2025 Line Up
Headlining this year is legendary jazz vocalist, NEA Jazz Master, Memphis Music Hall of Fame Inductee, ASCAP Champion, Doris Duke Artist, Multiple Grammy® winner, Tony® winner, and more, Dee Dee Bridgewater, bringing her acclaimed project WE EXIST! to our stage with her first performance in South Los Angeles in decades!
WE EXIST! is a rallying cry and a reflection on a journey in progress. Transforming evocative songs of protest like “Mississippi Goddam,” “Trying Times,” “The Danger Zone” and others, the Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet connects the past and present, tracing how far we’ve come and how far we’ve yet to go. WE EXIST! serves as a reminder of the impact of activism and artistry through the inimitable lens of powerful women.
Described a "young mallet master" by JazzTimes, Sasha Berliner is an award winning vibraphonist and composer based in Los Angeles, CA. The Downbeat Critics Poll #1 Rising Star Vibraphonist and NPR Jazz Night in America's Class of 2024 Youngbloods pick has notably shared the stage for recent projects with Christian McBride, Tyshawn Sorey, Marcus Gilmore, Justin Brown, and Cecile Mclorin Salvant, and leads her own quintet. She is also a faculty member at University of California Irvine and a frequent lecturing guest of California Institute for the Arts, both for jazz ensemble and composition courses.
“Berliner is already a very mature instrumentalist […] maybe she’s the best vibraphone player to emerge in decades.” - Arnaldo DeSouteiro, Brazilian record producer (Verve, CTI, JSR, Milestone, Sony), music historian, and journalist
Virtuosic, soulful, and electric—Dayren Santamaría, the Cuban-born violinist, leads her ensemble Made in Cuba in a high-energy fusion of jazz, timba, rumba, and classical influences. A classically trained musician raised on Havana's rhythms, Dayren delivers a vibrant, danceable performance that brings the island’s soul to South LA.
The Melanin Horns is a dynamic brass collective known for genre-blending collaborations and bold, infectious horn arrangements. Their high-energy fusion of jazz, funk, and African rhythms will have the rooftop jumping and the crowd on their feet. The Melanin Horns are Tatiana Tate (trumpet), Randal Fisher (sax) and Fabio Santana(trombone).
Founded in the creative spirit of the historic World Stage, this powerful ensemble features some of the finest musicians in Los Angeles. From classic big band swing to Afro-Latin rhythms to contemporary jazz compositions, The World Stage Big Band embodies a tradition of excellence, a creative legacy, and a spirit of innovation.
Led by elder, activist, and cultural keeper Renee “Mama Nene” Fisher, S.H.I.N.E. Mawusi brings the transformative power of West African drumming and song. With their commanding presence, sacred rhythm, and affirming energy, this all-women collective opens hearts and grounds us in ancestral strength and collective joy. They will be joined by one of Los Angeles’s most beloved voices, poet V. Kali, widely regarded as the bedrock of The Anansi Writer’s Workshop at The World Stage.
Novena Carmel, aka "your friend in frequency," is the host of KCRW’s flagship music show Morning Becomes Eclectic. A spirited open-format DJ, host, singer, and voiceover artist, Novena brings joy, curiosity, and a global perspective to everything she does. She has collaborated with influential brands and cultural institutions, including the Hollywood Bowl, Netflix, Apple Music, Red Bull, the Smithsonian, LACMA, and the California African American Museum. Whether behind the mic or behind the decks, Novena is all about connection—sharing the music she loves and the stories behind the sounds.
Linafornia is a producer and DJ hailing from Leimert Park, Los Angeles. Her sound was formed in the essence of warm, sunburst skylines, and the cool whoof of speakers in some of LA’s most popular underground venues. The genres that Linafornia explores in her DJ sets vary from hiphop to house to reggae, funk, jazz fusion and more, crossing regions and music eras to create a diverse experience for all. Linafornia embodies the new generation of music artists, always stepping forward while still staying true to her roots and to the sounds that inspire her.
Internationally known radio broadcaster Rhonda Hamilton brings her signature warmth and expertise to the Leimert Park Jazz Festival as co-host for the first time. With decades of experience producing and hosting jazz programs, Hamilton is a beloved voice on KJAZZ 88.1 FM. Her distinguished career includes work with NPR, WBGO, SiriusXM, and jazz radio in Tokyo, as well as numerous honors recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field. We’re honored to welcome this acclaimed broadcaster to our stage.
Jose Rizo, a trailblazing jazz broadcaster, producer, and bandleader, returns for his third year as co-host of the Leimert Park Jazz Festival. An iconic voice on KJAZZ 88.1 FM, Rizo is the longtime host of “Jazz on the Latin Side” and a champion of Latin jazz in Los Angeles. He is the founder of two acclaimed ensembles—Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars and Grammy®-nominated Mongorama—and has recorded seven albums featuring his original compositions. We’re thrilled to welcome Rizo back to our stage.