Los Angeles summers were made for horn riffs on canyon breezes and walking bass lines under a wisteria moon. The 2025 calendar is packed with al-fresco concerts that marry world-class talent to equally stunning settings—skylines, ocean bluffs, even a garden lit solely by fireflies. Below you’ll find seven standout outdoor jazz Los Angeles experiences, organized from the 17,000-seat Hollywood Bowl down to intimate, 300-ticket garden shows. Every pick includes the season’s key dates, insider tips, and nearby dining ideas so your night can swing long after the final cadenza.
1. Hollywood Bowl — Jazz Plus Series
Herbie Hancock continues as Creative Chair, curating four Sunday programs (July 6, 27; Aug 3; Sept 14) that pair cutting-edge improvisers with Bowl-size showmanship. Seats range from terrace boxes—perfect for Chef Suzanne Goin’s picnic hampers—to $20 bench seats high on the hill. Pro tip: ride Metro B-Line to Hollywood/Highland and grab the free Bowl shuttle; stacked parking can add 45 minutes to your exit.
2. The Ford Amphitheatre — Jazz Is Dead & More
With only 1,200 seats nestled into a chaparral canyon, The Ford feels like a private club. Highlights include two back-to-back Jazz Is Dead shows with Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas on May 16–17 and a mid-July Afro-Latin brass night. Outside food is welcome; bring a cheese board, skip the concession lines, and toast the stars as they rise behind the stage shell.
3. LACMA — Jazz Fridays on the Plaza
A 33-year tradition continues every Friday from May through October, showcasing local legends such as the Grant Geissman Band (Aug 15) and the Trevor Ware ensemble (Aug 29) on the Smidt Welcome Plaza. Arrive by 5 p.m. to claim a lawn chair spot between Chris Burden’s “Urban Light” lampposts; Ray’s & Stark Bar sells charcuterie boxes and crisp rosé to turn your free concert into a $25 picnic.
4. Grand Performances — California Plaza, DTLA
This nonprofit series offers free Saturday-night shows all summer, many rooted in jazz-adjacent global grooves. Elevated above a downtown water court, tiered seating keeps sightlines clear while skyscraper lights echo sax-solo glissando. Reserve via Eventbrite and consider the $25 VIP lounge upgrade for cushioned seats and a no-host bar.
5. Sound Series at Terranea Resort — Rancho Palos Verdes
From May 30 through Labor Day, Terranea’s cliff-top meadow transforms into a sunset stage on Wednesdays and Fridays, 6–10 p.m.. Think straight-ahead quartets one week, Brazilian fusion the next. Book a daybed package (four seats, firepit, s’mores kit, $280) and the Pacific becomes your backdrop cymbal-swish.
6. Descanso Gardens — Jazz at Dusk
Thursday nights in July and August, a 300-ticket cap keeps crowds light as regional combos trade solos beside blooming roses. Arrive early for a twilight stroll among the oaks, then settle on the Main Lawn with a craft-burger from the rotating food-truck roster. BYO blanket; chairs higher than six inches are politely redirected to the back row.
7. Skirball Cultural Center — Sunset Concerts
The Skirball’s hillside courtyard hosts six free Thursday shows running mid-July to late August, blending Afro-beat, big-band swing, and straight-ahead jazz under violet twilight. Free tickets drop two weeks prior at noon; they disappear faster than a Coltrane cadenza, so set an alert. Parking is also free—a rare luxury in L.A.
How to Craft a Perfect Open-Air Jazz Night
Layer Up & Load Down
Canyon temps slide into the low 60s after 9 p.m.; a cashmere wrap beats a branded hoodie for style points. Most venues allow sealed water and snacks. Likewise, you can save time by skipping concession queues and packing your own luxe picnic. Consider prosciutto-wrapped melon or chocolate-covered strawberries for a tasty nosh.
Go Multi-Modal
Hollywood Bowl and Grand Performances sit steps from Metro rail; Uber surge pricing on concert nights can rival box-seat costs. Let public transit handle the downslope traffic while you debate encore highlights.
Arrive Early, Linger Late
Pre-show: Explore LACMA’s sculpture garden or Terranea’s tide pools.
Post-show: Stop at nearby lounges like the Roosevelt’s Spare Room or Horses on Sunset.
With venues spanning beachfront cliffs to Brutalist plazas, Los Angeles proves you don’t need four walls to find world-class swing. Mark your calendar and let these outdoor jazz Los Angeles stages soundtrack your warm-weather evenings. The nights are long, the solos longer—may your summer be scored in 5/4 time.
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