Cuban pianist and composer Dayramir Gonzalez will be one of the featured performers Sept. 20 at the 30th annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival. Gonzalez will perform at the Quincy Jones Stage at Central Avenue and 43rd Street.
Courtesy photo
By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
SOUTH LOS ANGELES — The 30th annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival will take place Sept. 20, an annual celebration of jazz, community and the rich cultural heritage of Central Avenue.
Presented by Councilman Curren D. Price in conjunction with the Coalition for Responsible Community Development and Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles, this year’s free, family-friendly festival honors the legacy and contributions of jazz music on the West Coast.
In 2023, Price described the festival as “An unforgettable day filled with soul-stirring melodies, electrifying performances, and the infectious rhythm of jazz from world-class musicians. It’s time to reconnect with old friends, make new memories and celebrate the rich history of jazz.”
Jazz, blues, and Latin jazz will be featured from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on three music stages, including the Quincy Jones Stage, the Roy Ayers Stage and the Dunbar Stage.
In addition to live jazz, the event will feature a marketplace with pavilions, food vendors and more.
For three decades, the Central Avenue Jazz Festival has been a staple of Los Angeles’ cultural scene, showcasing the city’s vibrant jazz talent and paying homage to the legendary musicians who once called Central Avenue home.
The festival along Central Avenue between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Vernon Avenue will feature an eclectic lineup of local and national jazz artists, ensuring there’s something for every jazz aficionado.
The lineup includes Gregory Porter, Dayramir Gonzalez, Jazzmeia Horn, Kenneth Crouch plays Quincy & Sly, and JazzAmerica on the Quincy Jones Stage at Central Avenue and 43rd Street; the Roy Ayers Tribute Project, Poncho Sanchez, Blaque Dynamite, Joel Ross and Sharada Shashidhar on the Roy Ayers Stage at Central and 41st Street and the USC Jazz Ensemble, Ennis Harris & Takumi Kakimoto, and Dr. Lorn S. Foster on the Dunbar Stage at Central and 42nd Place.
“It’s a true honor to bring a piece of Havana and New York to the great Central Avenue Jazz Festival in L.A., a city that embraces Latin culture and its music like no other,” said Cuban pianist and composer Dayramir Gonzalez. “Get ready for an afternoon of Afro-Cuban Jazz, virtuosity, and vida (life).”
The festival’s mission goes beyond entertainment; it’s about community building and economic development.
This year’s festival will boast a diverse range of performances, from traditional jazz to contemporary fusion sounds.
From the early 1900s to the 1950s, Central Avenue was the epicenter of music, particularly with the sounds of large, vibrant rhythm and blues and the lively, upbeat tones of Jazz. With music at its center, Central Avenue quickly became the heart and soul of the AfricanAmerican community in Los Angeles.
The history of Central Avenue and the music that emanated from such jazz greats as Charles Mingus, Billie Holiday, Dexter Gordon, Ernie Andrews, Gerald Wilson, and more, is now celebrated annually in Price’s Ninth District.
For 30 years, Central Avenue was not only considered the cultural, social and entrepreneurial epicenter of the Black community in Los Angeles, but it was also known as a world-class hub of the West Coast jazz scene.
Affectionately referred to as “The Avenue,” back in the day, the multicultural thoroughfare of music and entertainment was considered a must-destination for jazz enthusiasts in and around Los Angeles.
Part of that West Coast jazz scene includes the Dunbar Hotel, considered a popular jazz mecca during the height of Central Avenue’s popularity. Another popular jazz venue included Club Alabam, located next to the Dunbar Hotel. The Downbeat was also considered a hot spot on “The Avenue,” as was Elk’s Hall and The Bird in the Basket, noted for its late-night jam sessions.
The Lincoln Theater, also located on Central Avenue, was the largest African-American theater at the time. It was considered the “West Coast Apollo,” after the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem.
The 30th Central Avenue Jazz Festival is designed to pay homage to that historical era.
As in year’s past, this community block party will feature several pavilions including a Youth Pavilion with educational programming, games and arts and crafts for the youngest concert-goers; Play LA (sports activities, information booth, mobile unit, giveaways, and more); Los Angeles Zoo (educational booth with interactive activities); an art pavilion curated by LA Mancha (Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Piece By Piece, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art); Young Musicians Foundation, a health and wellness pavilion offering a wide range of free and confidential health care services, dental screenings, and more, including St. John’s Community Health, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry; and a public resources pavilion with city departments providing valuable resources and services to residents.
Additionally, dozens of local food and beverage vendors will be on-site, offering a diverse selection of culinary experiences.
Festival parking is limited. Public transportation or ride share providers are recommended for those planning to attend.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
