Lou Lou's's Upcoming Shows

*GENERAL ADMISSION | 21+ | NO DINNER SERVICE | DOORS @ 7PM | $12 advance tickets, $15 at the door*

KINI KINI, led by singer-percussionist David Castaneda, is a salsa ensemble out of Southern California that’s all about bringing pure, live rhythms—salsa, chachachá, and Latin jazz—to the dance floor. David stays true to the genre’s roots while adding his own contemporary flair, writing original tunes and breathing fresh energy into classic grooves. The band thrives on interaction—many shows start with a dance-lesson warm-up, inviting everyone from salsa novices to seasoned dancers to join the party early.

COMPLIMENTARY ENTRY | NO RESERVATION REQUIRED | SEATING ON A FIRST-ARRIVAL BASIS | NO DINNER SERVICE | 21+

The quartet’s music draws on their collective experience performing across genres and around the world, with influences spanning North Africa and the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Balkan traditions, jazz, classical music, and contemporary improvisation. This quartet brings together four deeply individual musical voices in a shared language of rhythm, melody, texture, and improvisation.

Julien, Dusty, and Miles have performed together extensively, including multiple appearances at Lou Lou’s under the moniker DEMJ, with Eva Scow. Their reunion with Yasmine expands that musical language into a new quartet, rooted in deep musical rapport while creating space for something entirely spontaneous and new.

Yasmine Azaiez -

Yasmine Azaiez is a Tunisian-Indian violinist, vocalist, and composer whose music bridges classical virtuosity with North African and Middle Eastern traditions, jazz, improvisation, and contemporary electronic sound. Trained at the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School and New England Conservatory, Yasmine has performed on stages around the world, including the Royal Albert Hall, Cairo Opera House, Bimhuis, and Carthage Festival, and has collaborated with artists such as Naseer Shamma, Mstislav Rostropovich, Kinan Azmeh, and Joe Morris. Her work is rooted in improvisation and a deep connection to her cultural heritage, creating a sound that is both technically virtuosic and deeply expressive. Her latest album, Shiva’s Shoes, brings together classical technique, ancestral influences, global rhythms, and modern production. yasmineazaiez.com⁠

Dusty Brough -

Dusty Brough is a Los Angeles-based guitarist and composer whose music draws from classical guitar, flamenco, jazz, and Balkan traditions. His original compositions explore the expressive possibilities of the nylon-string guitar, combining intricate musicianship with a distinctive, contemporary voice.

Julien Cantelm -

Julien Cantelm is a versatile drummer, multi-instrumentalist and composer whose artistry blends deep musical sensitivity with an adventurous spirit. Based in Southern California, Julien is known for his dynamic range, expressive touch, and innate sense of groove. Qualities that have made him a sought-after presence across modern jazz, latin, classical, indie, pop, folk, and world music scenes.

With a background in both classical percussion and jazz performance, Julien brings a refined musicality to every project he joins. His rhythmic voice is simultaneously grounded and exploratory, capable of supporting a vocalist with subtlety or propelling a band with driving energy. Over the years, he has performed on prestigious stages throughout the U.S. and internationally, sharing the stage with celebrated artists and contributing to recordings that span genres and continents.

Miles Jay -

Miles Jay is an internationally acclaimed bassist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and luthier whose music lives at the crossroads of world music, jazz, and contemporary sound. After spending nearly a decade immersed in the musical traditions of Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Greece, Miles developed a deeply distinctive approach to the bass, incorporating extended techniques and instruments from across the Middle East, Mediterranean, and East Africa. He has performed and collaborated with artists including Youssou N’Dour, Naseer Shamma, Ziad Rahbani, Mashrou’ Leila, Ross Daly, and Niyaz, and served as Music Director of the acclaimed Nile Project. He is also a member of Beats Antique and Axon Orkestra, with his playing and compositions featured in film and television including Peaky Blinders.

