Los Angeles jazz scene potentially finding a new hot spot in Blue Note?
Blue Note Los Angeles Aims to Establish West Coast Jazz Hub
The Blue Note, a renowned jazz club with locations in cities across the globe, is set to open its doors in Hollywood on Thursday. The Blue Note Los Angeles, spearheaded by Steven Bensusan, the son of the club's founder Danny Bensusan, aims to become the West Coast hub for jazz and music enthusiasts.
The opening of the Blue Note Los Angeles was delayed due to construction setbacks following wildfires in January. However, the club is now ready to welcome patrons with its unique booking strategy and integrated food, beverage, and retail offerings.
The strategy involves curated unique bookings with interesting artists, coupled with daily traffic-driven events to create a vibrant atmosphere that encourages early attendance and frequent visits. This includes weekend brunches, dinner throughout the week, and a retail area with Blue Note and artist merchandise.
Blue Note Los Angeles has formed an exclusive partnership with Mastercard to offer VIP premium seating not available to the public, access to select sold-out shows, and artist meet-and-greet opportunities. This partnership provides a premium, exclusive booking experience for certain audiences.
The club plans to replicate its successful New York model by leveraging its reputation and relationships with artists and managers. It also emphasizes collaborations with festivals and outdoor events to expand its reach further.
The venue will have two rooms: an A-room for headliners and a B-room for developing artists and surprise jams. The B-room will be used to book younger artists and help develop them, mirroring the club's commitment to nurturing talent.
Robert Glasper, a celebrated jazz pianist, will perform two sets each Thursday and Friday at the Blue Note Hollywood. Glasper, who serves as a cultural ambassador for the club, wants the Blue Note Los Angeles to be the spot in L.A. for musicians. He also plans to start a jam session at the club.
The Blue Note Los Angeles's booking strategy includes intentionally programming the B-room next to the A-room for a holistic connection between acts. The club has booked acts that have not played at a Blue Note before, such as Charlie Puth and Ben Folds, reflecting its commitment to diversity and innovation.
The Blue Note has been home to some of the biggest names in jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Oscar Peterson, Lionel Hampton, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, and James Carter. The Blue Note Los Angeles's ultimate goal is to create the mecca for jazz in L.A., just like the original Blue Note in New York.
The menu at the Blue Note Los Angeles offers more vegan options and distinctly L.A. options such as Peruvian scallops and a crispy rice tuna taco. The club aims to reflect L.A. culture and artists, giving L.A. its own voice through the Blue Note.
With its unique booking strategy, exclusive partnerships, and commitment to nurturing talent, the Blue Note Los Angeles is poised to establish itself as a significant player in the West Coast music scene.
- The Blue Note Los Angeles, a new jazz club in Hollywood, aims to become the West Coast hub for both jazz and music enthusiasts.
- The club has partnered with Mastercard to offer VIP experiences, inclusive of premium seating and artist meet-and-greets.
- With a diverse booking strategy, the Blue Note Los Angeles has secured acts such as Charlie Puth and Ben Folds, reflecting its commitment to innovation.
- The menu at the Blue Note Los Angeles features vegan options and distinctly L.A. dishes like Peruvian scallops and crispy rice tuna tacos, reflecting the California lifestyle and culture.
- By intentionally programming acts in both their A-room and B-room, the Blue Note Los Angeles aims to establish itself as a significant player in the West Coast entertainment and music scene.
