The Ford cooks up a Baked Potato jazz fest

Since 1970, The Baked Potato has been one of the L.A. jazz scene’s best-kept secrets. Tucked away in a cozy little corner of Studio City, the club was founded by keyboard virtuoso and composer-arranger Don Randi as a place for his musician friends to hang out and woodshed in between session gigs and tours.

Now owned and operated by Don’s son Justin Randi, the Baked Potato celebrates 40 years of making music with a very special event: The Baked Potato’s 40th Anniversary Jazz Festival, taking place Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23 at the County’s John Anson Ford Amphitheater.

The lineup is the A-list of the jazz elite, including Larry Carlton, the Yellowjackets, The Jazz Ministry, Steve Lukather and Special Friends, The Michael Landau Group, Don Randi & Quest, Lee Ritenour and Friends, and many others.

The Ford Amphitheater is located at 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East in Hollywood. Tickets are on sale now at The Baked Potato website , in limited quantities through the Ford Box Office at (323) 461-3673 or online by clicking on the buy tickets button.

The Ford throws open the doors at 1 p.m. and the show kicks off at 2 p.m. and runs to 11 p.m. After that, you might want to head across the Vine Street freeway bridge for a late meal and a nightcap at the Baked Potato itself, 3787 Cahuenga Boulevard West.

Posted 5-20-10