READY FOR A SWIFT MOVE?
Veronica Electrifies the Pacific Jazz Orchestra Gala

The Pacific Jazz Orchestra opens its 2025–26 season with a night that promises both elegance and swing: an intimate dinner and concert on Thursday, October 9 at Bel Air’s Vibrato Grill & Jazz. The evening features an extraordinary lineup—Shelly Berg on piano, Ed Livingston on bass, and Gregg Field on drums—but make no mistake, this one belongs to Veronica Swift. One of today’s most electrifying jazz vocalists, Swift is a performer of dazzling versatility and fearless artistry. I caught her at Birdland in New York, where she turned every standard inside out with impeccable phrasing and a voice that moves effortlessly from velvet warmth to volcanic power. Hearing her up close at Vibrato, over a gourmet dinner no less, is a rare treat that serious jazz fans won’t want to miss. It’s a celebration of music at its most intimate and inspired.

Veronica Swift (photo by Matt Baker)

The fundraiser, chaired by Judy Whitmore, celebrates not only the start of Pacific Jazz Orchestra’s new season but also the birthday of founder and conductor Chris Walden. Guests can also expect a live auction supporting PJO’s artistic programs. This is highly recommended for anyone who believes a perfect evening should come with great food, exceptional company, and a voice that can stop time.

Chris Walden

What makes the Pacific Jazz Orchestra such an extraordinary ensemble is its scope and spirit. This is no ordinary big band — it’s a 40-piece hybrid of brass, strings, and rhythm that fuses jazz, pop, R&B, Broadway, and cinematic sounds into one cohesive whole. Guided by Walden’s sophisticated vision, PJO performs with the polish of a symphony and the pulse of a nightclub, each concert crafted to be an experience rather than just a performance. The result is music that feels both classic and new, elegant yet electric — a reflection of the orchestra’s Los Angeles roots and global sensibility.

The new season celebrates the musical legacies of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Quincy Jones with four dazzling programs: Fly Me to the Moon: A Tribute to Quincy Jones featuring José James and Lisa Fischer (October 18, 2025, The Soraya); Holiday Jazz Spectacular with Sy Smith (December 13, 2025, Alex Theatre); A Musical Valentine’s Day with Veronica Swift and PJO (February 14, 2026, The Soraya); and Miles & Trane at 100, honoring the centennials of Davis and Coltrane with trumpeter Sean Jones and pianist Emmet Cohen (May 28, 2026, The Wallis).

For tickets and information, visit Pacific Jazz