Joshua Childress Quartet
The Joshua Childress Quartet is billed for a December 26 performance at The Den in South Redondo Beach's Riviera Village. The backroom listening lounge, located behind Montauk's dining room, presents live jazz and blues under the curation of trumpeter and composer Al Strong. The listing names the quartet but gives no further details on its personnel or planned repertoire.
Los Angeles-based saxophonist Joshua Christian Childress leads a group described at another engagement as playing modern straight-ahead jazz: original compositions alongside arrangements of music by Cedar Walton, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. That quartet was listed with Adam Hersh, Cole Sainburg and Gengis Don, though those musicians are not confirmed for this date. Childress's sound has been called “soulful,” his improvisation “dynamic,” and his writing “expressive,” with the quartet combining “deep swing” and “modern improvisation.” His bios also cite work with Kelly Rowland, Aloe Blacc, FINNEAS, Imagine Dragons, Ernie Watts, Wayne Bergeron and Will Brahm.
Behind the dining room of an East Coast-styled coastal restaurant in South Redondo Beach's Riviera Village, The Den operates as a dedicated backroom listening lounge focused on live jazz and blues. Curated by jazz trumpeter and composer Al Strong, the space pairs seated table service with performances from visiting touring artists and local players. Guests reserve tables or buy tickets in advance for evening sets running Thursday through Saturday, accompanied by craft cocktails and a dinner menu highlighting seafood, steaks, and small plates. The dark wood finishes, navy accents, and dim lighting give the room a classic supper-club feel where patrons come primarily to listen over drinks rather than talk through a set.