The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. The fabled jazz showcase just a short walk from the ocean where joyous foot tapping live jazz came pouring out the front entrance. I was around 17 when I first stumbled into The Lighthouse. Thrilling, electrifying, live jazz. I was blown away.

Hermosa Beach. Southern California sun, sand and a sparkling ocean breeze. Hermosa Pier juts out into the Pacific. Pretty beach girls strolling along “The Strand – a paved boardwalk that runs the entire length of the two mile oceanfront.

Originally a restaurant established at 30 Pier Avenue in 1934, it became a bar called The Lighthouse in 1940. In 1949 a jazz musician named Howard Rumsey made a pitch to the owner about hosting a recurring Sunday jam session. Rumsey’s jam session idea was a big crowd pulling success. Film industry Hollywood elites began showing up and it wasn’t long before The Lighthouse Sunday jams became the focal point of the Los Angeles jazz scene.

Rumsey became club manager. The Lighthouse began showcasing jazz nightly and Rumsey put together a house band he named The Lighthouse All-Stars.

Major pioneers of West Coast jazz, The Lighthouse All-Stars usually featured bassist/band leader Howard Rumsey, Bob Cooper (who was married to June Christy) on tenor saxophone, Conte Candoli on trumpet, and Stan Levey on drums.

I was underage – obviously – but nevertheless they’d stick me in front of the bandstand with a beer. Over the years I’d often bring a girl I was wooing. On those occasions one or another of the musicians would give me a nod of recognition as a Lighthouse regular . . . my dates were always suitably impressed.

On any given night jazz greats from Miles Davis to Gerry Mulligan, Bud Shank or Chet Baker could be found sitting in with the All-Stars. And the club headlined many star attractions. I saw Mose Allison, the Jazz Crusaders, June Christy, Cannonball Adderley and Carmen McRae perform.

West Coast jazz stalwarts Frank Rosolino, Shorty Rogers, Richie Kamuca, Bill Holman, Shelly Manne, and Jimmy Giuffre were also regulars in the early days. Max Roach was the regular drummer for a while in 1953.

The Lighthouse served as a locale for many live recordings by Ramsey Lewis, Art Blakey, Cal Tjader, the Modern Jazz Quartet and others.

The West Coast sound . . .

In the 1950s and the 1960s a new kind of jazz began being heard in Los Angeles.

With the end of the “Big Band” era many musicians gravitated to Los Angeles and found work in Hollywood recording and motion picture studios. The studio entertainment industry work was plentiful and, at night, many jazz musicians were pursuing their passion for the music in Los Angeles area clubs.

The atmosphere was relaxed and sunny and the musicians took inspiration from the balmy Californian beach and sun. The jazz that was created reflected a lifestyle. They brought with them their Swing Era sensibilities so what emerged as the West Coast sound were sophisticated arrangements and a sound that was both innovative and accessible. A kind of laid back swing – it was “cool” jazz.

Here’s a sample. Written by Jimmy Giuffre, Out of Somewhere from the 1952 album titled Howard Rumsey’s Lighthouse All-Stars is a very Neal Hefti like composition. It’s a faultless example of "West Coast jazz" or "cool jazz," the style performed by jazz musicians in Los Angeles in the 1950s and early '60s – a mellower and more lyrical sound than the hard-bop of East Coast jazz.

For this recording, the Lighthouse All-Stars ensemble consisted of bassist Howard Rumsey, drums Shelly Manne, piano Frank Patchen, tenor saxophonists Bob Cooper and Jimmy Giuffre, Milt Bernhart on trombone and Shorty Rogers on trumpet.

This recording always brings up memories.

30 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach. The Lighthouse is still there, still doing business, still presenting music. It’s not quite the same Lighthouse. But after all, what is? Nothing can ever really replace an old friend. It was a rare time. I was younger then and in love with the thrill of live jazz.

Howard Rumsey passed away in 2015 and the other All-Stars are gone too. But the passage of time cannot erase indelible memories.