The Baked Potato's 40th Anniversary Jazz Festival

The festival will showcase many of the bands and artists that got their start at The Baked Potato. The phenomenal line-up includes Larry Carlton, Yellowjackets, Steve Lukather, Lee Ritenour, The Jazz Ministry, The Michael Landau Group, Don Randi, owner of The Baked Potato, and his band Quest, Patrice Rushen, Ernie Watts, John Daversa Big Band, The Baked Potato All Stars, O.H.M, Scott Henderson Trio, VOLTO!, Fusion masters Holdsworth/Pasqua/Haslip/Novak, and Mitch Forman & The B.P. All Stars.

"We are so amazed and humbled by this extraordinary gathering of musicians that have come to help us celebrate 40 years of Los Angeles jazz," say Justin Randi, Owner and General Manager of The Baked Potato. "My father Don Randi started The Baked Potato Jazz Club in 1970 to provide a place where he and his fellow studio musicians could come and play their own music. That legend remains as musicians playing at The Potato can try anything, develop anything, and play for as long and as loud as they want. The Baked Potato has come to be a musical home for many important names in the music business we all know today. It's no surprise that during our jazz festival, there will be six GRAMMY award winners performing all with roots from The Baked Potato," Randi concludes.

"This Baked Potato Jazz Fest is very appropriate, celebrating 40 years of great vibes and great music," says multi-GRAMMY winner Larry Carlton, a headliner on the festival. "I have wonderful memories of my gigs at The Potato, starting in the mid 70's and into the 80's. That little room has an atmosphere that let's the music fly from player to player and out to the listeners. I'm proud to be part of the celebration."

Don Randi, composer/musician and original member of the famous "Wrecking Crew", opened the historical music landmark, The Baked Potato Jazz Club in 1970. His goal was to provide a place where his fellow musicians and he could play the music they loved after a long day working in recording sessions. It was to be their place to unwind and hang out, along with the music lovers who enjoy world-class live music every night. In 1990, Don's son, Justin Randi, took the reigns of The Baked Potato, following its' rich tradition of the best of the best every night. The Baked Potato was then and still is a venue where new musical ideas, dreams, creativity and individuality is encouraged and allowed to blossom.