Santa Monica’s Jazz on the Lawn Returns for 14th Season

July 18, 2019 11:29 AM

WHEN: Sundays in August, 5 – 7 p.m.  

WHERE: Gandara Park, 1819 Stewart Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Jazz on the Lawn returns for its 14th summer each Sunday at Santa Monica’s Gandara Park in August. The free concert series features a sampling of jazz and world music genres, a free dance lesson before the first concert, and tasty food trucks. Family-friendly games and activities, like corn hole, giant blocks, and more will begin one hour before each concert begins.  

Sunday, August 4 

• MUSIC: Influenced by Afrofunk, Afrobeat, psychedelic jazz, funk, and soul from the 60’s and 70’s, GliFoShas created and coined their own genre, Vodou Funk. Their high energy and political flavors harken back to an era, when not by choice but to prevent being prosecuted, this type of music needed to be underground. GliFoS draws on the Voudou ceremonies of singing, drumming, and dancing. A free 30-minute Afro-fusion dance lesson will be led by GliFoS lead vocalist Cheyenne Dunbar before the concert from 4:30 to 5 p.m. 
• EMCEE: Joe Hernandez Kolski, co-founder of Downbeat 720 sponsored by the City of Santa Monica, will be hosting the evening.
• FOOD TRUCKS: Original Gourmet Kebab, The Big Cheese, and King Kone Ice Cream.
• FAMILY-FUN & GAMES: Begin one hour prior to the concert from 4 to 7 p.m. 

Sunday, August 11  

• MUSIC:The high-energy, upbeat band Idle Hands, featuring “Weird Al” Yankovic’s perennial drummer, Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz, performs blues, jazz, rock, and rockabilly.     
• EMCEE: Santa Monica local Eddie Jauregui, one of the founding members of the Ruskin School of Acting, will be hosting the evening. 
• FOOD TRUCKS: Dogtown,Tacos Gallo Loco, and Merci Clément.
• FAMILY-FUN & GAMES: Begin one hour prior to the concert from 4 to 7 p.m. 

Sunday, August 18   

• MUSIC: Mayaztek brings an authentic, high-energy, and danceable musical experience that is a blend of Latin, reggae, and cumbia. Mayaztek members are from all over the world, reflecting the band’s belief in unity among all cultures and races. 
• EMCEE: Actor, spoken word artist, humanitarian, and TED speaker Sean Hillwill host the evening's festivities. 
• FOOD TRUCKS: Original Gourmet Kebab, The Big Cheese, and King Kone Ice Cream
• FAMILY-FUN & GAMES: Begin one hour prior to the concert from 4 to 7 p.m. 

Sunday, August 25  

• MUSIC:The octet NUTTY will perform an array of rock/jazz classics, re-interpreted and rearranged. Featuring both simple jazzy takes on favorite rock standards and more elaborate pairings of rock/jazz numbers, NUTTY makes for both a fun show and a swank stage presentation.  
• EMCEE:  Joe Hernandez Kolski, co-founder of Downbeat 720 sponsored by the City of Santa Monica, will be hosting the evening.
• FOOD TRUCKS: Dogtown Dogs, Tacos Gallo Loco, and Merci Clément.
• FAMILY-FUN & GAMES: Begin one hour prior to the concert from 4 to 7 p.m. 

Gandara Park Amenities

Gandara Park offers a children’s playground, restrooms and some accessible parking. Free bike valet will be offered between 4 – 7 p.m. in the Gandara Park lot. The 26^th Street/Bergamot Expo Line Station is an eight-minute walk from Gandara Park, and Big Blue Bus Route 5 has a stop in both directions on Olympic Boulevard. at Stewart Street. There is free parking less than a block away that will be available starting at 3 p.m. in the Kite Pharma parking lot, 1800 Stewart Street. 

Jazz on the Lawn is presented by the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs. Parking provided by Kite, a Gilead Company. For more information on the series, visit santamonica.gov/jazz and facebook.com/Santa.Monica.Cultural.Affairs. See and share concert posts by using #ArtSaMo.

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Miranda Iglesias
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Miranda.Iglesias@SMGOV.NET