: https://www.jasonluckett.com/
Live Performance Videos:
Bailey Drew is an L.A.-based singer-songwriter who grew up in Maryland. Follow her on Instagram: @baileydrewmusic
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Posted in Shows
July Newsletter
Hey friends!
Before I get to the gigs, I want to celebrate my musical home and put out that I’m looking for a new music studio. I’ve been lucky to have a spot in a 100+ year-old building in the heart of Hollywood for the past decade, but the building’s been sold and I’m looking to find a new place this month. It was a unique situation, and I’d like to find something similar!
Here’s a look at some of the joys we’ve had there. Ten Years at McCadden. (And read more here.)
Our next Second Saturdays in Pasadena is on July 12. I’m excited to be joined by First Fridays/Second Saturdays alum, Alison Lewis, and Kēhau Kahananui with Jason Arimoto on ukulele, for an eclectic evening of song — and in the case of Kēhau’s set of Hawaiian music — dance! I will be accompanying all and doing my own set to close the night. Yes, there will be hula! And you may know that Hawaii is a very special place for me, so I can’t wait! Read about these brilliant artists here.
Then on July 22, I’m going to sing a couple of songs with the house band where FF/SS alum, Jami Lula is the music director, at the North Hollywood Church of Religious Science. I’ll be singing, “Silos (& Joy)” and “All Souls Are Free.” The theme is, “Big Spirit = Big Healing!” I’m up for that! 🙂
By the way, the photo with my “Worn Olive Drab” Epiphone Casino, by Kimberly Adamis Fongheiser, is from the Beatle Jam tribute to June birthday boy, Paul McCartney. I was playing George Harrison’s classic solo to “Till There Was You.” Then I sang “Michelle!” with the amazing house band’s harmonies (including FFJN alum, Lisa Crawley).
The week after the Beatle Jam, I did the Nilsson tribute at Molly Malone’s. This photo by Stevo Rood links to a video of my performance of “Open Your Window,” a lesser-known classic in the Nilsson catalog, once covered by Ella Fitzgerald and also The 5th Dimension! Thanks to my brilliant friend and occasional songwriting partner, Todd Lawrence, for putting this together. (Read about the rest in the YouTube description.)
Lastly, I just wanted to acknowledge that Tuesday would’ve been the 74th birthday of my friend, Anne Feeney, who I met at the Kerrville Folk Festival around 2007 or 8. She enlisted me to tour with her during the start of the Obama Administration to promote universal health care, the Sing Out For Single Payer Road Show. It was one of the most exciting tours of my life, being inspired by her endless energy and commitment to engaging, entertaining, and advocating. She passed in early 2021 from COVID-19. How I wish she were here now to speak, sing, and agitate! I recorded a version of her classic, “Have You Been To Jail For Justice” for her while she was in the hospital, if you’d like to hear it. But seek out her records and support the foundations set up in her name.
Wishing love, peace, and fortitude to you all! Have a safe holiday weekend! And I hope to see you the following weekend or be in touch soon!
J
PS Thanks to veteran IRS publicist Cary Baker for the top photo of me at the Nilsson show. He’s alway in the right place to get good shots!
-->Studio Sold, Seeking New, The Love Story
I am incredibly lucky!
And, the building where I’ve had my music studio for what’d be 10 years in October has been sold to owners that want to do something different with it.
The skinny is that I need a new musical home somewhere before July 31.
I don’t need much space — my current workroom is 11×11-ish, with high ceilings that accommodate two rows of guitars on the wall, plus I have an 8×8-ish closet next door with cases and extra gear. I’ve been paying $550/mo for this. So, I’m looking for a situation that’ll be affordable. I’m not 100% opposed to a shared room, but I definitely would prefer to have a place that I can go 5 to 7 days a week as I have here.
Here’s the love story:
I started out in Laurel Canyon, renting a room adjacent to a garage — which I found on the Canyon Country Store board, I think — in a building owned by a photographer. The photographer had moved to LA from Israel in the 60s, was part of the Hollywood Foreign Press, and it turned out he knew well a dear departed Swedish friend of mine who’d written about me… Small world.
