Summer is in full swing. This is also associated with warmer weather and many outdoor festivals. The cultural landscape of Los Angeles invites you to get out to enjoy the various events throughout out the city. The global jazz community is anxious in a healthy way. Locally, jazz aficionados and music lovers are excited that festival season is finally heated up.
By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer
(Los Angeles) Summer is in full swing. This is also associated with warmer weather and many outdoor festivals. The cultural landscape of Los Angeles invites you to get out to enjoy the various events throughout out the city.
The global jazz community is anxious in a healthy way. Locally, jazz aficionados and music lovers are excited that festival season is finally heated up.
Diane Robertson, Founder and Executive Producer of the Leimert Park Jazz Festival in association with The World Stage present the 6th Annual Leimert Park Jazz Festival, Saturday, August 30, 2025, from 12:30 PM-8:30 PM.
Baldwin Hill Crenshaw Plaza (rooftop parking deck)
3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr, Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA. 90008
Leimert Park Jazz Festival is one of the premiere summertime events in Los Angeles, serving culturally diverse and family-friendly community. The festival celebrates the cultural heritage of the historic South Los Angeles neighborhood of Leimert Park. Guest will enjoy a stellar lineup of artists this year.
Make sure that you are sitting while reading this post. Headlining this year is legendary jazz vocalist, NEA Jazz Festival Master, Memphis Music Hall of Fame Inductee, ASCAP Champion, Doris Duke Artist, Multiple Grammy ®winner, Tony ®winner, and more, Dee Dee Bridgewater, bringing her acclaimed project We Exist! to the stage with her first performance in South Los Angeles in decades!
Described as a “Young Mallet Master” by Jazz Times, Sasha Berliner is an award-winning vibraphonist and composer based in Los Angeles. Sasha Berliner leads her own quintet and is also a faculty member at University of California Irvine and a frequent lecturing guest of California Institute for the Arts.
Virtuosic, soulful and electric-Dayren Santamaria, a Cuban born violinist, leads her ensemble Made in Cuba in a high-energy fusion of jazz, timba, rumba, and classical influences. A classically trained musician raised in Havana’s rhythms, Dayren delivers a vibrant, danceable performance that brings the island’s soul to South LA.
The Melanin Horns is a dynamic brass collective known for genre blending collaborations and bold infectious horn arrangements. The Melanin Horns are Tatiana Tate (trumpet), Randal Fisher (sax) and Fabio Santana (trombone).
Founded in the creative spirit of the historic World Stage Performance Gallery. The World Stage Big Band is a powerful ensemble featuring some of the finest musicians in Los Angeles. The band embodies a tradition of excellence, a creative legacy, and a spirit of innovation.
Led by elder, activist, and cultural keeper Renee “Mama Nene” Fisher, S.H.I.N.E. Mawusi brings transformative power of West African drumming and song. With their commanding presence, sacred rhythm, and affirming energy, this all-women collective opens hearts and grounds us in ancestral strength and collective joy. They will be joined by one of Los Angeles’s most beloved voices, poet V. Kali, widely regarded as the bedrock of The Anansi Writer’s Workshop at The World Stage.
Internationally known radio broadcaster Rhonda Hamilton brings her warmth and expertise to the Leimert Park Jazz Festival as co-host for the first time. Jose Rizo a trailblazing jazz broadcaster, producer, and bandleader returns for his third year as co-host.
The beauty of the layout at the Baldwin Hill Crenshaw Plaza is there is ample parking. Depending on how you roll…Uber/LFYT has a drop off and pick up near the festival. Metro K-Line’s Martin Luther King Jr Station is at the mall and Metro bus lines #40, #102, #105 and #210 has stops within walking distance of the festival. How’s that for convenience. Some festival goers have the luxury of walking to the festival or riding a bicycle, e-bike, scooter or skateboard to the festival.
Visit https://www.leimertparkjazzfestival.org for more information about the lineup, ticketing as well as important know before you go important information. Sign up for the newsletter to get updates and news about the festival sent directly to your inbox.
I can’t think of a better way to enjoy an unforgettable afternoon while listening to America’s number one art form, JAZZ! with likeminded jazz enthusiasts.
Enjoy free and Pay-What-You-Wish General Admission or elevate your experience with VIP tickets. Either way, you will enjoy a beautiful day immersed in live jazz performances—from Grammy ® Award winning to rising stars—along with a dynamic Visual Art Pavilion, mouthwatering eats in the Food Court, a fun-filled Kid’s Zone, a lively Wine and Beer Lounge and more! In a relaxing and chill environment.
Connect with Leimert Park Jazz Festival on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Leimert Park Jazz Festival is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c) 3 Tax Exempt Organization. Donations are Tax Deductible.