Jazz Refractions: Hidden Identity at LACMA

Jazz at LACMA is one of the easier ways to spend a Friday evening in the city, and the October 9 installment doubles as the opening night of the 19th Jazz Refractions. The festival, formerly known as the Angel City Jazz Festival, bills itself as L.A.'s most adventurous music fest, and it starts with a free concert from the collective Hidden Identity.

When: Friday, October 9, 2026, 6 to 8 PM Where: Smidt Welcome Plaza, LACMA Price: Free

What to expect

Hidden Identity is a collective ensemble that plays original music written by all of its members. The lineup for this show includes David Binney on alto sax, Henry Solomon on baritone sax, Logan Kane on bass and Benjamin Ring on drums. Two saxophones over a bass and drums rhythm section, with no piano or guitar to fill the middle, leaves a lot of open space, which is the kind of setup that tends to reward close listening.

Jazz Refractions has a reputation for pushing past the standard repertoire, so this is a good pick if you want something more exploratory than a night of familiar tunes. If you are scanning for things to do in Los Angeles that cost nothing and still feel like an occasion, a free outdoor set with a festival kickoff attached fits the bill.

Food and the plaza

The series runs Friday evenings from May through October, and each week LACMA brings in food trucks. This week the museum lists Melnificent Wingz, Man Eating Plant and Home Brewed Bar Go Metro. Arrive early if you want to eat before the music starts, and expect the plaza to fill up as 6 PM approaches.

Getting there

LACMA sits on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile area. The D Line now stops directly at the museum (Wilshire/Fairfax Station), so transit is the least stressful option on a Friday evening when traffic along Wilshire is heavy. You can plan the trip at Metro.net. If you drive, give yourself extra time for parking nearby.

Make a night of it

Because the concert is a weekly series, it pairs well with a wander through the museum grounds before or after the set. Check LACMA's event page for the latest details, since schedules and lineups for later Fridays differ from this one. For more upcoming events Los Angeles has on the calendar, browse our arts and culture listings, and come back for LA events this weekend as the October lineup fills in.