Initially, I was renting unknown to him from people who were renting from him. I was in love with that little place, so when he kicked out those tenants, he and his business partner tried to rent the huge house with me attached! Who does that? So generous and sweet! Well, when that situation didn’t work out, they rented me a space in their building across the street from Hollywood High School.
It was so much better!!
This place was on the top floor of an historic studio where Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and Frank Zappa had recorded in the 60s. And my now friend and his wife had bought it in the late 80s(?) and turned it into his photography studio, archive, and real estate office. The vibe is so historic here! He’d actually taken pictures of Laurel Canyon luminaries back in the day. It was all just a perfect circle.
I started using the place for my recording and bringing in other singers to do their records. But mostly it’s been my sanctuary. I learned how to sing loudly again after quieting my voice in shared spaces. I felt so free.
When I left Laurel Canyon, I moved to the edge of Beachwood, and this place became walking distance — which was extremely convenient when I was without my car for 4+ months during the catalytic converter theft epidemic! It’s a healthy walk, and I think some of you saw my posts about the local color as I walked down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I still find it wonderful!
Here we got through the pandemic. Then the owner died. His wife and I both shared our cancer stories, learning about it within months of each other. She was the sweetest. She reminded me so much of my mom; we’d talk about theater and politics. And, of course, I was often enlisted for tech help! She passed about 18 months ago.
The children have finally sold the building, and it’s bittersweet.
This place is a veritable museum of collectibles. And just like I didn’t take many pictures while we were having sessions, I never took photos of the building or the legend that was posted, telling its history from 1922 when it was built.
I’ve made so much music here. I’ve found myself here. I’ve helped others do the same. My favorite comment came from a young artist who told her mother — who’s also recorded here — “We feel safe at Jason’s studio.” It wells me up even now to write that.
That’s what we’ve had here. We’ve had a safe space to be artists. That’s the greatest gift for any sensitive soul who wants to make art. I’m looking for another musical home for that.
I absolutely love my actual home, though it’s too small to bring the studio there. I’m willing to consider moving if finding a place to make music that fits in my total budget means that I’ll have to bring it in-house. Ideally, I want to find a separate place within my current neighborhood, meaning a two-mile walk. An ADU, a garage, whatever will work. This place did not look like a music studio when I took it over, despite the fact that it had been a control room prior to the 80s! I’m open to almost anything. The priority is to have a place to practice, record, and be creative.
I’m so grateful to all the artists who’ve been up my elevator-less three flights to create with me! And I’m grateful to the family that’s rented this space to me. It has been a joy! It hurts to see it come to an end, but as George Harrison said, “Sunrise doesn’t last all morning. A cloudburst doesn’t last all day.”
Much love to you all. Please send ideas my way, and prayers up, if you’re so inclined.
-->7/12/25 Pasadena, Second Saturdays Jazz Night with JL & Friends
We’re back at Archetype on July 12 with Kēhau Kahananui and Alison Lewis. I’ll be accompanying both before doing my own set. It’ll be quite an eclectic evening with Kēhau bringing traditional Hawaiian songs and Alison bringing her beautiful arrangements of classics and a few originals (maybe even some of my songs)! Some of you might know my connection to Hawaii — and my love of a well-written song! — so you can imagine that I’m really excited for this evening! (And thanks to Cary Baker for the pic of me above from the Nilsson show last week).
Here are some snippets from their bios:
Kēhau Kahananui is an accomplished Hawaiian singer, drummer, chanter, and hula dancer.
Having grown up listening and practicing to a wealth of Hawaiian music through her father, she
was influenced by Hawaiian vocal icon Auntie Genoa Keawe and local legend Auntie Moana
Chang. She has taught at hula workshops and performed in California, Hawai`i, México, and
England. Having learned her first hulas as a child from her aunties, she has continued her studies
throughout the years. Singing and dancing hula standards remains a joyful expression of her
cultural heritage.
