Archive for March, 2010
"Down with Downs" Selected as Grand Prize Winner in the Jazz Catagory for Songwiting Contest!
by jazzcat on Mar.27, 2010, under News
You may not know but Los Angeles trumpeter, educator and songwriter, Brian Swartz won the John Lennon Songwriting Competition with a song he composed with his favorite program host in mind, me!
LeRoy Downs
Click photo above for a free download of “Down with Downs!!!!!!”
What an honor it is to have a piece of music crafted after the spirit of my dedication to jazz and all that it represents. “Down with Downs” is a kick ass piece of music and the theme, tone and temper of the music reflect the type of vibe that I created on the radio when I worked the overnight shift back in the day at 88.1 fm KLON, now 88.1 fm KKJZ.
click pic above to vote
Message from Brian
Voting for the John Lennon Songwriting Contest “Lennon Award” opens
March 26th, 2010! As you may already know, my song, “Down with Downs,”
was selected as the Grand Prize Winner in the Jazz Category for the 2009
JLSC, Session I. Now I’m going head to head with the winner of Session
II for the “Lennon Award” in the Jazz Category. If I win that, I will
compete for the “Maxell Song of the Year” and the chance to win $20,000
plus other prizes. THIS IS NO JOKE, my friends! You can vote for my song
once a day until April 26th, 2010 so please follow this link and vote
every day!
Peace,
Brian Swartz
click pic above to vote
If you all would not mind giving Brian a boost and voting for “Down With Downs” everyday! It would be great to have one of LA’s wonderful musicians win this prestigious award and have the prizes go towards the invention more creative jazz music!
Visit Brian’s homepage @
32 Annual Playboy Jazz Festival 2010!
by jazzcat on Mar.24, 2010, under Events, News

Lots of great music once again for the 32nd Anniversary of the Playboy Jazz Festival!
The festival takes place on
Saturday June 12, 2010 2:30pm – 11:00 pm and
Sunday June 13, 2010 2:00pm – 10:30 pm
Playboy also has its normal Free Community Concert Series in May and June
On Sunday May 2nd @ 3:00pm
Playboy Jazz in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills Civic Center Plaza
Bill Cunliffe Septet: Celebrating Oliver Nelson; The Blues and The Abstract Truth
and
Johnny Crawford and His Orchestra
Sunday June 6th @ 4:00pm
Playboy Jazz at Warner Center Park
Warner Center Park, Lou Bredlow Pavilion, Woodland Hills
Lao Tizer and his band
Sal Marquez and his Trio
Calabasas High School Band
Thursday, June 10th @ 7:30pm
Jazz on Film with Ebony Repertory Theater at the
Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, Los Angeles
The Playboy Jazz Festival,
Hollywood Bowl
Saturday June 12th 2:00pm – 11:00pm
Chick Corea Freedom Band
with Roy Haynes, Christian McBride and Kenny Garrett
Sax for Stax
featuring Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber and Kirk Whalum
Kurt Elling
Los Van Van
Marcus Miller Band
featured guest Christian Scott
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
saluting Louie Bellson
Javon Jackson Band
with special guest Les McCann
Naturally 7
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
El Dorado High School
direction Richard Watson
Sunday, June 13, 2010 2:00pm – 10:30pm
George Benson
Manhattan Transfer
Bobby Hutcherson and Cedar Walton Quartet
Salif Keita
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Esperanza Spalding
Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
Tiempo Libre
Cos of Good Music
with Dwayne Burno, Ndugu Chancler, Mark Gross, Jay Hoggard, D.D. Jackson, Ingrid Jensen
Jazz Mafia's Brass Bows and Beats
and the
L.A. District High School Jazz Band
direction Tony White and J.B. Dyas
Killin' show TONIGHT!!!!! Robert Glasper at the ROXY!!!
by jazzcat on Mar.21, 2010, under News