Blue Note Los Angeles
Laura Karpman: A Live Performance of the Score from American Fiction with Elena Pinderhughes, Keyon Harrold and Erika Alexander

About the Event
American Fiction Live is a unique, multimedia format encompassing the intersection of filmmaking, acting, storytelling, film scoring, live performance, and the best in jazz—all brought together for what promises to be a scintillating and eye-opening evening.
Oscar-nominated composer Laura Karpman, acclaimed flutist and vocalist Elena Pinderhughes, and actors John Ortiz and Erika Alexander come together with a band of jazz's most accomplished musicians to illuminate the process of creating a jazz score for one of the 21st century's most iconic films.
About the Film
American Fiction emerged as one of 2023's most celebrated works, winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and earning widespread critical acclaim. Writer-director Cord Jefferson's sharp, satirical adaptation of Percival Everett's novel Erasure offers a brilliant commentary on race, identity, and the commodification of Black stories in the publishing industry.
The film follows Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, a frustrated novelist whose serious literary work is consistently overlooked. When he writes a satirical parody of stereotypical "Black" literature under a pseudonym, it becomes a runaway success—forcing him to confront uncomfortable truths about art, authenticity, and what audiences expect from Black creators.
About the Music
Laura Karpman's jazz-infused score became an integral part of the film's identity, perfectly capturing its sophisticated wit and emotional depth. The music breathes life into Monk's internal world while underscoring the film's sharp cultural commentary. Experiencing this score performed live, while exploring the creative collaboration between composer, musicians, and actors, offers a rare window into the artistry behind contemporary cinema.
This evening promises an unforgettable fusion of film, performance, and conversation—a celebration of artistic excellence and the power of jazz to tell complex, modern stories.

Band:
Elena Pinderhughes - Flute 
Meredith Ezinma - violin
Keyon Harrold - trumpet 
Javier Santiago - piano 
Jonathan Pinson - drums 
Jermaine Paul - bass 

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$20 Minimum Per Person
Full Bar & Dinner Menu
NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES.

  • All seating is first come, first served. 
  • Bar Area seating is limited and first come first served. When all available seats are occupied, the remaining bar area is standing room only.
  • Table Seating is all ages, Bar Area is 21+. Bar Area tickets for patrons under 21 will not be honored. 

Group Reservations:
Groups larger than 8 must purchase a group package at club@bluenotela.com, or by calling (310) 855-3750
Groups larger than 8 without a group package will be subject to group surcharges added to your bill. 

Tickets for Blue Note Los Angeles shows are only available for purchase on Ticketweb. We are not affiliated with any third-party sellers. Tickets purchased on third-party sites will not be honored. The credit card used for original purchase of tickets will be required at the door upon entry.

  • Laura Karpman

    Five-time Emmy Award–winning and Oscar-nominated composer Laura Karpman brings her acclaimed score for American Fiction to life for the first time ever — live on stage at Blue Note LA. Known for her bold, boundary-pushing work across film, television, and the concert hall, Karpman’s music radiates imagination and intensity. This special event will showcase her award-winning score in an electrifying performance featuring acclaimed flutist Elena Pinderhughes and the inimitable Erika Alexander. Cinematic storytelling and a one-night-only celebration of sound, spirit, and artistry — Karpman’s American Fiction in concert.

  • Elena Pinderhughes

    Elena Pinderhughes is an award-winning flutist, vocalist, composer, and songwriter whose music flows effortlessly between jazz, R&B, and hip-hop influences. Hailed by The Guardian as “the most exciting and creatively assured jazz flutist to have emerged in years,” she has become one of the leading voices of a new generation redefining the sound of alternative jazz. 

    Raised in the Bay Area and trained at the Manhattan School of Music, Elena developed a luminous style on both flute and voice that invites listeners into a world where virtuosity meets storytelling, and honesty shapes every note. She is redefining the expressive range of the flute in contemporary music, weaving it through jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and orchestral soundscapes to create a language that is entirely her own. 

     

  • Keyon Harrold

    Keyon Harrold is a GRAMMY® nominated trumpeter, vocalist, composer, and producer whose music defies boundaries. A genre-fluid innovator, he blends jazz, hip-hop, R&B, blues, and cinematic soul into a signature sound that is both raw and refined—emotional and electrifying. With a career anchored in versatility and excellence, Harrold has emerged as one of the most compelling voices in modern music. Harrold’s latest album, Foreverland (2024, Concord Jazz), follows the critically acclaimed The Mugician (2017, Sony Legacy), which redefined the trumpet’s role in contemporary music. As a platinum-selling producer and first-call collaborator, he has worked with legends and luminaries across genres—from Jay-Z, Common, and Nas to Maxwell, Black Pumas, Mac Miller, Keith Richards, YEBBA, Robert Glasper, Sam Henshaw and Destin Conrad. He also co-wrote the theme song for “The Queen Latifah Show.” In 2025, Harrold performed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honoring Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa and more! Whether performing on global stages or composing for film and television, Harrold pours his soul into every note. “The only thing that defines a genre is its beat,” he says, a belief that fuels his fearless exploration of music’s emotional and cultural possibilities. His live shows—raw yet virtuosic, intimate yet expansive—have captivated audiences worldwide, including at the Love Supreme Festival, where critics praised his performance as “commanding” and “seeking new challenges.” Beyond the stage, Harrold is a dedicated artistic advisor for Jazz St. Louis and the MATI (Music at the Intersection) Festival in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. A passionate advocate for social justice and equity, he uses his platform to inspire change and empower the next generation. "The future of the trumpet." – Downbeat Magazine "Equal parts music." – Billboard

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