Seventeen Days of Jazz, Starting in Leimert Park

The event of the month: a 17-day jazz festival opens August 7 in Leimert Park — the right neighborhood to start it in, full stop — with an opening night featuring Lalah Hathaway and Chief Adjuah, then spreads across the city with free park concerts, late-night pop-ups, and cultural tours. The finale lands August 22–23 at Dockweiler Beach with John Legend, Janelle Monáe, Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton, and Raphael Saadiq. Coverage via We Like LA and Time Out's August calendar.

Free jazz in public parks is Los Angeles at its absolute best. Expect dispatches from as many of these as one columnist can reach.