Celebrate 80 Years of Jazz History!
Updated: 9/22/2026 17:19
Join the Hefflin Legacy Foundation for a special evening commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the 2nd Cavalcade of Jazz, presented in Los Angeles in 1946 by pioneering African American impresario Leon Hefflin Sr. and featuring the legendary Lionel Hampton.
Experience an evening of live jazz, history, culture and community, including a special historical presentation honoring Lionel Hampton and the extraordinary legacy of the Cavalcade of Jazz, with live music by Alan Lightner and musicians.
The evening will also feature a book talk moderated by playwright Karani Johnson, followed by a book signing of The Impresario: Leon Hefflin and the World’s First Annual Jazz Festival by Deborah Swan.
Come early! Doors open at 6:00 PM, with food available for purchase from Chef Raylo before the program begins at 7:00 PM.
Guests will also have opportunities throughout the evening to support the Hefflin Legacy Foundation, including a special silent auction.
Come celebrate the music, the history and the legacy that helped shape Los Angeles jazz while supporting the Hefflin Legacy Foundation’s work to preserve the legacy and inspire the future.