When I moved to Los Angeles from Chicago five years ago, I learned quickly that events and collectives here often had a very short shelf life. I attended so many awesome shows across comedy, fashion, music, and art that showed me how passionate, vibrant, and talented LA was. But by the time I’d go to plan my next outing, I’d find “out of office,” “taking a break,” or “on hiatus” on the event page. LA has no scarcity of community, but sometimes it seems to lack consistency. The “why” on that could be ruminated on in another article, but for now, I’ll just say that it’s rare, and consequently even more special when an event or collective in LA truly clicks.
I am confident that Tída Norasingh, founder of JIJI’s Jazz Club, has created something with true longevity that will transcend state lines. The heart of what she wanted to create was pure and timeless, old as time, yet she executed it for the modern, digital, constantly changing world. What she wanted was a jazz club, and what she got in return was curiosity and excitement, willingness from artists and vendors to collaborate in good faith, and a loyal, rapidly growing fan base who want access and togetherness amid great music.
Norasingh created JIJI’s Jazz Club (named after her cat) after realizing most jazz clubs in LA had a superiority complex. She craved something that mirrored the jams she found in New York City: gatherings on stoops, in yards, and in parks, where money and status were deemed irrelevant, and the vibes were immaculate. She credits her love for jazz and R&B to her dad. The two bonded over Sade albums and 94.7 The Wave, her dad singing the tunes word for word with joy radiating off of him, even when they were stuck in traffic. His joy not only watered her love for music as a curator and listener but also encouraged her to find her own voice. “I wanted to experience the fun he was having, and I haven’t stopped singing since,” she shares.
JIJI’s started as a studio space, then moved to a patio, and now bounces around from iconic LA venues. JIJI’s fluidity and non-marriage to any one venue or space is a testament to her original mission in creating JIJI’s. No exclusivity, no shrinking to the terms of some manager, no motivation other than bringing people together organically. Not to mention, it’s incredibly punk and true to the ethos of jazz to rewrite what a jazz club is. Similar to keeping a vinyl collection in a world of streaming, we can honor the renowned jazz clubs that paved the way while also creating something that works for us in the modern world. “We aren’t a club as in a physical venue, we are a club as in a group of people who give a fuck about something,” confirms Norasingh.
Norasingh’s motto has always been, “If you want a seat at the table, host the party.” I asked her if she’d always been a confident self-starter. “My confidence stems from people telling me I’m not capable of doing something. I love proving them wrong and exceeding expectations, and the earliest memory of this was when I was a child, and my dad told me there was no place for ‘Asians like us’ in the media. There were no Southeast Asians that crossed into global fame; there were no curly-haired, brown-skinned Asian singers or bands that were in the Western world of stars. That fueled something in me to not only lean into my artistry, but to also be an example of excellence within my mediums.” Calling back to her motto, she’s hosting one epic party.
JIJI’s continues to take over LA with several events a week, from open jams to movie screenings to album releases. Every time I see a flyer with a program that’s totally different from the previous one, I’m reminded of what Norasingh said. A club doesn’t need one singular roof over its head or one theme or one menu of services. “It’s a group of people who give a fuck about something.” With an already established presence in LA, New York, and the Bay Area, it’s safe to say she’s found her people, she’s found her jazz club, and the rest will be history. Make sure to follow JIJI’s on Instagram to be on the right side of history; they may be coming to a city near you soon!
