Latest news with #LonnieJordan
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
War Offers L.A. And Japan Travel Ideas While Releasing New Album
Lonnie Jordan of War performs at the Greek Theatre in 2018 in his hometown of Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) Getty Images 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.'
BreakingNews.ie
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Multi-platinum selling group War coming to Dublin with 50th anniversary tour
Multi-platinum-selling WAR who have been sharing its timeless music and message of brotherhood for over five decades are coming to Ireland. Having sold more than 50 million records since its formation to include ten Billboard Top 10 hits. Advertisement Top 40 hits include the timeless classics 'Why Can't We Be Friends,' 'Low Rider,' 'The World Is A Ghetto,' 'The Cisco Kid,' and many more. This year, fronted by co-founding member Lonnie Jordan, WAR will celebrate 50 years of their 1975 multi-platinum album, 'Why Can't We Be Friends', with a 50-date summer tour, remixes, new releases and more. They will play a show at the Academy in Dublin on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025. Their signature fusion of funk, soul, jazz, Latin, rock and street music is what first propelled them to prominence 55 years ago, but it was their ability to craft songs of social consciousness that further cemented their place in the modern American songbook. Advertisement The immediate global impact of 'Why Can't We Be Friends?' was so profound that NASA transmitted the title track into space during the historic Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975. Since then, WAR have continued to sing out against racism, hunger, crime and conflict, while their music has been sampled by Janet Jackson, Tupac, Beastie Boys, Method Man, Sublime, Redman, Cypress Hill, Shaggy, A$AP Mob, Scarface, The Geto Boys, De La Soul, Flo Rida, Liam Payne, Thomas Rhett and more, and covered by everyone from Willie Nelson to The Muppets, George Clinton, Phish, ZZ Top and The Isley Brothers. With more than 50 million albums sold, 20 gold, platinum and multi-platinum records, three Rock & Roll Hall of Fame noms, a Grammy Hall of Fame entry, four No 1 LPs, nine Top 10s and twenty Top 40 songs, WAR did not just define the sound of the 1970s—they became a lasting voice for creative collaboration and social change, with a mission of love and harmony that resonates now more than ever.
Chicago Tribune
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
'70s hit-maker War to perform July 19 at Naperville's Naper Settlement
Naper Settlement's 2025 Naper Nights concert series will include a July 19 performance by the band War, famous for such 1970s hits as 'Spill the Wine,' 'Low Rider' and 'The Cisco Kid.' Founded in 1969 in Long Beach, California, the R&B/funk band is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its 1975 multiplatinum-selling album, 'Why Can't We Be Friends.' Lead singer/keyboardist Lonnie Jordan is the only original member in the current lineup. Tickets are $35 through May 12, increasing to $40 on May 13, a settlement news release said. Children's tickets are $15. 'We're thrilled to welcome War to Naper Settlement on July 19, one of music's defining and most enduring soul and funk groups,' Adison Glick, a special events senior leader, said in a statement. The Naper Nights concerts are held monthly throughout the summer and mostly feature tribute bands performing the music of well-known pop, rock and country acts, the release said. This year shows are scheduled for 5 to 10 p.m. June 20-21, July 18-19 and Aug. 15-16. The lineup is: June 20: Sun Stereo, a Flaming Lips tribute band, and Nothing's Shocking, a Jane's Addiction tribute band. June 21: Tennessee Whiskey, a Chris Stapleton tribute band, and WailOn, a Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings tribute band. July 18: Morning View, an Incubus tribute band, and Android Paranoid, a Radiohead tribute band. July 19: Rico!, a Santana tribute band, and War. Aug. 15: Cream Cheese Accident, a String Cheese Incident tribute band, and Bears Gone Phishin', a Widespread Panic tribute. Aug. 16: Great American Taxi and Wilclone, a Wilco tribute. In addition to the musical performances, Naper Nights features local food and beverages and a children's activity area.
