More than 250 people came to Monarch Hall Saturday to experience a jazz concert and buffet hosted by the Instrumental Women Project. Radio and television personalities along with two hours of jazz variety presented by two all-female bands entertained jazz lovers.
"It feels good when the house is packed and there's standing room only," said Laquetta Shamblee, founder of Instrumental Women. Bebop, spiritual and smooth jazz created a mellow, sophisticated jazz atmosphere.
KKJZ 88.1 FM radio personality James Janisee was the "the gentleman of jazz," the soul of the afternoon and the master of ceremonies. Janisee introduced the two all-female bands with his familiar and smooth DJ personality.
Lesa Terry and her uptown string quartet, who's a, violinist and music department staff member at California State University, Los Angles, led the performance. Their creative mixture of deeply voiced slave poetry, spiritual Jazz and singing moved the audience.
"The poetry sprinkled the music and added depth to their performance," West Los Angeles College music student John Holcomb said.
KTLA channel 5's top helicopter traffic reporter Jennifer York and her all-female quartet, one of Los Angeles' most popular jazz bands, changed the pace of the afternoon with youthful jazzy melodies like "Scuttling for the Apple." Their performance inspired screams from the audience.
"The first group was good, but this group - now this is the kind of jazz that I like, they really got down," West Los Angeles college student Brandon Jones said.
"I realize I must seem like a total freak in this skirt, what was I thinking?" York said.
She entertained the audience by playing a large bass that sat between her legs. Her grooving included rocking, bending and clapping her legs against the bass.
At one point she alternated the bass with a guitar and tried to briefly impersonate Elvis. The audience was captivated.
"I enjoyed looking at her as she was walking back and forth, but on stage the skirt has got to go," a mobile recording company associate John Falzano said.
"Sexy group of gals, especially Jennifer and the pianist," spectator Sal Hartman said.
"They were all excellent performers with consummate skills indeed," UCLA ethnomusicology professor Cheryl Keys said.
The Instrumental Women's Mother's Day Weekend Jazz Buffet was sponsored by the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and the and by Valley College student services' office.
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