Minaret Jazz Festival Presents Billy Childs
The World Stage4317 - 4331 Degnan Boulevard, Los Angeles 90008
Minaret Jazz Festival presents Billy Childs, the Los Angeles-born pianist, composer and arranger.
Childs blends jazz with classical and chamber traditions, and NPR notes his “chamber-music instrumentation and small-group jazz interplay.” He began his jazz career with J.J. Johnson, later played with Freddie Hubbard, and has also collaborated with Joe Henderson and Wynton Marsalis. A review of The Winds of Change praised his “outstanding compositional skills,” along with his orchestrative, percussive piano playing.
The World Stage offers a unique experience as a dedicated space for jazz and African American cultural expression in Leimert Park. Founded by jazz drummer Billy Higgins and poet Kamau Daáood, it serves as both a performance venue and an educational hub, where you can catch live jazz concerts featuring both established and emerging artists. The room is a modest gallery-style space that encourages attentive listening, with a focus on the music rather than distractions like alcohol, which is not served here. Shows often include workshops and open jam sessions, fostering a community spirit rooted in artistic growth and cultural heritage. Expect a night where the music takes center focus, surrounded by walls that echo decades of creative history and community dedication.