A JAZZY 60TH FOR CHRIS WALDEN

Pacific Jazz Orchestra gathers some formidable
friends for its founder’s milestone birthday

Chris Walden

I’ve seen jazz pianist Emmet Cohen in New York at least half a dozen times, and next to Sullivan Fortner, I can’t think of a pianist working today who leaves me more stunned. Cohen is one of those musicians who makes virtuosity look almost indecently easy: dazzling technique, deep swing, a seemingly bottomless knowledge of jazz history and, most important, the spontaneity to make you wonder where the hell he’s going next. So when I saw his name buried among the guests for Pacific Jazz Orchestra’s benefit concert on October 10, that was all I needed to know.

Emmet Cohen (Gabriela Gabrielaa)

Of course, he’s hardly the only reason to head to a private estate in Toluca Lake for what sounds like one hell of a 60th birthday party for PJO founder and artistic director Chris Walden. Cohen will be joined by David Foster, Katharine McPhee, violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, Joanna “JoJo” Levesque, Veronica Swift and R&B/soul singer Adam “AeJaye” Jackson, all performing with Walden’s terrific Pacific Jazz Orchestra.

Ann Akiko Meyers (Ayaka Sano)

Walden is the guy who can make that seemingly improbable guest list make musical sense. The seven-time Grammy-nominated composer, arranger and conductor has written more than 1,500 orchestral and big-band arrangements for everyone from Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder to Barbra Streisand, Michael Bublé and Josh Groban. He’s also the lead arranger for the Oscars. For this concert, he is creating new arrangements for a program that roams through jazz, swing, Latin, R&B, pop and musical theater, performed by PJO’s unusual 40-piece combination of big band and string orchestra.

Joanna ‘JoJo’ Levesque (Kenny Whittle)

Veronica Swift

Founded by Walden in 2022, Pacific Jazz Orchestra is still a relatively young organization, but its musical ambitions have never been modest. Its previous collaborators include Rufus Wainwright, Aaron Tveit, Ledisi, TAKE 6 and Katharine McPhee, and the ensemble has already taken its big-band configuration to Japan. What I particularly like about PJO is that it refuses to treat “jazz orchestra” as a stylistic prison: jazz may be the foundation, but Walden is perfectly happy to throw pop, soul, Broadway and cinematic music into the pot.

Adam Jackson

And this isn’t going to be one of those benefits where you sit through three hours of speeches waiting for somebody to play. The October 10 evening begins at 7 with a sweet-and-savory buffet reception and hosted bar; the concert starts at 8, followed at 9 by Walden leading PJO’s 17-piece Big Band Ensemble for dancing under the stars. Tickets are $325 and include valet parking, with proceeds supporting the orchestra. The address of the private Toluca Lake estate is provided after reservations are confirmed.

As for me, they had me at Emmet Cohen. Everything else is gravy.

Pacific Jazz Orchestra (Alex Jacob)

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Pacific Jazz Orchestra Benefit Concert
private estate in Toluca Lake
Sat Oct 10: buffet reception at 7; concert at 8; Big Band Ensemble and dancing at 9
tickets: $325; sponsorships available
for tickets, visit Pacific Jazz Orchestra

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Kartharine McPhee and David Foster