Sam First Jazz Club Announces March 2026 Lineup
Sam First Jazz Club Announces March 2026 Lineup of Celebrated Los Angeles Artists
LA’s hippest jazz club ushers in the promise of Spring with a stacked month of world-class talent and homegrown favorites. Sam First welcomes back beloved Southland regulars alongside a fresh wave of touring artists making the intimate Inglewood room a must-stop on the national circuit.
Tuesday, March 3
“Tuesday Happennings”: Hosted by The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble
Six extraordinary young musicians from around the world were selected for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA Class of 2026. House band performs one set at 7:30pm followed by a jam session from 9:30-11pm.
Wednesday, March 4 & Thursday, March 5
Edward Simon Trio with Reuben Rogers and Adam Cruz
Edward Simon brings a stellar trio with acclaimed bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Adam Cruz. They will be playing music from his new album, Venezuela: Latin American Songbook Vol. 2, which continues the artist’s deep engagement with Latin American repertoire through jazz-informed interpretation.
Friday, March 6
Tamir Hendelman & John Clayton Duo
Pianist Tamir Hendelman and bassist John Clayton present an unforgettable evening of intimate duo music at Sam First. The two have worked together extensively in countless bands, including with the great Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
Saturday, March 7
John Escreet Quartet with
Nicole McCabe, Eric Revis &
Gary Novak
Over the course of his career, John Escreet has earned a reputation as one of the most active and diverse pianist/composers working in music today. Tonight he presents a special quartet made up of some of his closest musical collaborators, premiering some brand new music.
Sunday, March 8
Linda May Han Oh Trio with
Fabian Almazán & Christian Euman
Based in NYC, GRAMMY Award–winning bassist/composer Linda May Han Oh has performed and recorded with Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano, and Terri Lyne Carrington. Following her latest album, Strange Heavens, she appears at Sam First with pianist Fabian Almazán and drummer Christian Euman
Tuesday, March 10
“Tuesday Happenings” : Hosted by Gerald Clayton
“Tuesday Happenings” is a weekly series curated by 6x GRAMMY-nominated pianist/composer Gerald Clayton. House band performs one set at 7:30pm followed by a jam session from 9:30-11pm. Jam session participants use coupon code SAM1JAM for a discounted 2nd set.
Wednesday, March 11
Brian Swartz Quintet with Keith Fiddmont, Steve Cotter,
Chris Colangelo & Kendall Kay
The Brian Swartz Quintet delivers a sophisticated and soulful jazz experience. Blending reimagined standards with vibrant original compositions, they create a sound that is both familiar and strikingly new.
Thursday, March 12
Edu Ribeiro Trio with Vinicius Gomes & Noah Garabedian
Edu Ribeiro is a multiple-time Grammy Award winner based in São Paulo, Brazil. He is a core member of the group Trio Corrente, and has performed and recorded with Luciana Souza, João Bosco, and Randy Brecker to name a few. The trio will be performing original music from their debut album, Caipora.
Friday, March 13
Bill Cunliffe Trio with Darek Oles & Joe LaBarbera: Music of the Movies
Bill, Joe and Darek will present music from the great movie composers, including Erich Korngold, Henry Mancini, Bronislau Kaper, Jerry Goldsmith and Phillip Glass.
Tuesday, March 17
Geoffrey Keezer Trio with Edwin Livingston & Marvin “Smitty” Smith
Geoffrey Keezer has been a major figure in NYC’s jazz piano scene since 1989, when he became the last pianist with the legendary Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Keezer has toured and recorded with Ray Brown, Roy Hargrove, Joshua Redman, Diana Krall and many more.
Wednesday, March 18
Yakiv Tsvietinskyi
Thursday, March 19
KCRW Presents: “Third Thursdays” with Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
Veering from in-your-face, jaw dropping chops and passion, to those quiet moments when you hold your breath to take in a soundscape of solitude, the Jonathan Scales Fourchestra elements of jazz, classical, and progressive rock, peppered with Latin rhythms and soulful outbursts of funk.
Friday, March 20
TBA
Saturday, March 21
Larry Goldings & Melinda Sullivan Duo with Anthony Wilson
Tuesday, March 24
Jochen Rueckert Trio with Mark Turner and Karl McComas-Reichl
German-born New-York-City-expatriated jazz drummer of note Jochen Rueckert stops over to reunite with his long-time band mate, supreme tenor saxophonist, reluctant ECM artist, and sought-after fashion model Mark Turner for a night of consensual musical exploration with bassist Karl McCormas-Reichl.
Wednesday, March 25
Tristan Cappel Quartet with
Adam Hersh, Max Gerl & Myles Martin
Tristan Cappel is a saxophonist, flutist, and composer who is quickly becoming a staple of the LA jazz scene. Join him and his stellar band for a night of contemporary jazz!
Thursday, March 26
Ralph Alessi Quartet with Adam Benjamin, Richard Giddens & Mark Ferber
Trumpeter/composer and ECM recording artist Ralph Alessi forms a new band for a West Coast tour. His music balances the traditions of jazz with expansive areas of experimentation, inviting exploration into the unknown.
Friday, March 27 & Saturday, March 28
Allison, Cardenas & Nash
Against the backdrop of over 25 years of creative collaboration Ben, Steve, and Ted weave musical conversations that are full of subtlety and surprise. The group is modeled after reedist/composer Jimmy Giuffre’s drummerless trios of the 1950s and 60s.
Tuesday, March 31
“Tuesday Happenings” : Hosted by Devin Daniels
Devin Daniels, one of the most unique and exciting voices from LA’s thriving creative music scene, leads tonight’s “Happenings”. House band performs one set at 7:30pm followed by a jam session from 9:30-11pm.
About Sam First Records
Sam First Records documents concerts at Sam First, home since 2017 to a vibrant Los Angeles Jazz and creative music scene. The recordings capture the natural acoustics, placing the listeners “in the room” where they feel the moment of creativity. Releases include recordings by Anthony Wilson Nonet, Larry Goldings, Devin Daniels, Jeff Babko, Tim Lefebvre & Mark Guiliana, Rachel Eckroth, Joe La Barbera, Josh Nelson featuring Walter Smith III & Gaby Moreno, and Justin Kauflin. For more information: www.samfirstrecords.com
Sam First is a unique venue (and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) dedicated to supporting and expanding jazz as a musical form and tradition. Our mission is to provide a vibrant center for regional, national, and international practitioners of jazz and to foster the growth and engagement of the jazz community in Los Angeles. As a space designed without an elevated stage, we remove the boundary between performers and audiences to promote in-person collaboration, the formation of new relationships, and the creation of original music that takes risks and pushes boundaries.
For more information on Sam First, please visit:
www.samfirstbar.com | Instagram | Facebook
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