News

FFJN 12/1: The Brothers Figaro, Dorothy Coleman Pincus

The first Friday of the month is December 1st, so we’ll be doing The Holiday Edition of First Fridays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends. I’ll be joined by the Brothers Figaro (last time we were on a bill together was last century!!), and Dorothy Coleman Pincus, one of my secret vocal stars!

Brothers Figaro, "Old Time Christmas" album cover.

The Brothers Figaro are Phil Parlapiano and Bill Bonk. These guys made a huge impression on me as young artist when I’d open for them at Molly Malone’s. Their songwriting, singing and musicianship were so energetic and encompassed such a wide variety of sounds that it helped me to believe that so much was possible. I’m thrilled that they are going to bring their Old Time Christmas show to us on the 1st.

And Dorothy Coleman Pincus, has a résumé from Aretha Franklin to Barry Manilow, Stevie Wonder to Tupac Shakur. In fact, California knows how to party, in part, because of her vocals on that legendary collaboration “California Love” by Shakur and Dr. Dre (with Roger Troutman of Zapp fame — anyone ever slow dance to “I Want to be Your Man”? But I digress…). She’s sung with me and recorded over at my studio many times over the past couple decades. I’m going to accompany her on some holiday favorites. She always brings the love! Albeit, this evening, from a jazzier perspective!

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FFJN April 7: Stefanie Naifeh (The Underthings)

Another group of friends to be joining us on April 7 is a trio version of The Underthings. These are #tbt images from the days when we met. I’d invited Stefanie Naifeh to join this edition of FFJN w/ Jason Luckett & Friends because I’d always loved her voice and remembered the broad repertoire The Underthings covered. So I’m super excited that she was able to pull together a couple bandmates to make this mini-resurfacing happen. Here’s what she wrote for this post on Facebook:

“Well, it’s been a while folks but we have a little gig coming up. Jason Luckett invited a small ensemble from the Underthings to perform at his monthly event in Pasadena on April 7th!

It will be Paul Lacques, Richie Lawrence and me (Stefanie Naifeh) performing our jazzier styled tunes. It isn’t the first time we have done a small, intimate ensemble.”

And the photos above are proof! Join us next Friday!

First Fridays Jazz Night with Jason Luckett & Friends, April 7, in Pasadena!
Marcelo Bucater‘s trio (@marcelobucater)
Stefanie Naifeh (w/ Paul Lacques & Richie Lawrence of The Underthings)
And me!

Friday, April 7 at 8pm.
Lyd & Mo Photography Studio & Gallery (@lydandmo)
27 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA.

Hosted by Jason Luckett
Doors: 7:30
Showtime: 8pm
Suggested donation: $20 at the door or online at PayPal.me/jasonluckett (100% goes to the musicians).
In Playhouse Village in the heart of Pasadena

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FFJN April 7: Marcelo Bucater

Highlighting my newest friend who will be joining me on April 7, at Lyd & Mo’s, this is Marcelo Bucater. We just met this January and keep discovering that we’ve got more and more great musicians in common. I’m excited that he’s bringing his trio to our First Fridays Jazz Night. I’ll let his bio tell you the rest:

Marcelo Bucater (@marcelobucater) is a drummer/percussionist and educator from São Paulo – Brazil based in Los Angeles since 2013.

Currently, part of the Drum Faculty at Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) and the California College of Music (CCM) teaching private and group lessons.

Marcelo has worked as a session and touring musician for several years, recording and performing live with different artists. His versatility as a drummer and percussionist lead to performances accompanying artists of different genres all over the world.

He has produced, recorded and performed with independent artists and renowned musicians such as Carrie Underwood for the 51st ACM Award, Adam Levy (Norah Jones), Darek Oles (Pat Metheny), Scott Henderson (Chick Corea), Philip Bynoe (Steve Vai), John Avila (Oingo Boingo), Gemini (Justin Bieber), Natalia Spadini, Andrew Murdock (Linking Park), Tinto Tango, Koobang Ensemble, Duques, and Phat Cat Swinger just to name a few. And performed in venues like Disney California Adventure, Rose Bowl, Levi’s Stadium, MGM Arena in Las Vegas, Microsoft Theater, Hollywood Pantages Theater, Pershing Square LA, El Rey Theater, NAMM Show, Queen Mary, and many others.

Marcelo is a member of the Recording Academy and a voting member of the Latin Grammys. Some of his music projects include the Press Award 2020 Finalist group Little Brazil Trio – which made it to the 20th Annual Latin Grammy Awards ballot in five categories and was a finalist at the 24th Annual USA Songwriting Competition with the original song “Vem”.

