Super excited to be in Portland October 15 with Zoe and old friend, Lewis Childs! This is Zoe’s gig and I accompany her, but she’s always so gracious to have me close the night with my own set when we’re together. We were looking for a local opener and are so lucky to have my friend Lewis Childs join us. Lewis and I met in the wilds of Kerrville, TX years ago and shared an immediate musical affinity.
You may have seen me play with Zoe last year at FAR-West when she was featured, or in LA at Hotel Cafe, or at the Ojai Underground, or somewhere along the Central Coast! And I produced a holiday record for her in 2024, which it’s about time to start spinning again! We always have an amazing time playing together. And she has a new album to promote, too!
I hope you’ll spread the word! It’s been a long time since I’ve played in Portland and especially since I was partly responsible to draw the audience! Maybe we can get some of the great people that joined us when the great Anne Feeney brought me along for the Sing Out For Single Payer Roadshow way back in 2009!
Can’t wait to reconnect and play for you!
DETAILS:
Artist:JASON LUCKETT
Jason Luckett Pasadena Residency: Second Saturdays Jazz Night+
Notes:Eclectic folk combined with soul and jazz.
Zoe and Jason met while playing in an Aretha Franklin/Smokey Robinson tribute show in Cambria, California. Since then, they’ve shared stages in L.A., Morro Bay, Ojai and — last fall — in Vancouver, Washington, where they played an official showcase at the FAR-West music conference. They’ve also collaborated in the studio, recording Zoe’s song, “I Don’t Like the Holidays,” in Jason’s sunny studio in L.A. They are excited to be back in the Northwest and playing at Artichoke, where they’ll each play a set of original tunes with Jason backing Zoe on harmonies and lead guitar and then playing a set of original tunes.
Easing into autumn—and a trip up north—I’ve decided to challenge myself to do just new songs at the next Second Saturdays.
By “new,” I mean songs from the last few years, since I recorded the live album. So you might hear some songs that have worked their way into the set recently. But I really want to concentrate on the songs I’ve felt shy about playing, or that feel like a departure from what I usually do. Whether they are or not, you’ll tell me. (smile)
I had a couple of 12-week, song-a-week batches over the course of a year, and they created something intimate and different that I think would make a nice couple of albums. I’m not going to do 24 songs, but I will pick a few for you.
I need to do this for myself, and I hope you’ll join me.
And… I will definitely be joining Alison Lewis, a singer, arranger, and bright being whom our community has gotten to know well over the past few years. She always brings a creativity matched only by her vocal excellence to her offerings for our musical salon.
So, just two artists on the 10th. We’ll be back with another couple of favorites on November 14. And in December, we’ll have our 4th Annual Holiday Show with a few special guests!
SECOND SATURDAYS JAZZ NIGHT+ Jason Luckett (new songs) • Alison Lewis Saturday, October 10, 2026 7:30 PM doors • 8:00–10:30 PM Archetype Yoga 638 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 301 Pasadena, CA 91101
DETAILS:
Artist:JASON LUCKETT
Jason Luckett Pasadena Residency: Second Saturdays Jazz Night+
Notes:2026 Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, Rev. George Regas Courageous Peacemaker Awards.
Playing a few songs with pianist Russell Ferrante
https://allsaints-pas.org/calendarevent/2026-icujp-rev-george-regas-courageous-peacemaker-awards/
Singing for Sunday Services at North Hollywood Church of Religious Science. They’ve got great musicians and it’s always a pleasure to play and take in the service.
Click to watch “Daydream” performed in December at NHCRS
JASON LUCKETT
Date
City
Venue
Jason Luckett Pasadena Residency: Second Saturdays Jazz Night+
Time: 7:00pm.Admission: From $23.36.Age restrictions: All Ages.Address:2007 SE Powell Blvd..Venue phone: 503-232-8845.Eclectic folk combined with soul and jazz.
Zoe and Jason met while playing in an Aretha Franklin/Smokey Robinson tribute show in Cambria, California. Since then, they’ve shared stages in L.A., Morro Bay, Ojai and — last fall — in Vancouver, Washington, where they played an official showcase at the FAR-West music conference. They’ve also collaborated in the studio, recording Zoe’s song, “I Don’t Like the Holidays,” in Jason’s sunny studio in L.A. They are excited to be back in the Northwest and playing at Artichoke, where they’ll each play a set of original tunes with Jason backing Zoe on harmonies and lead guitar and then playing a set of original tunes.Related post.Buy TicketsMore information
In partnership with Santa Monica Cultural Affairs and KCRW, McCabe’s Guitar Shop presents Americana in the Park 2026, a free event featuring a live concert celebrating a broad spectrum of Americana music—from traditional roots, blues, jazz, and folk to its modern forms.
Join us for family-friendly programming featuring top-notch local talent including Albert Lee, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, Abby Posner & the Big Fall, Jason Luckett, and the Bob Baker Marionettes, along with food trucks, kid-friendly interactive elements, and a McCabe’s Guitar Shop pop-up!
Live at Gandara Park 1819 Stewart St. Santa Monica, CA 90404
In partnership with Santa Monica Cultural Affairs and KCRW, McCabe’s Guitar Shop presents
Americana in the Park 2026, a free event featuring a live concert celebrating a broad spectrum of Americana music—from traditional roots, blues, jazz, and folk to its modern forms.
Join us for family-friendly programming featuring top-notch local talent including
Albert Lee, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, Abby Posner & the Big Fall, Jason Luckett, and the Bob Baker Marionettes,
along with food trucks, kid-friendly interactive elements, and a McCabe’s Guitar Shop pop-up!
Live at Gandara Park
1819 Stewart St.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Looking forward to having my old friends J Ramada and Est Nyboer present their newest directions on the next Second Saturdays!
