Producer Brings Sweet Music to Culver City

The recording industry may be in the doldrums, but veteran music producer Vaughn De Spenza thinks he has an answer–in live music. And he is working on his vision right here in Culver City. 

Since April De Spenza, president of Reel Entertainment Group, has been organizing a new music series called Concentric Art Music every Saturday at the Radisson Hotel LA Westside. 

This series presents independent recording artists and groups  playing a range of music--from jazz, world music to "cowboy soul."  The latter featured Mike Mann and, says De Spenza, and proved their most popular draw yet, reaching near capacity.  "It brought in people who follow the black rodeo," he says, "They were even line dancing!"

 "I've been a music producer for 30 years, and everyone knows the music business is in trouble," De Spenza said.  "We have to create a new paradigm, and I'm someone who understands that every artist needs a gig. They want to perform in front of people." 

Concentric Music artists are experienced vocalists and musicians who have played in the studio and on stage with household names–Jose Feliciano, Patti LaBelle,  Kool and the Gang, even Michael Jackson. 

Upcoming headliners include koto player Toshiko Okawa and Cuban pianist Palabra.

"For decades, jazz music has been a passion for my wife and I.  We started going to Culver Club a month ago for jazz, but they play a variety of styles--black cowboy soul.  So, it's not about the style of music. The question is, 'Is this good music?.'  We really like the music at the Culver Club, and we feel like we have found a home to go to on Saturday nights," said Milo Cripps, an avid attendee of the popular series. 

Earlier this year De Spenza was approached by Bill Reider, the Radisson's general manager, and Jody Kono, the food and beverage manager, about helping them produce a new music series.  A year ago they had started a jazz series on Friday evenings in the Culver Club--a supper club in the hotel--and found that it was drawing crowds, especially after the closing of the local Jazz Bakery.  

 "Bill had a vision from the beginning," Kono says.  "The space has been totally been renovated.  The jazz series was working well on Friday, so we looked at Saturday and said, 'let's try something different.'  We reached out, and we got introduced to Vaughn.  He came in and sat down and talked to us."  

They liked what they heard.

The Culver Club seats 150 people–at the bar, at dining tables, and in booths–with the musicians performing on one end of the space.  

There are some distinct advantages to working with a hotel, especially one that's part of a large chain, DeSpenza said.  "When you look at a hotel, it's a built-in everything," De Spenza said.  "It's a venue, it's a distribution point." It's also a congenial setting already licensed for serving food and drink. 

"We've got more plans," he says.  "We're thinking of putting together a compilation CD, and we're going to be videotaping for archiving and distributing performances."

Ultimately, he'd like to take the series on tour to other Radisson hotels, even international ones.           

Performances take place every Saturday, at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.  Generally, there's no cover, but there is a $15 food and drink minimum per person, and validated parking is free.  For more information go to Radisson.com.