Ash Grove Alumni in Concert

Featuring Joe Chambers and Wendy Waldman, The Ash Grove Alumni celebrate The Ash Grove, a legendary folk and blues club that showcased a variety of regional and ethnic music. From gospel to jazz, Latino to blues–the Ash Grove presented it all with imagination and respect. From its inception in 1958 until 1973, it was the hub of a highly influential folk music scene. Legendary artists – Ry Cooder, Muddy Waters, Doc Watson, and so many others graced its stage.

Now, The Ash Grove Alumni, anchored by Joe Chambers of The Chambers Brothers and singer/songwriter and producer Wendy Waldman (Bryndle, Linda Ronstadt) bring the spirit, fervor, and flavor of that long-gone night spot to the Beatrice Wood Center For The Arts.

Wendy Waldman is a critically-acclaimed recording artist and the writer of much loved and multi-platinum selling songs, such as “Save The Best For Last”, popularized by Vanessa Williams. Her music brilliantly interlaces elements of country, pop, jazz, and R&B. Underneath it all is the folk music she loved and listened to at the Ash Grove.

Joseph “Joe” Chambers is the celebrated singer and songwriter of The Chambers Brothers, a group that plugged gospel and blues into the hot electric socket of West Coast psychedelia. He was recently seen as part of the Academy Award-winning documentary, Summer of Soul. The voice behind “Time Has Come Today”, is undiminished in its soulful glory.

They are backed by some of the best musicians in Los Angeles. In October of 2020 the Ash Grove Alumni performed at Royce Hall, where they were an acclaimed feature of UCLA’s Tune in Festival. The Ash Grove Alumni fire up old embers while extending the tradition into the future. They are proving that time has still come today.