New Lighthouse All stars draws new jazz audience
La La Land fans and a new house band lead local jazz resurgence
by Garrick Rawlings
In the early 1950s, the Lighthouse All Stars helped the downtown Hermosa Beach night club establish its reputation as the center of West Coast jazz. The Lighthouse All Stars were led by club manager and bassist Howard Rumsey. Its now legendary players included trumpet player Shorty Rogers, drummer Shelly Mann, and saxophonists Bud Shank and Bob Cooper. The line-up changed but the band continued through the ‘50s before fading into jazz history.
Now, thanks in part to the 2016, Oscar winning jazz film “La La Land,” in which the Lighthouse plays a prominent role, the New Lighthouse All Stars has been formed. Jacques Lesure, who appears in “La La Land” as the Lighthouse All Stars guitarist, leads the resurrected band Monday evenings at the Lighthouse.
Lesure’s co-host is drummer Marty “Smitty” Smith, a long time member of the Tonight Show band. Rene Camacho, of War, is the band’s bassist, and Adam Ledbetter is the pianist.
“I’ve been playing the Lighthouse since I moved to town about 20 years ago,” Lesure said. He has performed widely with Pharoh Sanders, James Brown with Bernadette Peters, and teaches jazz guitar at UCLA.
During the pandemic, the Lighthouse underwent a change in ownership, leading to fears its jazz performances would end. Instead, the new owners approached Lesure.
“The new owners are committed to having good music. They came to me because they knew I was connected to the jazz world. They have been very supportive, and I believe Mondays are one of their best evenings,” Lesure said. The club also hosts a Sunday jazz brunch.
Lesure was born in Detroit and currently lives in Inglewood, where he serves on the Inglewood Arts Commission.
“My mentors have been Kenny Burrell, George Benson, Grant Green and lots of unknown cats I’ve learned from. I’ve traveled all over the world. Benson and Burrell, I would say, are my direct mentors,” Lesure said.
Among the New Lighthouse All Stars most supportive fans is Dency Nelson, a docent at the Hermosa Beach Historical Society Museum.
Nelson met Lesure in 2018, when the city dedicated a plaque on the pierhead, commemorating the Lighthouse’s and the pier’s appearances in “La La Land.”
Nelson had taken a special interest in the city’s connection to the Oscar winning film because he loves jazz, and because he had been the Oscar show’s stage director for 25 years, before retiring in 2013.
La La Land won an Oscar for Best Musical Score by Justin Hurwitz, as well as Oscars for director Damien Chazelle, its cinematographer Linus Sandgren, and its production designers David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco.
Nelson traces his love of jazz to his early television career, working on the Merv Griffin show.
Jay Smith leads his trio during Sunday brunch at the Lighthouse, on April 2.
“Merv knew he wasn’t a great singer, but he told me, ‘How can I not sound good. I’ve got Mort Lindsey, Judy Garland, and Barbara Streisand’s musical director.’”
“Merve also had Ray Brown on bass, Plas Johnson on sax, Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Mundell Lowe on guitar, and Nick Ceroli on drums. My favorite part of the show was listening to these guys during commercial breaks,” Nelson said.
“Yes, I love jazz, and we must keep that tradition going. As Jacques says, ‘This is a sacred place.’ Los Angeles Times columnist, Jack Smith gave the classic quote, ‘Los Angeles loses its historical buildings like baby teeth’ – you can’t get them back again.’”
Monday nights at the Lighthouse begin with a set from the New Lighthouse All Stars. Then, as with the original All Stars, the veteran and rising jazz musicians come on stage to jam.
“I’m a professor at UCLA, so we have a lot of students who come here for real-world experience. That’s how you learn, not in the classroom,” Lesure said.
Monday, March 6, was a special night. It was the 100 birthday anniversary of Wes Montgomery, perhaps the greatest jazz guitarist ever.
“Wes played here for month-long stints. I’ve seen the Lighthouse contracts,” Lesure told the audience. “We’re also celebrating Wayne Shorter’s transition today.” (The saxophone legend passed away March 2).
Another commemoration that evening, one close to Lesure’s heart, was for the 66th anniversary of Ghana’s independence from British colonial rule, in 1957. Lesure is of Ghanaian descent.
The New Lighthouse All Stars is a band at the top of its game, whose players push each other into the magical realm of improvisational bliss, while showing reverence for the standards they perform. Drummer Smith is reminiscent of the legendary Tony Williams, but in his own style. He plays with explosive power, coupled with finesse and exquisite taste. His fills lifted patrons off of their seats with the energy he created.
The timely tributes included Wes Montgomery’s “Full House” and “West Coast Blues,” along with Wayne Shorter’s “Armageddon,” and “One by One.”
Thanks to Lesure, and La La Land, the Monday night audiences are a healthy mix of young and old. ER