AceShowbiz - The first group of artists set to perform at the inaugural L.A. Jazz Festival has been announced, featuring an impressive lineup including John Legend, Janelle Monáe, Parliament Funkadelic with George Clinton, Raphael Saadiq, and Charlie Wilson. These performers will headline the festival’s Jazz on the Beach closing weekend, scheduled for August 22 and 23 in Los Angeles.

Additional acts confirmed for the closing weekend include the Free Nationals & Friends, Big Freedia, Original Koffee, Joey Alexander, and Ezra Collective, promising a diverse and dynamic range of jazz and related genres to close out the event.

The L.A. Jazz Festival will officially kick off on August 7 and run for 17 days, showcasing artists from over 13 nations at various venues throughout Los Angeles. Festival organizers are aiming to draw a total attendance of 250,000 visitors during its duration, emphasizing the event’s ambition to become a major cultural fixture.

According to the festival’s press release, the L.A. Jazz Festival "will be a landmark cultural and civic event that will make 'all of L.A. the stage,' aiming to become the third-largest international jazz festival globally and the largest Black-owned jazz festival ever."

Martin Ludlow, the festival’s founder and CEO, shared in a statement, "From the Motherland and through the pain of oppression came the fierce improvisation, the very heartbeat, born in New Orleans that now shapes every musical genre across the globe."

The opening night will feature performances by Lalah Hathaway and Chief Adjuah, with more artists to be announced as the festival approaches. Beyond the main concerts, the festival will offer a variety of events including a Caribbean street carnival, Jazz in the Park — a series of 25 free concerts held in urban parks — and Jazz After Dark, consisting of free pop-up shows in clubs, restaurants, and other locations. The State of Jazz Conference will also be part of the festival’s programming.

Jazz on the Beach, the festival’s closing weekend at Dockweiler Beach, will present special performances and exclusive collaborations. Highlights include Michelle Coltrane Celebrating the Coltrane Centennial and an appearance by the L.A. Jazz Festival Foundation Youth Band. Organizers have promised further announcements concerning additional performers and schedules for other festival events in the coming weeks.

StubHub has been named the official ticket marketplace for the L.A. Jazz Festival, while Airbnb is the event’s inaugural title sponsor. Tickets for the Jazz on the Beach weekend, August 22 and 23, are currently available for purchase through the festival’s official website.

This landmark event is poised to transform the city into a vibrant stage for jazz music, celebrating both its rich history and future innovation with a global roster of artists and an ambitious cultural mission.