• calendar_month February 22, 2023

Vibrato Grill Jazz Finds a Unique Rhythm in LA Nightlife

 Local News, Misc., Videos February 20, 2023February 20, 2023  Seth Styles

Featured image credit: Vibrato

At the nexus point of the San Fernando Valley, Beverly Hills, Westwood, and Brentwood stands a supper club Los Angeles residents recognize as a community fixture and hidden gem all at once. Established by legendary jazz trumpeter Herb Alpert, the swanky space is replete with his trademark sultry smoothness. Inviting, warm lights fall upon custom glass railings. Rich wood accents imbue every aspect with a welcoming familiarity. And the sophisticated sounds of jazz flood the air with sonic splendor. Enter Vibrato Grill Jazz where you can grab a juicy steak, stiff drink, and hear some of the most carefully curated music this side of New Orleans. 

All Jazzed Up and Nowhere to Go

In the mid 1960s, legendary jazz trumpeter Herb Alpert was on top of the world. His albums with his band, the Tijuana Brass, had outsold both the Beatles and the Stones. The short animated film “A Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Double Feature” netted an Academy Award. He even performed the Burt Bacharach-penned theme to the 1967 Bond film Casino Royale. 

Yet, Alpert still held a seemingly insatiable sense of longing. He’d made it; that much was undeniable. But he regularly saw hard-working musicians that, for whatever reason, never caught their breaks. 

All around him, insanely talented men and women were creating sonic poetry with nowhere to showcase it. Sure, there was a certain romance to smoky dives that complemented jazz. But there was also an innate sense of classiness to the freeform expressiveness that was rarely, if ever, given an adequate pedestal.

Establishing the “Vibrato Vibe”

Then, in the early 2000s, a property fell into Alpert’s lap that would change everything. Finally, he could create the sanctuary that would give up-and-coming musicians (as well as established greats) the proper presentation for their exacting craft. It would combine exquisite dining, peerless acoustics, creative performances, and classy drinks for an essence that could only be described as “the Vibrato Vibe.” Thus, Vibrato Grill Jazz came to life. 

Vibrato’s general manager (not to mention Alpert’s business partner and daughter) Eden Alpert describes it best by stating that her father created “a restaurant built by a musician for a musician.” And while everyone can find something to adore about Vibrato Grill Jazz, musicians will likely notice an extra level of quality. That’s because Vibrato doesn’t just look the part of a sexy jazz fantasy. It sounds it too.