His passion for music and his craft is shown in his great feel and rock-solid support for the music and his warmhearted personality.

Join us Friday, March 3 at 8pm.
Lyd & Mo Photography
27 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA.

Hosted by Jason Luckett
Doors: 7:30
Showtime: 8pm
Suggested donation: $20 at the door or online at PayPal.me/jasonluckett (100% goes to the musicians).
In Playhouse Village in the heart of Pasadena

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New Residency and Vespers

As sunlight drenches my home, I’m writing on January 19, to share two pieces of exciting news! 

First, starting February 3rd, I have a “First Fridays” residency in Pasadena where I will play and host jazz aligned artists throughout the year. 

And, second, on Sunday, February 19th, I’ll be performing an evening of Freedom Songs, traditional and my original music, accompanied by Russell Ferrante on piano, Edwin Livingston on bass, and Reggie Quinerly on drums, in the beautiful gothic revival building of All Saints Church, Pasadena, as part of their long standing Jazz Vespers series.

My residency, Jason Luckett’s First Fridays Jazz and Friends, is like a cross between the shows I loved doing at Left Coast Wine Bar in Glendale, and a house concert. It’s at Lyd & Mo Photography & Gallery (27 Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106), which is a beautiful space with nice sound. (It’s like a smaller version of Mr. Musichead Gallery.) 

Sometimes I’ll play with my guests, sometimes they’ll do their own sets, but this time we’ll lean more toward jazz, and artists doing their own complete sets. 

And it’s like a house concert in that it’s a real listening environment, we ask for a $20 donation per person with all the money going to the artists, Mo supplies light refreshments, but you are welcome to bring your own for yourselves or to share, and all ages are welcome.

The first show, Feb. 3, will feature the Cuban-Swedish artist Angelica Artifex, and Danette Christine, whose most recent release sets the music of Harry Nilsson into surprising contexts. 

March 3 we’ll have the great Nailah Porter (my old partner from the “Love Fest” residency at Lucy Florence/Hudson Theater!) and others. Doors open at 7:30. The show runs from 8 – 10:30 with a break or two.

Now the Vespers: 

Well, first, I’m extremely honored to be part of this series, and to be joined by such amazing players. “Vespers” can be thought of as traditionally and evening of prayer, around sundown, focusing on Psalms. 

For Black History Month, I can think of a more prayerful thing than to focus on songs of liberation born of the Civil Rights Movement, and to carry that spirit forward to us here today with songs like, “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free,” “Eyes on the Prize,” and my own “Daydream” and “Jackson, MS.” 
As a bonus, we’ll have my sister, Dr. Josslyn Luckett, preach. And Nailah will lend her voice, too! 
It’s long been a dream of mine to do this music in this setting. It’s going to be powerful.

I can’t wait to see you in person soon! You know where I’ll be every first Friday of the month! And on a special Sunday in February! (See below for times and addresses.)

Peace and love to you all!

J

PS Thanks again for all the support on the release of the new live album! If you don’t have it yet, it’s available exclusively on Bandcamp here.



Get “Document:Freedom:Spring (Live!)” Here!

Friday, Feb 3, 2023, 8-10:30pm 
First Fridays @ Lyd & Mo’s Studio & Gallery
27 N. Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA$20 donation

Sunday, Feb 19, 2023, 5-6:30pm
Jazz Vespers Freedom Songs @ All Saints Church, Pasadena
132 North Euclid Avenue

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Posted in Blog, News, Shows Past

Get Live Album now (and more)! Released Friday, 10/21/22.

I’m super excited to announce that “Document:Freedom:Spring (Live!)” was released on Friday, October 21, 2022! This is exclusively available on Bandcamp. 

To celebrate, I’m also releasing reissues of my entire 2000s catalog there, for $7+ each. The great thing about Bandcamp is that you can download lossless and hi-res files all for the same price, plus, you can also “name your price” to generously support artists further. Even cooler, on Bandcamp Fridays (the first Friday of every month), the full amount of your purchase goes to the artist.

But enough about where you can buy it, you probably want to know about it! The album’s “liner notes” detail the magic of re-opening The Warner Grand Annex with my “Roots & Rambles” show after lockdown in June of 2021. The quick version is that they had a piano, I fell in love with the idea of playing it, so I did — for the first time in my adult life ever in a show! This led to a retrospective night of joy with an introduction of nine songs never recorded until now. And, only the last song of the night — an unplanned encore — is played in an arrangement that’s something I’ve done before. 

