Jazz Angels passes on Signal Hill’s tradition of jazz music to younger generations

Over the last 17 years, Barry Cogert and Albert Alva have introduced over 3,000 children to the benefits of jazz through their Signal Hill-based nonprofit Jazz Angels.

“Music supports all learning,” Cogert told the Signal Tribune.

Cogert began playing music in his senior year of high school, and has continued for the past 47 years. After high school he played and toured with a rock band, but found himself listening to jazz in moments of respite.

“When I was in our rock band, and I would get home from playing somewhere, my ears would be ringing because the music was so loud and I would put on [the radio station] KLON. At that time it was called KLON, and now it’s called KKJZ,” Cogert said. “And I was really intrigued at how the jazz musicians played with total freedom, but they remained true to the song form.”

The radio station that inspired Cogert to pursue jazz is now the number one jazz station in the United States, and helps to continue a rich history of jazz in Long Beach and Signal Hill.

KKJZ, also known as KJAZZ, has been broadcasting the soulful sounds of jazz out of Long Beach since 1981, but before that, the responsibility belonged to Signal Hill—where the Jazz Angels’ studio is now located.

Where Sunset View Park now rests, there was once a humble two-room shack filled with vinyl players, knobs and switches called “The Jazz Knob.” Founded by Al “Sleepy” Stein in 1949, it was the first pure jazz station in the U.S. Many legends from the Knob went on to mix records and host shows for KJAZZ in its early days. 

Though The Knob shut down in 1968, The Jazz Angels are keeping its spirit alive and well in Signal Hill.

Cogert and Alva met in the early ‘90s while the pair were both playing at the iconic Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, and bonded over music. 

Cogert wanted to spread their love for music to others. He began to think of ways that local musicians could help children build musical skills, which Cogert said he believes improves various areas of a person’s life.

“I always tell our students that we’re jazz musicians, so we have to train ourselves to be really perceptive to what’s going on, both musically and the situation you’re in when you’re playing music,” Cogert said. “You need to play your music as best as you can, and create the song or the arrangement sometimes on the spot as jazz musicians do. But you also need to be aware of who you’re playing for and what’s happening around the room. I tell them that being in our program prepares you for whatever you do.”

Cogert and Alva applied for a grant from the Arts Council for Long Beach in 2006, which they used to create music programming for middle school-aged children.

For the first few years Cogert and Alva were operating Jazz Angels, they rented out spaces in churches, schools and community centers so their students could have somewhere to play. Twelve years ago Jazz Angels relocated to its permanent home—a studio in Signal Hill.

Cogert said that since its inception, Jazz Angels has helped over 3,000 children improve their musical abilities. When the nonprofit organization first started, Jazz Angels only had 10 students. Now it has a staff of 10 local musicians who instruct 20 different youth bands.

Jazz Angels will be starting its spring session on April 16 for children between the ages of 11 and 17. Youth musicians can play any instrument or vocals. Tuition for the spring session costs $295 and can be purchased at jazzangels.org/session-info/. Before they begin, students will be asked to attend a “No Stress Placement Meeting,” so Jazz Angels can place them in the appropriate band.

“We realized it’s more than just playing notes on the page,” Cogert said. “These people in our program are becoming really confident in themselves musically.”

Jazz Angels is located at 3258 E Willow St. To keep up with Jazz Angels, visit its Instagram page, @jazzangelslb.