DOORS @ 7PM | COMPLIMENTARY ENTRY | NO RESERVATION REQUIRED | SEATING ON A FIRST-ARRIVAL BASIS | NO DINNER SERVICE | 21+

A rare collaborative night of vintage sounds. Amanda Portela joins forces with Mochilero to blend her smoky vocal style with their signature Jamaican-inspired rhythms. Featuring Malcolm Jones on saxophone and Kevin Lum on the organ, the group bridges the gap between classic soul, reggae, and jazz. Mochilero initially began as the house band for locals DJs, San Diego City Soul club, playing strictly well known Jamaican hits. Since then, the band has expanded into creating original music, focusing on a strong vocal harmonic component, taking influence from such vocal groups as the paragons, the wailing souls, the techniques and the gaylads. Instrumentally the band has evolved from early reggae, rocksteady and the sound of the late 60s to a sound more rooted in early dancehall and lovers rock. Our aim is to incorporate our influences and love of funk, disco, and R&B under a Jamaican lens.

This evening, Lou Lou’s will be closed for a private affair—an intimate celebration tucked beneath the chandeliers and velvet glow.

We know evenings out are special, and we never take it lightly when we must turn you away. Please accept our heartfelt apologies for the inconvenience. Nights like these are rare, but sometimes the room asks for a little secrecy.

For your next night out, we invite you to check our calendar for upcoming dates featuring live music, good company, and the kind of evenings you won’t soon forget.

With love and gratitude,

Lou Lou’s at The Lafayette Hotel

COMPLIMENTARY ENTRY | NO RESERVATION REQUIRED | SEATING ON A FIRST-ARRIVAL BASIS | NO DINNER SERVICE | 21+

Zo has been a performing guitarist for 15 years. He has been teaching people how to play and understand the guitar/piano for four years. Born in London, he was raised in North County, San Diego, where he currently resides. He is a graduate of CSULB with a degree in Jazz Guitar Performance, and during his time there he studied Blues, Pop, Rock, Soul, Funk, Classical, and Irish Folk Music. He’s studied under many influential guitarists across the country. In Los Angeles, Ron Eschete and Mike Higgins. In New York, Peter Mazza, Gilad Hekselman, and Michael Valeanu. Finally, in San Diego he studied with Bob Boss, Lorraine Castellanos, Fred Kunze. These experiences have prepared him for large ensembles, quintets, quartets, trios, duos, and solo guitar performances in a variety of styles.

*Bar seating available from 6pm-8:30pm, General admission seating available at 8:30pm*

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and raised in Fresno, California, Gilbert’s musical career was preordained; the only son to his eponym father, a touring Cumbia band leader, singer and arranger, Gilbert was strongly influenced by his predecessor’s deep appreciation for classical

composers and big band jazz ensembles, broadening young Gilbert's horizons from an early age. Gilbert Sr. strongly encouraged Gilbert toward the Jazz genre when at first he showed an interest in trumpet at age 6. By age 11, Gilbert’s intensive training and education provided the context to begin playing professionally, and at age 15 he preformed with mentor and icon Dizzy Gillespie at the Monterrey Jazz Festival.

A fierce advocate of formal jazz education, Gilbert held the position of Adjunct Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music from 2001 to 2013. Thereafter, he served as the Artistic Director of the International Academy of Jazz San Diego

from 2014-2016, during which time he began conducting high school workshops and developing a more proactive role in mentorship. During his time visiting Title I schools, he recognized a need for increased accessibility to formal education, noting that many truly gifted students were

deprived the opportunities to further their education due to monetary constraints. Thusly, in 2016 Castellanos founded the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory based in San Diego, California.

Using his influence in a burgeoning Jazz community, one he is credited in large with establishing, Gilbert began successfully soliciting donations for and supporting thousands of dollars of scholarship to finance Conservatory Education Equity for economically disadvantaged students of promise. To date, the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory has graduated hundreds of

bright musicians of diverse backgrounds with Gilbert serving as personal mentor and advocate for each, often writing college recommendation letters and offering every one of his students "real world" experience each Wednesday evening at ensemble performances

For more information on our supper clubs and to book a dinner reservation, please visit https://loulousclub.com/dinnerandashow