Initiated by Scott Nagatani in early 2013, LosAKAtombros began as a Thursday night jam session at the Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown, Los Angeles. The roots of the band, however, both in a literal, biographical and historical sense, are from the Crenshaw District, a predominantly African American and once large Japanese American community. Hence, this gives some clues as to the shared cultural aesthetics within the group.

These are musicians who found an affinity with African American creative music from the late 50’s and 60’s, most notably the likes of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.  However, they happen to be third generation Japanese Americans, and possess a consciousness regarding matters related to the specific conditions of this legacy, with sensibilities derived from the experiences of the previous two generations. Thus one will hear the band playing both jazz standards as well as original works which are intent on exploring their Japanese heritage.