The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center
The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center is an intimate performance space on Degnan Boulevard in the heart of the historic Leimert Park Village in Los Angeles. Founded by legendary jazz and blues vocalist Barbara Morrison and open since 2009 the center carries on her mission to engage empower educate and entertain. Today it is one of South LA's most important homes for jazz blues poetry spoken word comedy and community arts with a calendar that includes a Tuesday open mic for women and femmes and the popular SWAAM Spoken Word Art and Music nights on first and third Fridays.
The Legacy of Barbara Morrison
Barbara Morrison was born in 1949 in Ypsilanti Michigan and made her first radio appearance in Detroit at age 10. She moved to Los Angeles in 1973 where she sang with Eddie Cleanhead Vinson and spent years performing with Johnny Otis. Over a long career she worked with Dizzy Gillespie Ray Charles Etta James Tony Bennett and Doc Severinsen and performed at Carnegie Hall the Sydney Opera House and the Montreux Jazz Festival. She recorded albums with musicians such as Joe Sample Kenny Burrell and Houston Person and taught as an adjunct associate professor of global jazz studies at UCLA.
Morrison founded the center to nurture emerging artists and give the Leimert Park community a place to gather around music. Known as the soul mother of Leimert Park she passed away in March 2022. Later that year the intersection of 43rd Street and Degnan Boulevard was dedicated as Barbara Morrison Square in her honor. The center continues to elevate her legacy through its programming.
Atmosphere and Vibe
The center is a warm intimate room where artists and audiences sit close together. It sits in Leimert Park Village long recognized as a center of Black arts and culture in Los Angeles surrounded by galleries shops and music spaces. The crowd is diverse creative and supportive and many performances are livestreamed so friends and fans can tune in from anywhere.
Da Poetry Lounge Open Mic for Women and Femmes
Da Poetry Lounge was founded in 1998 and is known as the largest weekly poetry open mic in the country and an inspiration for HBO's Def Poetry Jam. This edition centers women and femmes and gives them a supportive stage to share poetry spoken word and personal stories. Yesika Salgado is a celebrated Los Angeles poet and author and together the hosts create a welcoming and affirming space for first-time readers and seasoned performers alike.
- When: Tuesdays at 8:00 PM
- Hosts: Yesika Salgado and Jasmine Williams
- Music: DJ Faucet
- Focus: Women and femmes
Check the center's events page for upcoming dates and sign-up details.
SWAAM Spoken Word Art and Music
On the first and third Fridays of each month the center hosts SWAAM Spoken Word Art and Music. Produced by spoken word artist songwriter and playwright Dennis DeLoach known as dePoet and hosted by poet and artist Lorenzo Frank SWAAM describes itself as a creative platform where artistic eclectic and visionary voices come together. Each night blends an open mic with a live band featured artists a wine bar and catered food. Poets musicians singers and storytellers share the stage and the live band gives the night a true music-and-poetry feel. Recent features have included hip-hop artist KingKongLouie. VIP table service is available.
- When: First and third Fridays from 8:00 PM to about midnight
- Host: Lorenzo Frank
- Producer: Dennis DeLoach (dePoet)
- Cost: $15 in person and $10 for the livestream plus fees
- Format: Open mic with a live band and featured artists
Can't make it in person? SWAAM streams live on YouTube on first and third Fridays.
More at the Center
The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center hosts a wide range of programs beyond its open mics:
- Live jazz and blues: Concerts that honor Barbara Morrison's musical roots
- Vocal workshops: Vocal workshop and performance coaching sessions with veteran singer Brenda Lee Eager
- VOICES: A Thursday evening confidence and performance coaching series built around practice perfect polish and perform
- Comedy: Stand-up comedy and karaoke nights and the monthly improv show Who All Gon Be There
Artists and producers can also rent the space or partner with the center on a revenue share and members receive priority booking discounts and early access to workshops and festivals.
Why Artists Love It
Few rooms carry the history and heart of the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center. Performers get an intimate stage in one of the most culturally rich neighborhoods in Los Angeles a supportive audience and the chance to be part of a legacy built by one of the city's great jazz voices. Whether you are a poet trying out new work a singer building confidence or a musician who wants to join a live band on a Friday night this is a place to be heard.
Good to Know
The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center is at 4305 Degnan Boulevard Unit 101 in Los Angeles California 90008 in Leimert Park Village. Call (213) 344-9009 or email info@tbmpac.com. Visit tbmpac.org for the full calendar and follow the center on Facebook for livestreams and updates.