J Ramada’s guitar playing will blow you away. I get a similar feeling seeing him as I did when I first encountered Michael Hedges in my youth!
“J. Ramada is a singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and recording artist based in Los Angeles, California, who specializes in Americana music with diverse influences. His music incorporates elements of folk, rock, latin/flamenco, jazz, EDM, and acoustic soul, creating what has been described as a ‘rainbow of sound.'” — jramada.com
Est is a renaissance creative with whom I’ve played since we were in Kevin Frank’s Kaliband back in the early aughts. We performed a lot as a guitar/drums duo subsequently. The piano is a percussion instrument, and that’s what he’s playing on Saturday, bringing his new songs out of the studio for us.
“Est Nyboer is a few things to a lot of people – L.A.’s best street dance photographer; drummer for Jason Luckett, Mexico68 and various other situations; and now he’s decided that a piano and microphone are the best way to deliver his inventory of lyrics to the listener. His intention is to make you feel something and maybe think just a little bit.” — estnyboer.com
—— Doors open at 7:30, music starts at 8:00 and will go until 10:30ish. Pay what you can to support musicians and this wonderful community event. See below how we’ve altered our suggested donations to reflect what’s needed to keep this series thriving and to offer you new ways to support.
Thanks so much for your support
Jason
Second Saturdays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends Saturday, August 8, 2026 7:30 pm Doors, 8:00 Showtime, runs until 10:30ish
$25 — Suggested Entry $35 — Supporter $50 — Patron (helps sustain the music + space) $10 — Student / Low Income (everyone is welcome)
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
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 • 7:00 PM Live on KXLU 88.9 FM — Los Angeles
Wildwood Flower Radio Hour featuring
Jason Luckett, Pi Jacobs, and Shane Alexander, with guest host
Tom Zehnder of McCabe’s Guitar Shop, in celebration of
Americana in the Park 2026 on September 13 at Gandara Park in Santa Monica.
Tom will interview us, and we’ll each perform about 25 minutes of music live.
The show will also stream on Instagram.
As we lead up to the show, follow the backstory on my Substack and Medium.
I’m creating a soundtrack of life, love, and comfort this year for my birthday … sung and/or played by my friends. I want it to feel a trip to the family home where the old records still sit by the turntable. We may bring some new ones to share where we are now, but the root is in the music that Dad or Mom might use to remind me of what led to this musical life.
Is it a Bacharach song? Is it the Beatles? Is it something written by Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, Paul Simon, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Elton John or Pete Townshend? Or could be those records they really didn’t get — the ones that got me through adolescence by Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, or The Smiths? Or the stuff we shared like Earth, Wind & Fire, Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, Bill Withers and most of all Stevie Wonder? Get the picture?
This year, I’m older than my father when he died and my mom can’t tell stories like she did since her stroke, so I just want to feel that lifelong connection and share it with people I love. I want this to feel like a musical hug and a tribute to songs, songwriters and the inspiration we gather from them.
Most artists will do one song and I’ll do a few.
DETAILS:
Artist:JASON LUCKETT
Jason Luckett Pasadena Residency: Second Saturdays Jazz Night+
June was dynamic! The NBA Finals kept the audience small, but mighty at the last SSJN… I would’ve struggled to get away from the game if it weren’t my gig, so I understand. But we had a great show with Alison Lewis and Mary Scholz. We had great stories at the Juneteenth event earlier that day, too. And we joyfully gathered this past weekend at the Idyllwild Songwriters Festival.
This month we’re back in Pasadena with Patricia Bahia and Charles Steen. That will be my only full set in July, I think. But I’m also contributing songs to an afternoon of protest songs, new and old, at the Silverlake Library on the 18th, and on the 20th, the Harry Nilsson Singalong is back for its 11th year at Molly Malone’s. I’ll sing the classic, “Snow,” from Nilsson Sings Newman, thus giving tribute to two of my heroes, Nilsson and Randy Newman. I’ll be on Substack and Mediumagain this month. I’m loving that some of you are reading and engaging with me about these pieces. This month was a little quiet except for a brief Clive Davis story. I’d love for you to read (like, comment, and subscribe to) what I’m sharing there. As it develops, I hope to integrate writing with the shows, to give behind the scenes of developing a musical community.
Please click the links at the top of this post or visitjasonluckett.com for full info on all the shows and for the essays. I’m trying to streamline this process, and the posts are quite expansive!
A little bit about my guests on July 11:
I’ve gotten to know both Patricia and Charles through my long-time musical brother Jami Lula, who’s played the series several times. Patricia’s story is quite inspiring, taking a life-threatening condition and turning it into art! Her soulful vocals and piano fuel her latest release, “Together We Rise,” written in response to the events in Minneapolis in January this year.
Charlie plays in the house band at NHCRS where I played last month. I felt so supported by his playing, then I heard him warm up with some “Ted Greene on the Telecaster” sweetness and knew I wanted to hear more. Charlie’s résumé includes stints with some of the biggest artists of the 60s and 70s. He humbly calls himself a “journeyman.” That journey contains a lot of beauty.
As always, please keep in touch, be good to each other, and let’s build this community. One might say this Fourth of July is hitting different…. Given that, we might need community more than ever.
‘This Machine Surrounds Hate and Forces It to Surrender,’ à la Pete Seeger is more my style, but you can’t deny the historic power of Woody Guthrie and the slogan scrawled on his guitar. I look forward to participating in this second afternoon of protest music new and old at the Silverlake Library.
DETAILS:
Artist:JASON LUCKETT
Short Appearance / Guest Artist
Date:Saturday, 07/18/26
Time:2:00pm
Venue:Silverlake Branch Los Angeles Public Library
of Jason by Kimberly Adams Fongheiser
