Sarah Hanahan Quartet with Julius Rodriguez, Jermaine Paul & Kyle Poole
Sam First6171 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles 90045-5300
Sarah Hanahan brings her quartet to Sam First for its Los Angeles debut, joined by Julius Rodriguez, Jermaine Paul and Kyle Poole. The billed group presents Hanahan’s acoustic jazz setting, led by her alto saxophone and built around piano, bass and drums. It is a chance to hear this particular four-player lineup in a room designed for close listening and clear detail.
New York City-based, and raised in Marlborough, Massachusetts, Hanahan has developed a sound that joins “deep-rooted swing and bebop traditions with a bold, modern intensity.” Her 2024 debut, Among Giants, featured Marc Cary, Nat Reeves and Jeff “Tain” Watts and earned a five-star review in DownBeat. The magazine named her its #1 Rising Star Alto Saxophonist in 2025, while NPR’s Jazz Night in America included her in its Youngbloods series. Hanahan has performed with Watts, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nicholas Payton, Jason Moran and Joe Farnsworth, and has toured with the Mingus Big Band, Ulysses Owens Jr. and Generation Y, and Sherrie Miracle and the Diva Orchestra. DownBeat’s Veronica Johnson heard “pure fierceness and lyrical conviction” in her playing; WBGO’s Greg Bryant called it “both melodic and muscular.”
Sam First offers a rare jazz experience where the absence of an elevated stage brings you close enough to feel the music’s pulse and the musicians’ subtle exchanges. The room’s acoustics are finely tuned, enhanced by a prized Yamaha C7x grand piano, making every note clear from any seat. The venue’s design encourages attentive listening, with seating arranged to foster connection between audience and performers. A well-stocked cocktail bar serves serious drinks alongside local beers and fine wines, complementing the music without overwhelming it. Shows run five nights a week, mostly ticketed and often live streamed, inviting both local jazz lovers and remote fans. The vibe is focused yet relaxed, perfect for an evening where the music takes center attention and conversation yields to the sound. This is a place where jazz is both tradition and innovation, inviting you to witness it up close.