Some of you know him as the “A” in A&M Records. Others as the headliner for the Tijuana Brass. If you’re a Bruin (and musically inclined, at that), then the name “Herb Alpert” should be as obvious to you as a rubber bullet smacking you in the mouth (otherwise, branding it the “UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music” may be a waste of print space).
But if you have no clue who Herb Alpert is and find yourself hankering for an intimate night with live music, some dinner…and maybe a special someone…don’t worry. Knowing Herb isn’t a prerequisite for entry to his Vibrato Grill Jazz, a pomp supper club just three miles north of UCLA in Beverly Glen.
Opened in 2004, Vibrato is a reputed dining staple of the Beverly Glen area, hosting nightly musical acts and upscale New American cuisine. With talent ranging from the vintage glamor of the Amanda Castro Band to the crooner tradition of Seth MacFarlane and his Chamber Orchestra, Vibrato is rich with what some would call “a vibrant musical heritage.”
And what better description could serve? Owned by Herb and managed by his daughter, Eden, since its opening year, Vibrato is a joint with nightly siren calls that hypnotize all manner of clientele. From musicians, to celebrities, to red-blooded locals, Vibrato makes a habit of turning sound appreciators into regulars, and regulars into friends.
But what’s the ploy to get into Vibrato? What’s the scene? I’d heard of Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, but never his club. Are the vibrations really thick enough to chew on? And say I were to plan a trip, how many limbs would I have to rent out to pay the fee?
Good questions (some of which are easily answered by a sweep of the website) but some of which are better explained at the foot of the jazzy gates themselves. With empty stomachs and hungry heads, Ray (my photographer) and I shot off on a Tuesday evening to investigate this distantly related legend.
Our first obstacle was making it three miles up the road in time for a sit-down arrangement with Eden, set up by a fellow writer (which I am greatly appreciative for). As no bus routes cut through UCLA up to Beverly Glen (at least from what the Maps app tells me), you’ll either need some form of private transportation or about two and a half hours to spare if you plan on hiking uphill.
Though most shows don’t start until 7:30 every night, we booked an Uber and set off around 5:30 to make our meeting before the turn of the hour. Despite three miles being nothing more than a skip away in the back of a car, rush hour traffic clogged Beverley Glen Boulevard like cholesterol in a fatty artery. Luckily, our driver Victor had no shame cutting into oncoming traffic, and we blew into the lot with time to spare.
Stepping into the chilly after-dusk air, though, Ray and I found ourselves bumbling in an innocuous-looking parking lot. Beset by a few restaurants and boutiques, all entrenched with an army of trees wrapped leaf to root in white lights, it was a surprise to think live music outside of a Barbershop Quartet would be heard around here.
Not to say that the Glen Shopping Centre isn’t a cute spot, but as a local dining hotbed surrounded by residentials, everything (besides the lights) is as understated as a white dress shirt with no tie. Even Vibrato, all tucked away in the corner, could be easily confused as another upscale Italian restaurant or a very fanciful music emporium, despite its permanent valet-canopy rushing to the sidewalk to greet you.
All this to say, I’m not making any scathing criticisms. Though popular expectation envisioned a massive palace overflowing with style, I think I found the quaint exterior look much more charming. What is a point to make is that going to Vibrato isn’t a night in the city. There’s show start and show end. Dress code is a bit nicer than casual. Jeans are acceptable (I think), but plan to wear something you wanna be seen dropping sixty dollars on dinner in.
While there is some walk in space, tables are typically reserved. You can call or make arrangements with an online app called Resy, but if you want a table for dinner, there’s an upfront cover charge for the artist, in addition to a $45 per customer dinner minimum on site. As the club follows more of a supper and show format, that cover charge serves as a ticket, with varying prices depending on artists performing, or the night they’re performing on.
For those attached to your finances, that might be a bit of an ask. Talking about the different seating options with Eden a bit after we arrived, she explains “…every night (other than Seth MacFarlane’s monthly performance) you can just usually walk in. Sometimes the bar isn’t sold out—for some reason tonight a lot of people wanted the bar in particular, so they bought seats there—but it’s usually first come first serve. The back of the bar, we never charge there. It’s not…great visibility.” So, you get what you pay for.
And when toying with what to pay, remember not to expect an after-after. The club closes at ten (sometimes eleven), so once the show’s over, you’re back to the same sleepy lot you parked in. Unless you have contacts in the area, you’ll have to take the road a ways away to find a new kick. Eden herself described Beverley Glen as “Away–L.A” so if you’re looking for a circuit spot to keep a buzz rolling, maybe look South.
But, those looking for a spiffy jazz spot should be excited. All this talk of ‘a general lack of exterior swank’ can be best understood as a surface level seduction, like those nice guys who hide their poisonous fangs, or one of those pretty sparkling rocks with a tarantula hidden underneath. The quaint façade of the Glen Centre is Vibrato’s catfish, presenting an upright structure built in Jekyll’s likeness and masking that alluring Hyde interior.
