Liela Avila and Plate 38 Create Something Great

Liela Avila sings her heart out at Plate 38 – Photos by Terry Miller

Liela Avila and Plate 38 Create Something Great
Terrific Jazz Gives Taste of Things to Come in East Pasadena

By Terry Miller

Last Thursday evening I ventured to a relatively new music and food enterprise on Colorado in East Pasadena where a very young and talented Liela Avila and her equally talented (while not as young) dad John Avila (of Oingo Boingo fame) were playing with two other talented and fun people Paul Lines, who founded the Pasadena Jazz Institute, on his vintage maple drum kit and Woody Aplanalp on guitar.

Entrepreneur, friend and talented music manager in his own right, Dr. Dave Peterson – we call him Dr. Dave the Rave – a “cheesy” sort of bloke from Wisconsin – insisted I visit Plate 38 last Thursday not only to meet the owner of hottest new music venue in East Pasadena but also hear Liela Avila, whom I have seen at other venues in Los Angeles…but this night was special. To say remarkable would without a doubt be an understatement. This night was emotionally intoxicating. Liela Avila’s voice hit an all time high for this and scores of others in the audience.

“I was taken to a place that doesn’t happen often in one’s life time, but it happened tonight.” said Peterson of Avila’s performance Thursday last. “It was an experience that I can only explain by relaying what occurred was I was playing tennis and duplicated when I was a runner. No matter how you throw the ball up the serve is an ace, no matter how fast you run there is always more breath and leg strength left. You’re in “a zone”. When no matter what you do…. it works! I was lucky to be a listener in the audience Thursday, where I was in the presence of a singer and musicians in that zone- Liela Avila is one incredible singer. As one of the members of that lucky audience, I was a witness to greatness. Liela and her incredible band of musicians were able to take us to a very special place few audiences have the privilege of experiencing. I am humbled by the musicality of evening. Every song, every note was a work of art. Avila’s words were filled with emotion and her melodies flowed effortlessly. Her pitch perfect and the style was original. If you have a chance to catch this rising star…take it!” Peterson concluded.

As Peterson so expressively pointed out, Liela Avila seemed to swiftly come of age last Thursday. Her voice, confidence and stage presence more powerful, eclectic and positively electric than ever before. The intimate audience knew they were witnessing something extraordinary this particular night. You could plainly feel the energy in the room.

Liela’s father, John Avila, playing one of his distinctive Vigier fretless bass guitar cooked up a storm and obviously jelled most agreeably with Liela’s perfect pitch and innate ability to phrase. What an combination of talent in those two alone!

Another of Liela’s most loyal local fans is Arcadia resident Joe Polk, who also happened to witness Thursday’s phenomenon. “This girl really sends me. She takes me to a place very few singers can,” Polk told Beacon Media.

After first hearing Avila’s voice, Polk knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’d be playing her first CD until the laser burned a hole in the material. But even he agreed, Avila’s voice last Thursday really went to a new level of professionalism. Her ability to sing the classics at her “tender age” is uncanny said Polk. Asked about how often he plays here CD…. “well, let’s just say I’ll just have to buy very soon.” Polk quipped.

With Avila singing classics like: Why don’t you do right; I Love Paris; Summertime; Georgia; Naima; Smile and the ever popular Fever, one might imagine you were listening to Nora Jones with a twist of Michael Buble thrown in for good measure.

Imagine Peggy Lee, with perhaps some Ella Fitzgerald and a few other classic women in Jazz and you’ll begin to get where she is coming from and where she’s heading. An old soul in a young, petite body will absolutely astound you as she does wherever she plays.

Avila attended Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and continued her music studies at Citrus College in Glendora, where she was the featured singer with the Blue Note Orchestra, the school’s big band. She also created her first album, “The Oneness of You,” at Citrus College.

Avila has already worked with Oingo Boingo, Quetzal and The Specials. She was also a backup vocalist for the popular Josh Groban when he appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Like her dad, Avila started music at a very tender age of around 5 years and added her voice for the children’s choir background vocals for some of Oingo Boingo’s recordings. By 11, she was playing piano and guitar as well as writing her own songs and music.

Avila is currently working on her next CD – all original material, ranging from pop, rock, Latin and jazz, and perhaps some surprises.

When the band took a break I got a chance to sample some amazing food from Plate 38’s menu under the auspices of chef/owner Robert Humphreys, who completed the Cordon Bleu course at the Culinary Institute (we can see why) a little while back. After working at a couple of other successful restaurants, Humphreys decided it was time to branch out on his own and combine his love of Jazz and cuisine and take it to a new level – hence the birth of Plate 38.

I first tried the Fritto Misto (calamari, artichoke, shrimp and other goodies) as an appetizer and then was presented with an outstanding whitefish, prepared simply beyond my wildest dreams. An astounding taste sensation which quite literally melted in my mouth.

While gaining a reputation for some of the best burgers in Los Angels, Plate 38 offers at least 38 Gourmet meals at decidedly ungourmet prices. We’ll give our readers a run down of the restaurant side in a later issue. However, our story on Liela Avila at Plate 38 would not have been complete without mentioning the host and his amazing food. By the way, their Spaten is also excellent! Very good beers and wines will compliment any dinner or just to listen to Liela.

Liela will be playing this Friday at Plate 38 in October. Liela is an absolute “ must hear ” – we kid you not! Plate 38 is a place for magic not only in the kitchen but also on stage. Call for upcoming schedule or check their website.

Plate 38 _361 East Colorado BoulevardPasadena, (626) 793-7100

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