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.
The floorplan was orchestrated by a master acoustician with a deep understanding of how sound and structure interact. The result? Uncannily clear, deep, rich sound that you’ve likely never heard in your favorite hole-in-the-wall jazz oasis. It’s the audio Arcadia for which musicians across the world have yearned.
The Crossroads of Vibrato Grill Jazz
Since the property that became Vibrato Grill Jazz came to Herb Alpert by chance, its location is something of a happy accident. It’s at a crossroads of diverse LA neighborhoods, lending itself to a devout roster of regulars as well as an underlying sense of obscurity. Eden acknowledges the strange contradiction, while admitting that the regulars give it the feeling of a “Cheers of Bel-Air.”
But even when you walk into Vibrato, its familiarity feels distinctly removed from the Los Angeles tapestry. It’s a phenomenon Eden refers to as “Away LA.” And perhaps this is because, as a globetrotting musician who at age 88 still tours to this day, Herb Alpert never constrained his vision to a city’s limits.
A Spontaneous Sense of Sonic Magic
Creation exudes from the very structure of Vibrato Grill Jazz. But in the true spirit of jazz, it’s actually the empty spaces that offer the most potential. Herb Alpert adorned this sacred space with his own original art; paintings and sculptures the Renaissance man crafted over the decades. But the most magical moments radiate from the stage.
On any given night, a celebrated audience member could feel moved to take the stage for spontaneous expression. And while the programmed musical roster features its fair amount of up-and-comers, the stage also regularly hosts notable celebrities. A diverse parade of star power has taken the Vibrato stage over the years including Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, Gene Simmons of Kiss, John Mayer, Seal, Seth McFarlane, Macy Gray… the list goes on.
Flavor to Accompany Sound and Vision
Yet, as a supper club Los Angeles residents frequent, food plays just as much a factor in the success of Vibrato Grill Jazz as sound and vision. Vibrato’s menu has been carefully developed over its nearly two decades of business to be all killer and no filler, but favorites do still pop up. Chief among them: the lamb lollipops. These appetizers offer melt-off-the-stick lamb glazed with a curry créme fraîche further embellished by caramelized raisins, pomegranate, and zesty mint.
Vibrato is also celebrated for its wagyu steaks, available as rib eye and New York strip. Carrying over the establishment’s sensibilities, these juicy cuts are never oversauced or over seasoned, but rather let the quality of the meat seize the center stage.
Then, there are the Bel Air sliders which, as their name would suggest, aren’t your average sliders. Premium beef is elevated with creamy dijon aioli, grilled pickle onion, tangy tomato confit, and mellow taleggio cheese for a flavor at once exotic and welcoming. They’re the perfect complement to Vibrato’s classy yet comfortable atmosphere.
Vibrato Grill Jazz also offers a bevy of refreshing beverages, including creative signature cocktails. But the drink that perhaps best embodies that trademark “Vibrato Vibe” is the 1980. This barrel-finished Old Fashioned is further characterized by bitters and garnished with an orange peel and maraschino cherry. Punctuated by a large whisky ice cube brandished with a “V” for Vibrato, it’s straightforward but elegant.
Vibrato Grill Jazz Finds Its Rhythm
Looking back on the nearly two decade journey, Eden is most proud of the unique symphony she’s created with her legendary father. And it’s a duet that only gains popularity as the years go by. She acknowledges that the ups have come along with downs, but Vibrato has always found its rhythm. It’s a significant accomplishment, especially considering it’s so much more than a restaurant or live venue.
For now, Eden says there are no plans to branch out or expand. Rather, her energy continues to be focused on tightening Vibrato Grill Jazz into an even better version of its current self. And like any jazz opus, we can’t wait to experience how it builds.