Pulling back the curly, bronze “V” handle of Vibrato’s door, you’re immediately plunged into a world of intrigue. Warm, orange light swirls off the walls and tables while a dark undertow streaks a walking path below. The tall, box-like bar (with a roof shaped like a piano) ringed with cushioned stools guards the entrance, overlooking a sea of tables that stretch toward the half-moon stage at the far end of the room, across from a flight of stairs leading to the “V-Lounge” on the second floor.
The hostess, a college-age woman named Aeryn, greets patrons with an infectious smile as they float in from the street, while service staff like Adrian keeps those smiles fixed with a bit of good humor. As Ray slunk off to snap some pictures and chat with the staff, I made my way upstairs to meet with Eden and talk a little turkey about what kind of operation she’s running.
Asking about the club and her father, she explains “(Herb) is all about the arts and education…it’s really important to him that the arts stay alive. To be able to give back, starting with this restaurant…a place where we have so many musicians that don’t have a great venue or a great space to share their art.” A compelling answer. “He created this space for that reason. Not to make money…what he wanted was a great vibe, with great food, and great music…with A+ musicians.”
The club, Eden said, has become as much hers as it is her father’s in the 21 years she’s served as its managing partner. Constantly evolving and refining the style, the menu, and the shows, I became curious about how the club keeps up with her vision of a ‘sexy, prestige venue’ of musicians. “How do you schedule the talent?” I asked.
“We have a musical director that books all the music. His name is Hussain Jiffry…he is the bass player that toured with my dad for the last 16 years, but he’s also in the new Tijuana Brass,” she explained. “He is an amazing musician who’s toured with everybody. Prior to my dad, he was on the road with Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66. So he knows every session player and every player in town. He and I have a really good ear for what’s gonna work in here…we can’t just hire anybody. We would love to bring everyone in here…we don’t do open mic nights. It has to be someone who can fill the room. A particular vibe. I think everyone deserves a chance, sometimes I’ll give someone a chance who maybe hasn’t played…and I’ve actually been able to over the years bring a lot of musicians in and help them build bigger careers from starting here. I have a good ear.”
So too, it seemed, did Eden’s staff. Seated near Aeryn the hostess, we were able to talk to her a bit between songs. A trained singer in youth, she wasn’t the biggest fan of the night’s act, but highly recommended we returned on to see Tawanda, which fit more of Aeryn’s appreciation for Bossa Nova.
While it’s never unusual to have opinions, it struck me as uniquely powerful that Aeryn, as well as probably the rest of the waitstaff and stage hands, all held some preference of taste and personal expertise that was actually reflected in the Vibrato lineup. There was a musical culture and sense of appreciation baked into the non-musical arm of the staff. The same way they can give recommendations on the best dishes, they can all probably chew fat on who they know is the best talent Eden and Hussain manage to bring in.
“What avenue would Bruins want to take to try and get a gig here?” I asked.
“Well, for the Bruins it would be easy,” Eden replied. “They could talk to Hussain. We have a lot of Westlake…Harvard Westlake students…Crossroads, they all have their bands…some of the private schools. They’ll come in and do a night, and you know, they fill the room because everyone’s parents show up. Now, the UCLA Jazz Ensemble (I don’t know what they’re called), if they were to call Hussain, they have access to him. Let’s say they’re not at the Herb Alpert School of Music, they would get in touch with either myself or Hussain and then it’s a process. Not just any band…but out of the UCLA School of Music, we’d try and find a Sunday night. Or a Tuesday night, and it would be basically for you guys and that band to promote to their family and friends.”
I respect the high standards. This talk about cultivating a specific vibration with A+ musicians…it reflects a dedication to the musical craft not only by a musician, but by people who were born into a world of music. And from what Ray and I heard that night, I’m not of a mind to doubt them.
Listening in, I’m reminded that there’s really nothing like live music. Ray can affirm, though he’d articulate it a little differently. One Manhattan deep, and he’s already as loose as a 10 year old’s front tooth. “Usually takes me five or six shots to feel like this,” he whispers between bites of steak tartare. “I’m drunk off life.”
Which, I figure, is exactly the kind of reaction Eden hopes to inspire in patrons who choose Vibrato. The music, the food, the people…it all culminates in an experience of a certain majesty.
Which to me means you really can’t go wrong. Don’t be afraid to give Vibrato a shot. Save a little rainy day fund and give it a splurge. If you’re not familiar with jazz, pick a day that works for you. If you’re a well-listened appreciator, pick a day you know you’ll love. As a Bruin, given the heritage of the club and the relationship between our institution and the Alperts, embracing an opportunity to witness a living connection is a very special moment in time to be in.
“All are welcome,” Eden reaffirms. “I’m accessible. It’s very neighborhoody. I want everyone to feel welcome.”
