By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LEIMERT PARK — For past years, Leimert Park has played an important role in the city’s music and cultural history.
From the 1920s through the 1950s, popular musicians like Duke Ellington, Ray Charles and Miles Davis either lived or worked in Leimert Park, which was considered a strong club scene at the time.
There were several clubs featuring all kinds of music ranging from R&B to reggae, the blues, and jazz. Music, which never really left the community, continues to permeate the area with the likes of the World Stage, the Fernando Pullum Community Art Center and the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center.
In a continuation of the local jazz tradition, Tony Jolly and his wife Tina Amin, owners of ORA, a café on Degnan Boulevard, have joined forces with Diane Robertson, executive producer of the Leimert Park Jazz Festival to host the new monthly series, “Leimert Park Jazz Presents Sunday Jazz at ORA,” a live jazz show on the fourth Sunday of each month.
The kickoff took place Jan. 28, before an impressive opening night crowd that displayed its appreciation with several standing ovations. A similar reaction took place during the event on Feb. 25.
Sunday Jazz at ORA, which showcases live jazz in an intimate setting, is the latest project between Jolly, Amin and Robertson.
Jolly and Amin completely renovated the cafe (formerly Hot & Cool Café) and transformed it into an upscale community space with the new name, ORA. ORA continues to be a vegetarian café.
Sunday Jazz at ORA takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. and includes a host band from 4 to 5 p.m. with an open jam session following from 5-6 p.m. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.
Jam session musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments, except for drums, although drummers may bring their own sticks. Admission is $10 at the door.
“I’m really excited to present Sunday Jazz at ORA,” Robertson said. “It’s a great opportunity to introduce the community in Leimert Park and beyond to this beautifully renovated café. It’s the perfect place to launch this monthly jazz series.
“This is going to be an important part of revitalizing Leimert Park Village,” she added. “We have a lot of outdoor festivals, the World Stage, and the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center. This will add to the existing offerings.”
Robertson said she pitched the idea last year to Jolly.
“The original date to debut the jazz club was April of 2023, which was International Jazz Day, but unfortunately, a couple of months before that, there was major water damage — forcing the restaurant to close,” she said. “They decided to renovate it and do a complete rebranding.
“Tony and his wife, Tina are rooted in the community. I’m also rooted in the community. We all advocate for Leimert Park. It’s a great partnership,” Robertson added.
Instead of making it a weekly event, Robertson said she wanted to test the waters by making it a monthly series.
“I thought about ways to expand the Leimert Park community and to continue to nurture jazz and jazz culture,” said Robertson, who produces the monthly event. “A monthly series wrapped around the tent-pole annual Leimert Park Jazz Festival would keep the brand out there throughout the year. It would allow us to amplify and highlight more local artists. The event is for seasoned jazz enthusiasts and those new to jazz.”
Robertson said the goal is to make Sunday Jazz at ORA the center of jazz and blues and help the area become “Everything it used to be.”
“We lost a lot of venues for music,” Robertson said. “This will be a part of the revitalization. We want to nurture young rising stars so we will rotate three host bands every three months and give them a platform, a residency. They will perform a set and then open it up to a jam session. This will become a pipeline for emerging Leimert Park Jazz Festival artist sets. My vision is to add an emerging artist stage at the festival to uplift young talented artists.”
The host band in residence through April 2024 is the Chris Powe Quartet, which includes Chris Powe on saxophone, Shadrack Oppong on drums, Isaac Green on bass and Carrick McCullough on the piano.
The group received three standing ovations on its opening night.
“I like to play songs that I also love to listen to,” said Chris Powe, who leads the band, decides the set list and helms the jam session. “I’m honored to have been chosen to kick off this event. It’s inspiring and it’s something the community needs.”
Powe, 22, who is currently teaching himself the flute and the piano and will release his EP later this year, is very familiar with the venue.
“In high school, I used to play jazz here on Sunday mornings when it was called Hot & Cool,” said Powe, a Los Angeles native who attended the Berklee College of Music. “We were called the TriTones. It was cool playing in that setting. I also used to play Jazz in the Alley on Friday nights. It healed people. It was a vibe.”
“Chris (Powe) is a wonderful saxophonist,” Robertson said. “He is perfect for this role.”
Powe has a soft spot for Leimert Park.
“Leimert Park has always blessed me musically,” he said. “The community embraces jazz with open arms. They always give such warm welcomes. It’s about being connected with the L.A. music scene.
“It makes sense because the musical birthplace for so many is Leimert Park,” Powe added. “We have The World Stage, Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, and the Fernando Pullum Community Art Center. Leimert Park has always been a hub for L.A. jazz.”
“We are paying homage to what this community has been recognized for,” Robertson said. “It’s been the mecca for jazz and the blues.”
The 2024 Host Band Schedule is as follows: Chris Powe Quartet – March 24 and April 28. The Veritus Miller’s Truth Troupe – May 26, June 23, July 26 and Aug. 25. Jonathan Pinson – Sept. 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 24 and Dec. 22.
ORA is located at 4331 Degnan Blvd.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
