By Lookout Staff

February 19, 2026 -- Pacific Park is presenting Jazz night on the Santa Monica Pier this evening featuring alumni from legendary bassist Stanley Clarke's Artist Residency program.

The free event, which takes place from 3 to 9 p.m., kicks off with "Books & Cookies Musical Storytime and concludes with a performance by Sam Smylie & Friends.

An emerging American jazz composer and songwriter based in Santa Monica, Smylie was selected to play piano alongside Clarke,a four-time Grammy winner, at several concerts in the city.

Smylie's compositions "blend traditional jazz elements with innovative improvisation, reflecting the vibrant sound emerging from Southern California," event organizers said.

He will be joined by Yakiv Tsvientinsky, Adam Hernandez, and Markiian Krysa.

The award-winning SAMOHI Jazz Combo will kick off the performances at 4:30 p.m. a range of jazz standards, blues, Latin and funk music.

The combo will be followed at 5:30 p.m. by the Lunch Crew, a jazz ensemble featuring young musicians who play together in the SMC Applied Music program, SMC Jazz Ensemble and Just Jazz Collective.

The group -- which includes alumni from BroadStage’s Artist in Residency with Stanley Clarke -- explores "a mix of jazz influences and creative themes to find a style of their own."

The Ideal Foray will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. led by Varad Sahasrabudhe, a musician, session guitarist and composer noted for his broad musical style.

His compositions integrate ideas and sounds inspired from his Marathi roots with "the vast fabric of Los Angeles' numerous genres and cultures," organizers said.

Sahasrabudhe was invited by Stanley Clarke to open for him and N4ever band at BroadStage.

Jazz night is part of the Local's Night series on the Santa Monica Pier presented by Pacific Park every third Thursday of the month for September to May.

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