Sunday Jazz at the ford

On July 19, 2026, Sunday Jazz at The Ford, co-produced by Leimert Park Jazz Festival and The Ford/LA Phil, marked an exciting milestone for LPJF's monthly Sunday Jazz community concert series. The sold-out performance brought together generations of musicians and audiences to celebrate the enduring legacy of Miles Davis and the next generation of jazz artists.

The evening opened with Grammy Award-winning pianist John Beasley's Unlimited Miles: Miles Davis at 100, followed by a curated jam session featuring the Leimert Park Jazz Festival Emerging Artists Collective, 13 musicians whose journey to The Ford began with LPJF's Sunday Jazz community concert series. The evening concluded with a powerful intergenerational finale as established and emerging artists shared the stage, celebrating artistic collaboration and the future of jazz.

John Beasley's Unlimited Miles: Miles Davis at 100

A world-class ensemble honoring the enduring influence of Miles Davis.

• John Beasley (piano): Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, and arranger whose genre-spanning career bridges jazz, classical, pop, and film/television music.

• Sean Jones (trumpet): Trumpeter, composer, educator, bandleader, and activist whose artistic vision intertwines music and spirituality.

• Marcus Strickland (saxophone): Grammy-nominated saxophonist who has been a leading voice on the New York jazz scene since the 1990s and currently serves as Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Studio Music at the University of Miami Frost School of Music.

• Ben Williams (bass): Grammy Award-winning bassist, vocalist, composer, and producer recognized as one of the most acclaimed and versatile bassists in modern jazz.

• John Davis (drums): Drummer, composer, and musical director with more than 20 years of experience whose global travels have shaped his unique blend of traditional and contemporary musical influences.

Leimert Park Jazz Festival Emerging Artists Collective

Thirteen outstanding musicians whose journey to The Ford began with LPJF's Sunday Jazz community concert series.

• Kenneth Brown II (trumpet): Kenneth was LPJF's Sunday Jazz Artist-in-Residence from October through December 2025. An eclectic trumpeter from Inglewood, California, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Morehouse College and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from UCLA.

• Tatiana Tate (trumpet): Tatiana kicked off LPJF's 2025 Sunday Jazz series as Artist-in-Residence from January through March. A Los Angeles-based trumpeter, composer, and bandleader, her sound sits at the intersection of jazz, soul, and contemporary music, earning her a reputation as one of the most dynamic brass voices of her generation.

• Chris Powe (alto saxophone): Chris helped establish the artistic foundation of LPJF's Sunday Jazz community concert series as our inaugural Artist-in-Residence from January through April 2024. A Los Angeles native and 2023 Berklee College of Music graduate, he has emerged as one of the city's most exciting young saxophonists.

• Nicole McCabe (alto saxophone): Nicole has graced the Sunday Jazz open jam stage with her distinctive sound. A saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, she draws equally from the lineage of post-bop masters and today's creative music scene, representing a new generation of artists redefining modern jazz.

• Josh Childs (piano): Josh became part of the Sunday Jazz family as pianist for one of our Artists-in-Residence in early 2026. Originally from New Jersey, he is a pianist and composer who has become an active member of Los Angeles' music community since relocating in 2021.

• Veritus Miller (piano): Veritus served as LPJF's Sunday Jazz Artist-in-Residence from May through August 2024. An emerging pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader from Los Angeles, he is a 2025 graduate of Berklee College of Music whose charismatic, old-soul style captivates audiences with compositions that honor jazz tradition while embracing the energy of a new generation.

• Jordan Proffer (drums): Jordan joined the Sunday Jazz family as drummer for one of our Artists-in-Residence in early 2026. Originally from Dallas, he is a Los Angeles-based drummer and composer known for his dynamic touch and broad musical range.

• Dee Simone (drums): Dee has anchored the rhythm sections for several Sunday Jazz Artists-in-Residence. A graduate of the prestigious Musicians Institute in Hollywood, she is an in-demand drummer whose versatility spans jazz, funk, gospel, pop-rock, fusion, country, hip-hop, and R&B.

• Weldon Scott (bass): Weldon served as LPJF's Sunday Jazz Artist-in-Residence from April through June 2025. A Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader, his deep understanding of jazz and Black American Music has led to a wide range of artistic collaborations.

• Aubrey Situmorang (piano): Aubrey launched LPJF's 2026 Sunday Jazz series as Artist-in-Residence from January through March. A Berklee College of Music full-tuition scholarship recipient in 2017, she has performed with artists across multiple genres, including Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Billy Childs.

• Kevin Hernandez (guitar): Kevin has been a frequent participant in LPJF's Sunday Jazz open jam sessions. A Los Angeles native, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Cal State LA and a Master of Fine Arts from CalArts, both with an emphasis in jazz guitar.

• Josh White (trombone): Josh has been a familiar face at LPJF's Sunday Jazz jam sessions. A trombonist and composer known for his powerful sound, expressive phrasing, and commanding stage presence, he is a graduate of Hampton University.

• Hannah Norman (vocals): Hannah has been a participant in LPJF's Sunday Jazz jam sessions and was the recipient of LPJF's inaugural 2025 Scholarship for Undergraduate Jazz Studies in the vocal category. A senior at USC's Thornton School of Music, she is a versatile jazz, neo-soul, and folk singer-songwriter.

Pre-Show Performance on the Edison Plaza

Before the main performance inside the theater, guests were welcomed on the Edison Plaza with a pre-show performance by B~Free, LPJF’s Sunday Jazz Artist-in-Residence from April through June 2026. Her solo flute performance created the perfect prelude to an unforgettable evening.

Born in Chicago, raised in Milwaukee, and now based in Los Angeles, B~Free is a musical multi-hyphenate -- flutist, vocalist, pianist, songwriter, producer, music curator, and educator. When not performing solo, she creates and releases original music with her husband and musical duo partner, Quinten Farr.