Name: THIEFS
Start: 2026-10-21T19:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-10-21T20:30:00-07:00
Location: Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge

THIEFS

Birds of a Feather Jazz Lounge @ Au Lac

Based in Paris and New York and touring their new album Survivalism, electro-acoustic trio THIEFS traverses the wide space between sounds!!

Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge

Thiefs is a mix of jazz, hip-hop, electronica, and spoken word that is “transcending the concept of idiom altogether” (JazzTimes). If you ask Thiefs co-leader Keith Witty, this is the essence of 21st century jazz.“Jazz needs to have an element of freedom,” says Witty. “It should reflect culture.”A group molded by collaboration, social reflection, and a highly skilled core trio of players, Thiefs is Christophe Panzani (sax, electronics), Keith Witty (bass, electronics), and David Frazier Jr. (acoustic &amp; electric drums).The transatlantic trio from Paris and New York released Graft last year, an album that the New York Times hails for its “startling mash of natural and synthetic, resonant and fractured” sounds. An evocative odyssey, its subject matter is so pertinent in this political moment: identity, dislocation, migration, and otherness.“Graft is the idea of being augmented, stripped bare, transformed by cultural experiences, by places, by the movement of people,” says Witty. “It refers to the mixing of roots, sometimes violently, sometimes quietly and unremarkably.”A native of New York City, Witty says it is this city of immigrants—a city of people of mixed heritage, where cultures merge—that he most identifies with.Witty has lived in his same apartment in Harlem for 17 years. Currently, he lives with his French wife and their two young daughters. He says the change he has seen in Harlem is almost indescribable.“Gentrification is a many-headed monster… I couldn’t live in the neighborhood I grew up in (Upper West Side), so I had to find somewhere I could afford, and I really loved Harlem from day one,” Witty tells The Checkout (WBGO Radio).“To me, if you are going to ‘graft’ yourself into another community, a beautifier is what you have to be. You have to be there to be about that community.”Witty self-identifies as a jazz bassist. While he holds a sincere appreciation for the greats of the straight-ahead craft preserving the jazz genre, Witty’s soul is pulled to form music that expands past the edges of what the genre was to what it can be. In 2000, before graduating from Wesleyan University, he made his recording debut with the Anthony Braxton Quartet. He has performed with David S. Ware, Grammy nominated vocalist Amel Larrieux, the acclaimed East African vocalist Somi, and so many others.Saxophonist and co-leader Chistophe Panzani is an extremely well respected voice in the European jazz scene. An outsider to the straight-ahead French jazz, Panzani exudes musical autonomy from his jazz roots, though he has been an anchor in French big bands. Panzani is active in groups with wide ranging aesthetics from African music (Ousmane Danedjo), oriental music (Fayçal Salhi) to electro jazz and hip-hop (Electro Deluxe, Hocus Pocus, Gaël Faye, Milk Coffee &amp; Sugar, Guts).Thiefs’ newest band member, drummer David Frazier Jr., is one to watch. The busy, young player has already shared the stage with major pop-leaning acts including SZA, Gabriel Garzón- Montano, and Hailey Niswanger.Witty sings David’s praises: “We didn’t know what to expect when we signed up for David. David moves through a lot of different territories through the kit to electronics. He can really handle this chair and take [the music] to a place we weren’t really ready for. We are lucky to have him.”Thiefs lend themselves beautifully to collaboration. Featured artists on Graft include Aaron Parks, rapper Mike Ladd and famous French emcee, now author, Gaël Faye. The recent record also features Thiefs’ former drummer now on vocals, LA-based talent Guillermo Brown (aka Pegasus Warning). During a beloved 2018 Earshot Jazz Festival performance, the trio reunited with Brown, and were accompanied by projected visual artists from Seattle’s own BlazeinSpace. Expect local artist collaborations to be announced for this not-to-miss, one show event."–Halynn BlanchardYou can buy tickets for this private event! A part of the proceeds goes to a favorite charity!

<a href="https://www.carolbach-y-rita.com/press" title="https://www.carolbach-y-rita.com/press" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">PLEASE NOTE!!! BIRDS OF A FEATHER IS INSIDE THE AWARD-WINNING VIETNAMESE VEGAN RESTAURANT,</a><a href="https://www.carolbach-y-rita.com/press" title="https://www.carolbach-y-rita.com/press" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> </a><a href="https://www.carolbach-y-rita.com/press" title="https://www.carolbach-y-rita.com/press" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">"AU</a><a href="https://www.carolbach-y-rita.com/press" title="https://www.carolbach-y-rita.com/press" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> LAC". 710 w. 1st St in Downtown L.A....on the corner of 1st and Hope.</a>INSIDE THE CLUB, Full AU LAC Menu is available, plus Mocktails.Where is parking located?Parking is located under the building, accessible from west of the building off of 1st St. between Bunker Hill Towers and the mini-shopping center AU LAC is in.Once you’ve turned into the large driveway, turn left into the garage “Guest Parking and Residence Parking of The Promendade”. $12 CASH ONLY.Additional parking is located directly across Hope St. at Disney Hall - 111 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. $10.There is limited street parking in front of Au Lac, Disney Hall and The Music Center.

<a href="http://www.birdsofafeatherjazzlounge.com/" title="http://www.birdsofafeatherjazzlounge.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.birdsofafeatherjazzlounge.com</a>Birds of a FeatherJazz Lounge is an intimate 40- seat 1920’s style performance space tucked away in Downtown Los Angeles. Known for its Private Events hosting a diverse lineup of top-tier live jazz.The club is nestled within the awarding-winning 5 star Vietnamese vegan restaurant AU LAC. The address is 710 W. 1st St., downtown near Disney Hall.Offering everything from straight-ahead and BeBop to Latin, experimental, R&amp;B, electronic and global jazz, as well as spoken word, Birds of a Feather Jazz Lounge often mixes both old-school legends and the next generation of LA’s finest musicians. It’s a spot that aims to capture a classic, unique jazz lounge vibe.Performances at Birds of a Feather Jazz Lounge benefit selected charity and non-profit organizations.Tickets can be picked up in the jazz venue which is located inside the Vietnamese award-winning restaurant AU LAC. 710 W. 1st St, downtown L.A. 90012Au Lac’s full menu is available inside the club. There is no minimum, but we would appreciate your purchases!Au Lac is a non-alcoholic restaurant. We serve nice mock-tails in the venue. And the good news is that all ages can attend or perform there! For a pre- or post-event drink, head over to The Conrad—it's a lovely bar located just a block away, directly across from Disney Hall.

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THIEFS

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