This summer, experience live music under the stars, courtesy of The Music Center’s Summer SoundWaves. This annual outdoor concert series features all types of captivating music—from Latin jazz to Afro-beat. Whether you’re familiar with the artists or hoping to discover new favorites, it’s sure to be a memorable night.
The Music Center’s Summer SoundWaves’ concerts take place on select Saturday nights from July 1 to August 5 at Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. Between the warm weather, starry skies and unbeatable music, you won’t want to miss out!
Few other musicians can show how music can transcend language quite as well as Las Cafeteras. This LA-based Chicano band performs and produces songs in English, Spanish and Spanglish—and their listeners come from all across the globe. Since their inception in 2005, Las Cafeteras has brought traditional instruments—like the eight-string jarana and the percussive quijada—into the modern world through their one-of-a-kind folk and spoken word compositions.
Get a taste of contemporary African music with Mali-born Oumoi Sangaré’s enchanting performance. Sangaré is primarily known for Wassalou music, a genre of Malian folk music focused on women’s rights and issues. Since starting her music career in 1989, her success has grown by leaps and bounds. Sangaré even won a Grammy in 2011 for the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, thanks to her recording of Imagine alongside Pink, Seal, Herbie Hancock, India Arie, Konono N°1 and Jeff Beck.
The talented duo known as Olatuja blends together Afro-beat, jazz, funk and soul to create unequaled, crowd-pleasing tracks. Michael Olatuja, the instrumentalist behind the pair, has collaborated with some of the best artists in the business, from Shakira to Stevie Wonder.
When paired with Alicia Olatuja’s soaring vocals, the two create music that make you want to get up and dance.
The Music Center’s Summer SoundWaves 2023 concert series kicks off with a Bossanova jazz performance, and wraps up with an all-star jazz performance. Jazz Unleashed L.A. brings together an all-star jazz collective to showcase the best of local talent followed by a performance by Chief Adjuah (formerly known as Christian Scott) for a night to remember. All-star collective artist line up: Blue Note Records artists and Grammy nominees, including Logan Richardson, David Binney, Colin Cook, Joshua Crumbly, Jermaine Paul and Damion Reid.