Louie Cruz Beltran is a charismatic entertainer, singer and master percussionist who has captivated audiences with his dynamic stage presence and wonderful vocals. Louie’s musical career was crafted upon the soulful sounds of his ethnic American background and flavored with contemporary R&B, Jazz, Latin Jazz, and Salsa as well as the Great American Songbook. Steeped in music from early childhood, his first memories recall his mother singing gospel music, Mexican and Caribbean folk tunes. As early as third grade, Louie was playing bongos and learning the guitar and piano. “The beauty of Afro-Cuban music stole my heart,” he says. Early in his career, Louie performed with great artists such as Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, Francisco Aguabella, and Jorge Claudio. Recently he has performed with legends Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Poncho Sanchez and many other renowned artists. In 2010 he shared the stage with Dave Koz, James Ingram, Patti Austin, Macy Gray and others at the annual Society of Singers Ella Award Presentation at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Louie’s highly anticipated third CD, “Paint the Rhythm”, made its debut in November of 2011, and features an all-star lineup of some of the most exciting and recognized names in Jazz, including Abraham Laboriel, Poncho Sanchez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Hubert Laws, Justo Almario, Peter Michael Escovedo, Bill Conte, Otmaro Ruiz and many more. The album spent 12 weeks on the Media Base National Smooth Jazz Charts reaching #11, and his popular single from the album-“Esperando”-climbed to #4. His original song, “Cu Rumba”, from his first CD, “It’s My Time” is featured in the new feature film, Water and Power, set for release summer of 2013. All of Louie’s music is available on iTunes, Amazon.com and all popular internet sites.

The American dream came true for Catalina Popescu in October of 1986 when she and her husband Bob created a supper club devoted to serving an experience of superb eats and the shared magic of live performance. That grand experience began at the door where every night her mother Maria would greet each guest as family and share in their love of music. Housed in Hollywood and decked out in a timeless charm, the club offers a cozy ambience under sparkling stage lights garnished with its signature concoction — Jazz. The first artist to grace the stage was the masterful flutist and saxophonist Buddy Collette, and ever since then, over the past 36 years, the Catalina Jazz Club has hosted the most illustrious legends of all time — from the powerful puffers of Dizzy Gillespie to the electrified fingers of McCoy Tyner, the bubbly belt of Dee Dee Bridgewater and Lynda Carter, the flirtatious saxophone of Joshua Redman, the slick strumming of Kenny Burrell, the insane drum clinic of Steve Gadd, the romance of Steve Tyrell, and the masterclass of Mike Stern. For Catalina, Jazz is our way of life. It breathes pain. It knows love. It dreams hope. It bleeds courage. Whether we’re showcasing Broadway, Soul, R&B, or stand-up comedy, the lesson learned from all the greats who have serenaded our spirits is how to connect to one another. And that’s why the Catalina Jazz Club will always have a table ready for you. The Catalina Jazz Club has been honored by A.S.M.A.C., California Jazz Foundation, Los Angeles Jazz Society, and a City of Los Angeles Certificate of Appreciation on their 25th Anniversary, which was awarded by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the LA City Council which included then City Council member and current Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.