Experience

There will be plenty of feet tapping and finger snapping on Saturday, September 21th. Thousands of music lovers will flock to the 29th Annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival to groove to a spicy brew of hot, cool and swinging jazz, blues and Latin jazz sounds.

Held in the “New 9th” District and hosted by Councilman Curren D. Price Jr., the festival will feature over a dozen performances and is the musical “crown jewel” of the summer, attracting jazz aficionados from all over Southern California.

For more than two decades, the annual festival has been a staple for the community-celebrating the area’s rich cultural past, present and future.

ABOUT

Central Avenue Jazz Festival which celebrates the legacy of the historic Central Avenue corridor in South Central Los Angeles is one of the last few genuine jazz celebrations left in the southern California region. This festival is a free family-friendly festival paying tribute to jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Charles Mingus, Gerald Wilson and Dexter Gordon, while putting a spotlight on the younger emerging artists that are continuing this rich art form.

From the early 1900s to the 1950s, Central Avenue became the epicenter for music, especially with the sounds of large, active Rhythm and Blues and the lively, upbeat tones of Jazz. With music at its center, Central Avenue quickly became the heart and soul of the African American community in Los Angeles.

The Central Avenue Jazz Festival takes place along Central Avenue, between Vernon Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard. The community festival presents a diverse selection of culinary experiences, art, culture, various Pavilions and features jazz performances on multiple stages, as well as, at the Historic Dunbar Hotel.

Photo provided courtesy of Angels Walk

PERFORMERS

Live performances will be featured on 2 main stages and at the historic Dunbar Hotel spotlighting legends of jazz, as well as, emerging and up and coming artists from various genres of jazz music.

PAVILIONS

Youth Pavilion

In the heart of the festival grounds at Central Avenue Jazz Park we will feature arts & crafts, games, interactive musical activities, educational demonstrations, and much more.

Sports activities, information booth, mobile unit, giveaways and more.

Educational booth with interactive activities facilitated by the Learning & Engagement Team. 

Family-oriented art activities.

Stop by the Piece by Piece exhibitor booth and work on a community mosaic art piece.

Hands-On Art Activity 

Explore music production with the Young Musicians Foundation

Information about your Los Angeles City Parks & the services they offer.

Public Resource Pavilion

Representatives from the City of Los Angeles, county and state will be onsite to offer and distribute valuable information and resources and related services.

Health & Wellness Pavilion

We aim to empower our community and elevate the importance of healthy living. Take advantage of a variety of free and confidential health and dental screenings for children and adults, as well as, guides for a healthy lifestyle and preventative health tips.

General Medical Services including physicals and children immunizations.
On-site service hours are 11am-Spm.

Our Mobile Health Services offer the Following to the Community: 

NEIGHBORHOOD DENTAL VAN PREVENTION PROGRAM

We will be offering oral health education and resources for children and adults. We will also have some information on using MediCal for dental services provided by Smile California. Our dental students will be offering free dental screenings while being observed by licensed dental professionals.

Each community member will leave with a summary of how their screening went as well as a list of dental referral tools. USC will also be providing oral health dental kits to families that get screened, containing a travel-size toothpaste, floss, and toothbrush. On-site service hours are 11am-5pm.

The pavilion is a vibrant celebration of our community’s artistic talent, featuring a curated selection of works from some of our most innovative artists. As you explore this space, you’ll encoun­ter a rich tapestry of artistic expressions that capture the essence of our region’s culture and imagination. Dive into the diverse range of artworks, engage with the stories behind them, and let yourself be inspired by the boundless creativity that defines our local scene. 

Featured Artists
Sam Pace 

LPAE38 

Bart Ross 

Skira Martinez

Buena Johnson

Mohammed Mubarak

Kevin Williams

Gloria Ing 

Shelton Gillis 

Riea Owens 

Enk One 

Mike Norice 

Demar Douglas Errol Cook 

Kevin T. Williams Wendell Wiggins Kenneth Gatewood