The New Blue Note Los Angeles Hits All the Right Notes
- blrbmag
- Aug 16
- 2 min read
Opening weekend at the brand-new Blue Note Jazz Club Los Angeles felt like a landmark moment, the kind of night you know you’ll be telling people about years down the road. Nestled on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Ivar, two doors down from the legendary Cinerama Dome, the room was packed wall-to-wall, with a palpable energy that could only come from the birth of a new cultural hub. The staff were welcoming, service was seamless, and the setting had that classic, dimly lit intimacy that instantly transported you to NYC. Alex Isley delivered the moment—pure R&B soul with a couple of soaring jazz standards that put the crowd right where they wanted to be.
The roots of Blue Note run deep, starting with Danny Bensusan’s original club in 1981, a home to legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Oscar Peterson and Tito Puente. Now, 44 years later, his son Steven has brought that same magic west, building on a global network of Blue Note clubs from Tokyo to Milan. At the heart of this expansion is Robert Glasper, the cultural ambassador who has become synonymous with the brand through his “Robtober” residencies in New York and his curatorial work at the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Napa. True to form, Glasper was front and center for the L.A. opening—because, as director of programming Alex Kurland put it, they weren’t going to launch without him. His presence sets the tone for what this space will be: not a transplant of New York, but L.A.’s very own Blue Note, steeped in the city’s culture and creativity.
As the crowd buzzed and the final notes faded, you could already sense the future taking shape. The lineup for the remainder of 2025 promises Kamasi Washington, Esperanza Spalding, Killer Mike, Keyon Harrold, Tank and the Bangas, Adam Blackstone and other heavyweights who will cement Blue Note Los Angeles as a world-class stage. The room hits the Blue Note quality check perfectly—welcoming staff, impeccable sound, intimate vibe—and yet it also feels distinctly of this city. The question floating in the air was clear: Will Blue Note be the new big thing for jazz in L.A.? Judging by opening weekend, the answer is already yes.
Blue Note Los Angeles
6372 W. Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
THE WRAP-UP: Pros: Location, Location, Location!
Street parking was available and easy to find Paid parking available next door at the Cinerama Dome Ambiance Vibes
Legacy
NYC Feels
Awesome staff
Olive Oil Cake! Whipped Feta & Honey Dip! Cons:
Seating is TIGHT (like middle-seat-coach tight)
Seating is first come, first served. They cannot guarantee that parties arriving separately or late will be seated together at the same table.
Go to the restroom PRIOR to show. *(See tight seats above)
Jazz club pricing $$$$
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