A Sacramento Jazzstory: West End Blues

This event is sold out.

The West End Blues is an incredible blend of history and music! Join us for a lively evening where the powerful sounds of the Harley White Jr. Orchestra fill the air with big-band jazz, setting the stage for a journey into Sacramento’s forgotten past. Historian William Burg weaves in captivating tales from the lost West End neighborhood, bringing the stories of its vibrant community to life.

With a mix of live music, rich narratives, and historic photos, the event highlights the triumphs, struggles, and untold stories of Sacramentans who have faded from memory. It’s a dynamic way to uncover history while enjoying unforgettable tunes—definitely a night full of surprises and discoveries!

The West End Blues tells the story of Sacramento’s lost neighborhood, the West End, through music, historic images, and storytelling. The songs of the Harley White Jr. Orchestra are original compositions, inspired by swing jazz of the 1930s and 40s. The stories are based on the lives of Sacramentans whose names and stories might otherwise be forgotten, even though many were well-known public figures in their day.

Located geographically between the State Capitol and the Sacramento River, from the Southern Pacific train station to the R Street railroad corridor to the south, and centered along M Street, the neighborhoods of color that made up Sacramento’s West End were removed from the map by redevelopment and highway construction, and removed from interpretation of our history, either simply ignored or discounted as an irredeemable slum, for decades. Contemporary historians, archivists, and museum curators, rediscovering the West End and its legacy, are rewriting our histories to include this missing chapter between our 19th century Gold Rush origins and the present day. Doing so does not erase earlier works and expressions of Sacramento’s history; it adds to those stories, while amplifying the voices of those previously overlooked by earlier works.

The music for this program includes many songs recorded on the Harley White Jr. Orchestra’s album, Cupcake, and more will be included on a forthcoming album to be recorded this year. The historic photos accompanying the music come from local archival and library collections, including the Center for Sacramento History, Sacramento Public Library, California State Library, Western Railway Museum, and many private collections, as utilized by historian William Burg in books published by Arcadia Publishing and the History Press.

Sacramento History Museum
6 – 8 pm, Thursday, February 27
Wine and Appetizers

Ticket prices:

General – $50 – Adults (21 +) will receive 2 free tickets for wine.  

Members – $35 – Adults (21 +) will receive 2 free tickets for wine.  

Youth (under 21) – $35 – (Under 21) will receive 2 free tickets for a non-alcoholic beverage. *

*Recommended for ages 8 and older.