CONCERTS IN THE COURTYARD
Concerts in the Courtyard RETURNS!
EVERY 1ST AND 3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. 12 - 1 PM.
​
SERIES BEGINS FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2025
Concerts features local artists from all genres including jazz, opera, classical, world music and more. Concerts will take place in the courtyard, weather permitting. Otherwise the concert will take place in the Kiwanis Great Room.
Doors open at 11:45am. Earlier entry and seating is not available. Concerts begin at 12:00pm.
​
Seating is open and available on a first come first served basis. Reservations are not required.
​
Please no outside food. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
​
Please note, entrance to Concerts in the Courtyard is FREE to attend,
but donations are welcome and greatly appreciated.
Questions?​
-
Email us at info@ljcommunitycenter.org
-
Call us at (858) 459-0831
Rat Pack Reborn
Jefferson Schildgen
Friday. April 4, 2025
12-1 PM.
​
Get ready for an afternoon of timeless classics as Jefferson Schildgen brings the magic of the Rat Pack era to life! A talented jazz vocalist and bandleader, Jefferson channels the legendary sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, and more, delivering a performance filled with the charm and swing of the Great American Songbook. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of Big Band hits and crooner favorites!
​
Bio
Jefferson Schildgen is the owner of Schildgen Entertainment, a commercially insured LLC that hires local talent for a variety of events. A gifted jazz vocalist, crooner, and bandleader, he leads Rat Pack Reborn, a group specializing in the Big Band and Rat Pack-era sound. His performances showcase timeless hits from Cole Porter, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Frankie Valli, Michael Bublé, and more, bringing the magic of the Great American Songbook to life.
​
Jefferson and his band can be found performing at restaurants, jazz clubs, corporate events, weddings, and private rooftop or poolside parties. While they frequently perform throughout Southern California, they are flexible on location and scheduling. Jefferson also accommodates special song requests with advance notice, ensuring each performance is uniquely tailored to the occasion.​
A Jazz Conversation
Ed Kornhauser and Mackenzie Leighton
Friday, April 18, 2025
12-1 PM.
​
Long time collaborators Ed Kornhauser and Mackenzie Leighton will perform a mix of both original and recognizable selections, drawing on their more than two decades worth of experience playing together.
Bio
San Diego-based pianist Ed Kornhauser holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from San Diego State University. His debut album “The Short Years” was released in November, 2020, featuring a quartet and all original compositions - it won for “Best Jazz Album” at the 2021 San Diego Music Awards. He also won for “Best Jazz” at the SDMAs in 2022 and 2023. Ed also plays for The Matt Smith Neu Jazz Trio (stylized as themattsmithneujazztrio) along with drummer Matt Smith and bassist Mackenzie Leighton. He is featured on all three releases: “Shorthanded” (2013), “RETROgrade” (2016), and “I.Am.Calm” (2017), the last of which feature saxophonist Dayna Stephens and trumpeter Curtis Taylor. Both “RETROgrade” and “I.Am.Calm” were produced by Grammy award-winning producer Kamau Kenyatta. Working as a freelance musician in the greater San Diego area, Ed can be found backing a variety of local musicians and playing a diverse selection of music. As an accompanist, he can be heard behind several vocalists including Leonard Patton and Whitney Shay, as well as for The Voices of Our City Choir. He performs weekly at Mister A’s in Banker’s Hill and plays frequently at other public and private events.
Mackenzie Leighton is professional bassist who works in a broad range of styles. He graduated from San Diego State University with a Master's Degree in Music. Leighton performs with his own groups and has performed with artists such as Sammy Figueroa, Peter Sprague, and the San Diego Symphony.
​
​
Melodic Reflections: An Afternoon of Solo Jazz Piano
Danny Green
Friday, May 2, 2025
12-1 PM.
​
Join us for a captivating solo piano performance by Danny Green, an award-winning jazz pianist and composer known for his beautifully expressive touch and genre-blending style. Green will take the audience on a musical journey featuring jazz standards, Brazilian rhythms, classical influences, and spontaneous improvisations.
Bio
A rising force on the jazz scene and an award-winning Origin Records recording artist, pianist and composer Danny Green has distinguished himself with his beautifully articulated touch and melodically charged sensibility. His music – a vivid blend of jazz, classical, and Brazilian elements – delights critics and audiences across the country and around the world. Green’s talents have taken him from the Blue Note in New York City to the Blue Whale in Los Angeles, and his work has been featured in DownBeat Magazine, Jazziz, the San Diego Union Tribune, The Boston Globe, NPR, and JazzEd. Having performed numerous times at the La Jolla Community Center with his trio and other groups, this will be Green's first solo piano performance there.​
The Evolution of Jazz: A Historical Look At the past 100 Years in Jazz Music
Rob Thorsen & Carter Key
Friday, May 16, 2025
12-1 PM.
​
San Diego Bassist Rob Thorsen teams up with pianist/ trombonist Carter Key featuring works by Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Ellis Marsalis, and more. This program promises to be entertaining and fun, and will feature two of San Diego’s finest!
​
Bio
Bassist Rob Thorsen maintains a diverse and busy schedule in Southern California as a performer, educator, clinician and composer. After playing classical guitar, flute, saxophones, tuba and electric bass as a youth, he found his true voice in the upright bass.
​
He performs regularly as a leader, and with artists including the Gilbert Castellanos Quintet, Mike Wofford/Holly Hofmann Quartet, Charles McPherson, Steph Johnson, Voices of Our City Choir and a host of others.
​
He has released six recordings as a leader, the most recent “Bass is the Space - Solos and Duos” featured an array of jazz talents in duo settings as well as solo performances of originals and more.
Carter Key is a trombonist, pianist, vocalist, educator, composer, and arranger originally from Richmond, VA. In 2015 he moved to Miami, FL to pursue Jazz Studies at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music. While attending UM, Carter played lead trombone in the prestigious Frost Concert Jazz Band and served as a mentor for younger musicians in the jazz program. Since then, he has worked as a top call musician for jazz orchestras, top 40’s bands, and studio work, particularly for groups such as South Florida Jazz Orchestra and Libido Band. In 2019, he was featured on trombone on the Grammy Award Winning big band album “The Omni-American Book Club” by Brian Lynch. As a new member of the SoCal music community, Carter has jumped into the scene playing at jazz clubs, music festivals, weddings and more. Carter has had the pleasure of performing alongside musicians such as Gloria Estefan, Ziggy Marley, Damian Marley, Haley Reinhart, Brett Eldridge, John Daversa, Farruko, Stephen Marley, and Arturo Sandoval among others. In his free time, Carter enjoys surfing, swimming, hiking, and traveling.