For all of us, it was a beautiful night of hope! We were elated and a little bit surprised to be in a theater together. Covid rates were low, vaccine rates were high, variants were in the distance. I felt so free to have three different stations to play three different guitars…and a piano that night! It felt like a rebirth, as does today, being able to share this music with you. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Here are a couple thoughts from others:

“The word that leaps to my mind is “generosity.”  This recording absolutely drips with it.  Generosity of spirit.  Generosity of artistry. You feel the artist’s presence.

Over the course of 15 remarkable songs, Jason Luckett invites us into his musical world, receiving all with warmth, humor and boundless energy and invention.”

— Todd Lawrence (aka Milo Binder)

“I have been a fan of Jason’s for many years and have watched him perform live many times, and I know this much about him: Live music is his happy place. He loves playing in front of people, playing off of and interacting with a crowd with a guitar in his hand, or his fingers hovering above a piano and keyboard. This here live album is classic Jason Luckett, at the height of his powers, playing to a room full of happy Lucketteers! His positivity, his love for his craft, is all present and accounted for in this show. I loved listening to and watching it as much as I am sure all of you will. Realize it!”

Dee Madden

You can buy everything now and you can access the liner notes for free there, too.

The full concert video comes next month. But, with this album, thanks to Raymond Moore‘s carefully detailed mastering, the picture you can create in your head is so vivid, and that’s really the way I like to see music. Put it in your headphones and be transported. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen Bill Withers live at Carnegie Hall in my mind since 1973, but I hope you’ll join us at the Grand Annex many times in the years to come.

I hope to see you all again, in real life, on the road soon!

Peace and Love, 

J

Song List:
Stir It Up (piano version)
Home (piano)
Reimagine (piano)
Faithful (dreadnought acoustic guitar)
Looking at a Photo of Sonny Rollins (dreadnought)
My Return (nylon)
Stack of 45s (electric)
Bad Man You Want (electric)
The Passage of Time (dreadnought)
This Love (nylon)
Magic Trumps Reason (electric)
Our Moment in the Sun (electric)
Daydream (piano)
Summer Nights Are Ours To Seed (piano)
Miracle (dreadnought)

Big thanks to Simko for the beautiful photos!

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Our Moment in the Sun (Live)

I’ll be releasing a live album in the next couple weeks on Bandcamp. Here’s one cut.

Posted in Blog, Live Video Archive, Music, News, Video

“Mood Swings” released

Mood Swings

September saw the release of a project I began in 2016. The album is called “Mood Swings” and the artist is Larry Wolf, whom I’ve mentioned a few times on this site. He was one of the circle of actors Robert Downey Sr. used for his movies back when Iron Man was just another dog in the “Pound.” It’s mostly a jazz record, with a little bit of Leadbelly. I produced a much of it, played guitar and harmonica, and contributed some BVs. Because Larry is a good actor, he’s such a good musical storyteller. But, this isn’t an actor’s record, this is a seasoned vocalist, digging into the essence of songs you may have heard hundreds of times…or not. Larry also adds some of his own verses and commentary to evergreen standards. What’s gratifying to me is that the reviews have been so positive, with special mentions for the guitar playing in a group with veterans of Jazz artists I’ve admired for years. And if I can share an intimate thought, I did have a moment listening to the rough mixes where I heard myself and felt like I was playing like I’d like to hear someone playing. That may sound silly (and all self-criticism is still close to the surface!), but it’s a wonderful feeling to step into a world and feel like you can do just what you wanted to do within it. 

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Scoring “Webs of Compassion”

I wrote music for a film in July of this year. The film is about the caregivers to the people in a transitional living facility. The project is by a photographer turned filmmaker named Rebecca Truszkowski and it’s a subject dear to both of our hearts. Her grandmother, and my mother (not the same woman), both spent a good part of their lives caring for mentally ill homeless. What’s so beautiful about this film is that so many of the current caregivers had been clients at the facility before dedicating their work life to offering others a hand up. The music is clean acoustic guitar that tries to reflect the beauty of those who work so hard to provide a loving place from which to begin again for people who’ve been through some horribly difficult situations.

I can’t show any clips until the distribution is set. But I really loved doing it!

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Nilsson Show – “Remember!”

My friend, Janet Grey, captured this performance from a beautiful night celebrating Harry Nilsson! Thanks so much to Chris Price for playing the piano that I couldn’t pull off, Lyn Bertles for the string arrangement and all the players! One run during rehearsal and one shot at Molly Malone’s. A good time was had by all!

https://www.facebook.com/janet.grey27/videos/10219485977807024/

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Posted in Live Video Archive, Music, News, Uncategorized, Video

Featured Artist on Art of the Song and Standing “O” Project!

Standing ‘O’ Project

Art of the Song

Posted in News