Co-Music Directors
Jason Goldstein and Teresa James.
We are so fortunate to have such talented and wise artists inspiring us with music at our Center.
Jason Goldstein has played in ensembles his entire life, but from 2012-2016, he studied jazz piano and composition in New Orleans. Since returning to Los Angeles, he has been performing live with various artists and recording in studios as a session musician for major labels. He is also a songwriter as well as a vocalist and can often be found writing and producing music. When it comes to his instrumental work, he specializes in jazz, pop, folk, and R&B piano/organ, but also has multi-instrumental abilities on all styles of guitar, bass, and trumpet. He has worked with DJ mustard, 2Chainz, Elton John, and you can hear some of his most recent work in Max Frost's "Back in the Summer" and "Back in the Summer Acoustic". He is also part of the band Lilli &the Honey --a new band started by former NBC The Voice: Season 12 top 10 finalist, Lilli Passero.
By any yardstick, Teresa got an uncommonly early start on her lifelong profession. “I studied classical music until I was about a sophomore in high school. When I was like eight or so, my dad taught me how to play guitar. " Those were the seeds which would eventually lead to a musical career including recordings with Walter Trout, Eric Burdon, Spencer Davis, Tommy Castro, Stephen Bruton, Randy Newman, LeeRoy Parnell, Neil Diamond, and more; plus live performances with countless others, including Marcia Ball, Levon Helm, Lloyd Jones, Delbert McClinton, and Eric Burdon & the Animals. She has been a featured act on Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruises for more than twenty years.
Her band, The Rhythm Tramps, consists of world class players that have toured or recorded with artists including Eric Burdon & the Animals, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, Jimmy Reed, Lightin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Vaughan, Johnny Nash, Smokey Robinson, Tom Jones, Tower Of Power, and more. Soon to have a full dozen albums under their collective belt spanning 23 exciting years, Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps remain a staple of the Los Angeles-area blues scene in addition to an international touring artist, with a sound all their own.
As if the band didn’t keep her busy enough, Teresa has also done considerable vocal work on film soundtracks and song demos in Los Angeles. One of her favorite composers to work for in the studio is Randy Newman; she was one of the background singers on “Putin” from his 2017 CD Dark Matter.
Follow her work at teresajames.com
On 5th Sundays, we enjoy music from David Olivas, often accompanied by his vocalist wife, Jill.
David Olivas is a woodwind player, pianist, arranger, and songwriter. He has studied with Katisse Buckingham (Zawinul Legacy Band), Eric Marienthal (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Chick Corea Elektrik Band) John Purcell (Jack DeJohnette, World Saxophone Quartet), Dr. Shannon LeClaire, Walter Beasley, Dino Govoni, and Kristen Strom (Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra).
Shortly after earning his B.A. in Saxophone Performance from the Berklee College of Music, David moved to Southern California where he began working as a sideman and recording with several independent artists. David's alto saxophone and piano playing are featured in the movie "One In The Gun," (starring James Russo and Robert Davi) on the song "Addicted," which he co-wrote with singer Chadwick Johnson. His flute playing can be heard on the track “Just My Thang” by artist Rosalee, featuring Snoop Dogg.
As a sideman, David has performed at numerous venues, including Hotel Cafe, The Troubadour, The Baked Potato, The House of Blues, Spaghettini (Seal Beach), Spaghettini and The Dave Koz Lounge (Beverly Hills), Anthology (San Diego), The Knitting Factory, The Segerstrom Center, Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, and The Smith Center (Las Vegas, NV).
David spent two years touring the U.S. playing tenor sax and flute in "I Love Lucy: Live On Stage," and has returned to Los Angeles to continue his study of the saxophone.
Follow his work at davidolivasmusic.com
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