Additionally, Kēhau, is an experienced and vivacious singer, well-versed in blues, soul, and
rock. She is skilled both as a lead and background singer. She landed her first background gigs as a
teenager and has been gigging ever since. Audiences enthusiastically receive her and are bound to
get out of their seats and dance.
Alison Lewis was described by Cabaret Scenes as, “a singer with a hauntingly beautiful voice who transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary with brilliant arrangements and vocal experimentation.” No stranger to stages large and small, Alison has performed as a soloist at venues ranging from Disney Concert Hall to Lincoln Center. She has performed/toured with world music a cappella groups, major cover bands, R&B acts, as well as gospel and classical ensembles at high profile events throughout California. She has also shared the stage with such notables as Michael Franti, Peter Yarrow, and Patti Austin. She has additionally performed the national anthem for the LA Lakers, the Clippers, the 49ers and the Golden State Warriors.
Her debut solo album, Seven, received much national and international acclaim, as well reached the top 40 of both the CMJ and RMR charts. Here are just some of the things reviewers across the globe had to say:
” Seven is a tour-de-force, varied in styles of jazz, what is best about today’s jazz vocal offerings, but taken to task by a highly qualified and potent vocalist. One I hope to hear for years to come. Well done, and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.”
“A really wonderful first outing from a talent that will have your attention from start to finish”
“… a true vocal talent that you will only encounter once or twice in your lifetime”
“Seven is in a world of its own”
”…seeing songs like Irving Berlin’s “Cheek to Cheek” and Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” in a new light, a way that makes the songs seem even more brilliant than their original version.”
Second Saturdays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends
Saturday, July 12, 2025
7:30 Doors,
8pm Showtime, runs until 10:30
Performing:
Kēhau Kahananui
Alison Lewis
Jason Luckett
Hosted by Jason Luckett
Suggested donation: $25 at the door or online
Venmo: @jasonluckett (venmo.com/jasonluckett)
PayPal.me/jasonluckett
Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/3FMPOZo
Archetype Yoga
638 E. Colorado Blvd. Ste. 301
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-345-5676
Please RSVP to coordinate accessibility options. Elevator is in the back so we’ll need to meet you there.
In Playhouse Village in the heart of Pasadena, just around the corner from the Playhouse, plenty of parking on Colorado or in the city lot behind Urth Cafe.
Enter through the front, we’re on the third floor. Let us know if you need an elevator and will let you in the back through the alley. 626-345-5676
IG: @secondsaturdaysjazznight @jasonluckett @archetypeyoga
Thanks to Cary Baker for the photo of me!
DETAILS:
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Posted in Shows
Featured in Juneteenth FolkWorks Article
Azere Wilson reached out to me about an article on Juneteenth she was writing. When I got home this evening, it was great to see that the magazine highlighted me a bit. (The formatting is a little strange on my Mac, so it might be for you, too. Keep scrolling past the empty space and you’ll find me….)
They chose the song, “All Souls Are Free,” that I wrote with Milo Binder/Todd Lawrence. It’s really been a magical song, written out of deep struggle, as good folk songs can be. I’ve loved hearing audiences sing it back to me.
Join us on June 7 as we celebrate an early Juneteenth at the Mary McLeod Bethune (Exposition Park) Branch Library. I just found out that in addition to the writers listed on my show page that Lorinda Hawkins will also be participating! She’s amazing! We did a BackStory on The Color Purple last year and she blew me away!
-->6/22/25 Molly Malone’s: 10th Annual Nilsson Show!
We’ll be celebrating another Harry Nilsson birthday at Molly Malone’s! This time I’m covering “Open Your Window” from the Harry album, a song that was also covered by Ella Fitzgerald as well as the 5th Dimension! That’s what I love about Harry, his songs are so musical that everyone wants to do them! This is the 10th annual show put together by my friend Todd Lawrence! In the past I’ve sung “Wailing of the Willow,” “Together,” “One,” “Remember (Christmas),” “Nevertheless”, “Perfect Day,” and the big one, “Without You.” Maybe I should do a cover album!?
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Posted in Shows Past
