The Jazzcat

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 @

www.brianswartz.com

 

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