Jazz sensation Liela Avila at Plate 38 Thursday Night

Liela Avila performs this Thursday at 8 at Plate 38…don’t be late – Photos by Terry Miller

Jazz sensation Liela Avila at Plate 38 Thursday Night

The young and talented Liela Avila will be playing originals and jazz favorites with a few other talented musicians sitting in tonight at the newly remodeled Plate 38 in Pasadena. Entrepreneur, friend and talented music manager in his own right, Dr. Dave Peterson – we call him Dr. Dave the Rave – a “cheesy” sort of fellow from Wisconsin – insisted I visit Plate 38 two years ago not only to meet the owner of a new music venue in East Pasadena but especially to hear Liela Avila, whom I had seen at other venues in Los Angeles.
Liela has strong music roots in her family. Her father , John Avila ( Oingo Boingo), is often seen playing one of his distinctive Vigier fretless bass guitars, cooking up a storm most agreeably along with Liela’s perfect pitch and innate ability to phrase. What a combination of talent in these two … we’re not sure if he’s playing Thursday night with his daughter, but if he is you’re in for a double treat.
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 Billie Holiday 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 moreover, where she’s heading. An old soul in a young, petite body will absolutely astonish your senses.

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 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 multiple projects – all original material, ranging from pop, rock, Latin and jazz, and perhaps some surprises.

Recently, Plate 38 has had a major makeover, which includes a new bar ( actually, they never had one before) so now you’ll be able to hear great music from Liela while sitting at the cool new bar sipping one of your favorite drinks from their selection and sample owner/chef Robert Humphries culinary delights.
Liela is an absolute “ must hear ” – we kid you not. The positive reviews of the singer are pouring in and music starts around 8pm according to longtime fan and probably one of her biggest supporters Joe Polk from Arcadia. Polk has followed Avila’s career from its inception now and says she’s also a regular act at the Montage in Los Angeles on Saturdays.
“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 for the first time, 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. Her ability to sing the classics at her “tender age” is uncanny Polk said. Asked about how often he plays here CD…. “Well, let’s just say I’ll just have to buy a new one very soon.” Polk quipped.
Leila Avila: 8-10 PM this Thursday April 18. Tell ‘em the Pasadena Independent sent you!

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

More from Arts