Jazz Preview: BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL (Hollywood Bowl)

Well, if this isn’t the best news for all of us jazz fans. The iconic Blue Note Jazz Club is expanding to Los Angeles, bringing the legendary reputation of its renowned New York flagship to the heart of LA’s dynamic music scene. Designed specifically for Los Angeles, the new venue will offer an intimate atmosphere paired with programming similar to its New York counterpart’s: world-class jazz performances from celebrated icons, rising stars and genre-defying collaborations that reflect the evolution of jazz. The new club is set to open its doors in March 2025.

Located on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, the new venue boasts two performance spaces: a main showroom with a 200-person capacity as well as secondary “B Side” room with a 100-person capacity. There will be a full-service kitchen and beverage menu, open for brunches and dinner throughout the week. It will have the same intimate atmosphere and world-class performances that have defined the New York club.

In addition to the new venue, Blue Note and the LA Phil confirm a partnership for the newly named Blue Note Jazz Festival—formerly the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, and before that The Playboy Jazz Festival—beginning the upcoming Hollywood Bowl season. Presented by the LA Phil, the 2025 edition of the festival kicks off on June 14 and 15, 2025 at 3:30pm at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. With a shared commitment by both organizations to support and showcase jazz artists, it looks like we can put the “jazz” back into the festival. The full lineup will be announced on February 18 alongside the complete Hollywood Bowl 2025 season announcement. Tickets will go on sale May 2025 at this link.

ABOUT BLUE NOTE JAZZ CLUB

The Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City has become one of the premiere venues in the world. While jazz is at its core, the Blue Note continues to broaden its offerings with a mission to spotlight contemporary artists across all musical styles, backgrounds and cultures. The club and its sister institutions worldwide continue to draw massive household names with frequent surprise appearances from superstars like Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Dave Chapelle, Chris Rock and more.

Blue Note Entertainment Group owns and operates New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club, Sony Hall and Arthur’s Tavern; D.C.’s The Howard Theatre; and Blue Note Jazz Clubs Worldwide, which includes venues in Milan, Italy; Honolulu, HI; Beijing and Shanghai, China; Tokyo, Japan; Napa, CA; and Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil.

ABOUT BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVALS

The storied Blue Note Jazz Festival started in New York in 2011, each summer seeing a month-long celebration of jazz throughout June. The Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa kicked off in 2022 with curation by Robert Glasper, creating a multi-day jazz meets hip-hop and R&B festival taking place outdoors across multiple stages. Past headliners include NAS, Mary J Blige, Chance the Rapper, Maxwell and others. In 2024, the Napa festival was presented as a landmark spin-off with Black Radio Experience, in association with Glasper at the Meritage Hotel. Blue Note will continue to present Black Radio Experience in Napa in 2025.

The Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival is a beloved annual celebration of jazz, held at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Known for its stellar lineups and electric atmosphere, the festival showcases a diverse range of artists, from legendary performers like Charles Lloyd and Raphael Saadiq to emerging talents such as Yebba, Aneesa Strings, Cimafunk and more, highlighting the rich and evolving traditions of jazz. This festival is a reimagining of the Playboy Jazz Festival that began at the Bowl in 1979 and inspired the full jazz series programming at the venue to date.