IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Sam First's Annual Benefit Honoring LA Jazz Icons Herbie Hancock & Darlene Chan

Celebrate two extraordinary icons and support live jazz in Los Angeles with Sam First. Start the evening with an immersive musical experience featuring multiple live performances across The Village's historic recording studios. Join friends over a special dinner as we together honor jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Darlene Chan in words and music. Bid on coveted music memorabilia and experiences in our silent auction. Enjoy delicious food, craft cocktails, and top-shelf libations. A night that promises to be unforgettable culminates in a soulful after-party!

The evening includes performances by:

Seamus Blake, Justin Brown, Billy Childs, Gerald Clayton, Brandon Coleman, Devin Daniels, Emma Dayhuff, Adam Hersh, Jon Hatamiya, Larry Klein, Julien Knowles, Michael Mayo, Nicole McCabe, Gretchen Parlato, John Patitucci, Jonathan Pinson, Kendrick Scott, Luciana Souza, Helen Sung and Ben Williams.

Now in the seventh decade of his professional life, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been: at the forefront of world culture, technology, business and music. Herbie Hancock has been an integral part of every popular music movement since the 1960’s. As a member of the Miles Davis Quintet that pioneered a groundbreaking sound in jazz, he also developed new approaches on his own recordings, followed by his work in the 70s - with record-breaking albums such as "Headhunters" - that combined electric jazz with funk and rock in an innovative style that continues to influence contemporary music. "Rockit" and "Future Shock" marked Hancock's foray into electronic dance sounds; during the same period he also continued to work in an acoustic setting with V.S.O.P. Hancock received an Academy Award for his Round Midnight film score and 14 Grammy Awards, including Album Of The Year for "River: The Joni Letters," and two 2011 Grammy Awards for the globally collaborative CD, "The Imagine Project." Hancock serves as Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and as Institute Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. In 2011 Hancock was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and in December of 2013, received a Kennedy Center Honor. His memoirs, Herbie Hancock: Possibilities, were published by Viking in 2014, and in February 2016 he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Darlene Chan is one of the most respected figures in jazz, whose five-decade career has helped shape the art form in Los Angeles and around the world. A renowned producer, artistic director, and advocate for artists, she has led the Playboy Jazz Festival/Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival—from its founding in 1979 until 2022 and has played key roles at major events including the Newport, Monterey, and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festivals. Known for her unwavering support of musicians and mentorship of generations of arts professionals, Chan has earned the admiration of artists and presenters alike. In recognition of her extraordinary impact, she received the Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award from Jazz Congress in 2019.

In every decade since its founding, The Village has produced many of the world's favorite songs of all time. As the look and sound of music changes, so does The Village. From legends like Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, B. B. King and Bob Dylan to current artists like Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Kesha, John Mayer and Cage the Elephant, you would be hard-pressed to find an artist who hasn’t recorded at the Village.

We are deeply grateful to GRoW @ Annenberg Foundation for providing generous support at the Performance Sponsor level. Support from the GRoW @ Annenberg Foundation has been instrumental to the success of Sam First for a number of years and we look forward to celebrating our honorees together on September 19!

GRoW @ Annenberg Foundation, a philanthropic initiative led by Annenberg Foundation Chairman and Director Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, supports a broad range of innovative projects and organizations that address social and cultural issues, meet urgent community needs, and offer inspiration and collaboration — all with the goal of improving the quality of life in communities around the world.

We are also deeply grateful to the Clarke Family Foundation for providing generous support at the Reception Sponsor level.

You can learn more about our remaining sponsorship opportunities here and you can also reach us at hello@samfirstbar.com.

Catering provided by Annie Campbell.

All ages welcome. Valet parking provided.

Contact hello@samfirstbar.com for general questions and more information about sponsorship opportunities.

Sam First is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 92-3968442) and a portion of your ticket is tax-deductible.

If you cannot join us, but would like to make a tax-deductible donation, click here.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE 2025