And All that Jazz
The Live on the Lawn concert series showcased a red-hot line-up for a new era of cool listening parties.
The future of jazz is alive and well as proven by the next generation of musicians whose impressive backgrounds and genre-defying artistry took the stage this summer. Held at the Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s Lawn, the five-part series of concerts lured jazz lovers, social observers and a picnic crowd, eager to soak up the concerts from our coastal destination on the California Riviera.
The series kicked off with the Billy Mohler Quartet, a group that delivered a debut concert transcending the typical outdoor summer event. Mohler is a Grammy-nominated producer who was formerly a member of the multi-platinum rock band The Calling.
The second show featured a trio of highly accomplished musicians whose individual talents created a captivating performance. Saxophonist Daniel Rotem is a graduate of Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz and has narrated a jazz history masterclass at the White House. Also on stage: Drummer Anthony Fung, another Hancock alumnus, has composed music for film and television, including the Hulu special “Your Attention Please” and the documentary “The Last Tourist.” Together, their collective experience and wide-ranging musical talents created a performance that blended sophisticated jazz with a vibrant energy.
This final concert of the series brought together a trio of true masters, each with a history of collaborations that showcase their immense talent. On the Hammond B-3 organ, Wil Blades is a revered figure, having been hailed as “the future” of the instrument by none other than legendary organist Dr. Lonnie Smith himself. He was joined by two Grammy-nominated drummer Gene Coye and Grammy-winning sax player Danny Janklow.
It was a masterclass in jazz, funk, and soulful improvisation, a fitting conclusion to a series that celebrated the timeless and ever-evolving nature of the genre.
