Blue Note Jazz Club, the renowned New York jazz institution, is set to expand its presence to Los Angeles in 2024, introducing a new venue in Hollywood complete with dual performance spaces accommodating 200 and 100 people respectively, alongside a full-service restaurant.

Grammy-winning artist Robert Glasper will serve as a key curator for the Los Angeles location, building upon his successful Robtober residency. "Los Angeles has always been a second home to me, and I can't wait to bring L.A. culture to the Blue Note," Glasper shared.

The expansion includes a significant partnership with the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, which will be rebranded as the Blue Note Jazz Festival. The festival, originally established as the Playboy Jazz Festival in 1979, will launch its new iteration on June 14 at the Hollywood Bowl. The full lineup will be announced February 18, with tickets available in May.

LA Phil president Kim Noltemy expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: "This partnership represents a shared dedication to celebrating jazz and its extraordinary artists while continuing the legacy of world-class music at the Bowl."

This development comes at a crucial time for the Los Angeles jazz scene, as several established venues have recently closed. Blue Note's expansion adds to their existing international presence, with locations in Hawaii, Tokyo, Italy, China, Brazil, and Napa. Their Napa festival, launched in 2022, has successfully blended jazz with R&B and hip-hop, featuring prominent artists like Mary J. Blige, Chance the Rapper, Maxwell, and Nas.

Photo Credit: Blue Note Jazz Club

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