War Offers L.A. And Japan Travel Ideas While Releasing New Album

Forbes

22-05-2025

Lonnie Jordan of War performs at the Greek Theatre in 2018 in his hometown of Los Angeles, California. (Photo by)
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The funk band War has been synonymous with Los Angeles for many decades and just released a new double album Live in Japan 1974. War established an L.A. sound that scored many hits by incorporating rock, jazz, soul, blues, reggae and Latin music into their funky stew. Travelers heading to La-la-land or Japan may benefit from the recommendations of original War member Lonnie Jordan and the band's longtime producer Jerry Goldstein.
Jordan, who has been the band's singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and percussionist, loves to hike in Los Angeles on trails at 4,210-acre Griffith Park. One of the nation's largest municipal parks with urban wilderness areas, it overlooks the Hollywood Hills and has 53 miles of trails, fire roads and bridle paths, according to the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.
Visitors looking for live music should consider Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill, The Baked Potato and the Catalina Jazz Club, Jordan says. All three are jazz clubs serving dinner, and remember to bring a full wallet. Most entrees at the Vibrato Grill cost more than $55, and the charge for the nightly music is $20-$75 per person. At the Catalina Jazz Club, recents acts have included renowned actress and singer Cybill Shepherd backed by a jazz ensemble.
Jordan, a vegan, recommends his favorite restaurants, Planta and Un Solo Sol. Planta, located in the suburban Brentwood section of Los Angeles, offers numerous vegetarian options and sushi. The menu lists such items as udon noodles, vodka pizza (tomato cream, cashew mozzarella, basil pesto and chili bomba) and al pastor taco bowl (chipotle rice, pinto beans, grilled pineapple, pickled jalapeno, potato chorizo, avocado, pico de gallo and green goddess dressing).
At Un Solo Sol, the menu includes such main courses as ghormeh sabzi, a Persian stew with portobello mushrooms or organic tofu and parsley, green onions, cilantro, spinach, fenugreek greens, kidney beans and dried lemon.
Comedian Tommy Chong, War's Lonnie Jordan and comedian Cheech Marin attend a 2014 KCET Pledge Drive in Burbank, California. (Photo by Rodrigo Vaz/FilmMagic)
FilmMagic
Goldstein, who produced every War album, also recommends Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill and Spago, the South Beverly Grill and Madeo. Spago in Beverly Hills is the flagship restaurant of the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, and Madeo in West Hollywood offers northern Italian fare.
It's about an 11 1/2-hour flight from Los Angeles International Airport to another of War's favorite cities, Tokyo. Goldstein and Jordan have fond memories of their concerts in Japan in 1974 and subsequent visits.
Goldstein loved Mount Fuji and Kyoto and found a ride on a bullet train 'interesting.' Mount Fuji—Japan's tallest mountain at 12,388 feet—can be reached by car from Tokyo in about 2 1/2 hours. Every summer, 200,000-300,000 people climb the mountain, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Goldstein traveled four or five times annually to Japan for several years, and Jordan says he went back to the country many times after War's first visit in 1974.
Wakatake, a Tokyo tempura restaurant specializing in seafood, is Jordan's favorite eatery in Japan. Located in the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa near the Shinagawa train station, the restaurant says its food is 'a feast for all the senses' with 'the finest seasonal ingredients prepared before your eyes.' Tiger prawn 'is a perennial favorite,' the restaurant says, 'whilst conger eel and sillago (northern whiting) are also here to experience the genuine tempura cuisine.'
Jordan recommends walking around Tokyo to experience its unique architecture and enjoying music at the Blue Note and the Cotton Club. The Cotton Club, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, says it presents 'adult-focused jazz performances played in an elegant, luxuriously appointed venue, topped off by a delicious menu of authentic cuisine.'
War played two nights earlier this year at the Blue Note after releasing the Live in Japan 1974 double album. The album was culled from life shows in Tokyo, Shizuoka, Osaka and Kobe.
'I love all of Japan—the culture, sites and, most importantly, the people,' Jordan says. 'It is such a spiritual and loving place. Japan is that place you will never forget.'