To commemorate Jazz Appreciation Month, Metro Art Los Angeles presents KJazz Tracks at Union Station, a free concert taking place on Saturday, April 27, from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., at Union Station, located at 800 N. Alameda St., in downtown L.A.
“JAM” was created at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, to recognize and celebrate the heritage and history of jazz for the entire month of April. Grammy-nominated musician Kassa Overall headlines the show.
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“I started out as a jazz drummer playing for legendary cats like [pianist] Geri Allen and [saxophonist] Gary Bartz,” he said regarding his musical foundation. “But always coming from the spontaneous and improvisation space.
“[OutKast’s] André 3000 has always been one of my favorite artists. He’s part of the reason why I’m here. In my opinion, he kind of stepped into my space by emulating artists like John Coltrane with spontaneous composition. Ninety percent of what OutKast does is spontaneous.
“So, we’re just gonna get up on stage, search around, and find a vibe. If a song comes out of that, we’ll go with it. It’ll be a fresh and brand-new presentation for the people. Come ready and be open-minded, cuz’ that’s what I’ma do,” he stated.
The line-up features saxophonist Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few. “It’s a similar feeling when the pastor is on the pulpit and the sermon is about to commence,” he mused regarding the sensation of performing live.
“You gotta prepare yourself to be in the right spirit and mind to deliver the message. It’s funny to see how that same experience growing up in church now has become a consistent thing now that I’m traveling the world.
“The beautiful thing about music,” Collier continued, “is it’s a transmuter of intellect, emotion, spirituality, and all the different avenues that make us human beings. The same thing we hope for the audience is the same we hope for ourselves.
“[The audience] shouldn’t have any expectations,” he concluded. It’s exclusively made for them. The energy of where I’m at and the circumstance of your own day is what’s going to make the concert what it is. So, whether you come heavy-hearted or light-hearted doesn’t matter, as long as you leave with that stuff exfoliated from you.”
Opening the show is Mira Costa High graduate and UCLA alumna, Darynn Dean.
“Music is about spirit and souls connecting,” she opined. “When I’m on stage, I want to communicate love, the journey of life, and depending on the song, the colors of joy, sadness, and happiness.
“A little-known fact about me is I feel like a tourist in my own city. I get inspired by things that happen outside of music that inform my music, like going to Leimert Park to watch people and enjoy the scenery. To be in this city is exciting and exhilarating, even though I grew up here.
“Jazz has changed the course of history,” she concluded. “It’s been the soundtrack of civil rights, of joy, and the pain of the American experience. Toni Morrison said, ‘I’m an American author, not a Black American author.’ So, celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month is as expansive as celebrating history and culture.”
KJazz 88.1 host, Rhonda Hamilton serves as the MC. “I look forward to meeting some of our listeners face to face at KJazz Tracks, and it will be a joy to hear talented young artists like Isaiah Collier, Kassa Overall, and Darynn Dean who are not only carrying on the tradition but also moving the music forward,” she said in a statement.
The concert is first come, first serve.
Union Station is the main train station in L.A. and the largest passenger rail terminal in the Western U.S.
