‘Whiplash in Concert’ brings live jazz fury to Beverly Hills for its 10th anniversary

Imagine watching “Whiplash,” but instead of just hearing its pulse-pounding jazz score through the screen, the music roars to life right before you. The crack of a snare drum, the blare of a trumpet, the energy of an 18-piece big band—this isn’t just a screening; it’s a full-throttle, live-to-film concert experience.

For the first time in Los Angeles, the independent and Oscar-winning film “Whiplash” is getting the live music treatment, with Academy Award-winning composer Justin Hurwitz conducting his own score at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on Feb. 7 and 8. Presented by TIL Events and Street Food Cinema in collaboration with Hurwitz Concerts and Blumhouse Productions, the high-stakes intensity of Damien Chazelle’s 2014 masterpiece will unfold on the big screen, amplified by the raw, unfiltered power of live jazz.

“There’s nothing quite like hearing a full orchestra and a large jazz band perform live,” says Steve Allison, owner and principal of TIL Events and Street Food Cinema over a recent phone call ahead of the performance. “All of the film’s recorded music is removed—only the sound effects and dialogue remain—so what you’re hearing is a completely live performance. It creates an audio experience you just can’t replicate any other way.”

The event follows the massive success of La La Land in Concert, another live-to-film experience featuring Hurwitz’s music. According to Allison, the team had been working with Hurwitz since 2017 and saw an opportunity to bring Whiplash to the stage in celebration of its 10th anniversary.

“Justin first reached out to us a few years ago after developing La La Land in Concert, which he had been performing around the world,” Allison said. “In 2023, we partnered with him to create a massive outdoor La La Land experience with multiple screens, a 53-piece orchestra, food trucks, photo ops, and 10,000 attendees. It was like a La La Land festival, and it was so successful that we made it an annual event. While we were working on the next edition, Justin mentioned that he had been developing a Whiplash live concert but hadn’t yet staged it in the U.S. Since it’s the film’s 10th anniversary, we knew it was the perfect time to bring it to life.”

Bringing that vision to life meant finding the perfect venue, one that could capture the film’s energy while delivering an experience. For Allison and his team, the choice was clear: the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. With its 1930s architecture and impeccable acoustics, it was the ideal setting. “We wanted a space that felt authentic to the film’s vintage jazz club aesthetic while also providing top-tier sound quality,” Allison explains. “The theater’s pristine restoration and history as a concert hall made it the perfect fit for an event of this scale.”

The logistics of executing a live-to-film concert are no small feat. The musicians, carefully and hand-selected by Hurwitz, will perform the entire score live, replacing the original film’s audio while maintaining perfect synchronization using a click track system. “It’s incredibly challenging. Every note, every beat has to be precise,” Allison says. The event’s drummer, a crucial element of the show and film, has been involved in previous performances and will lead the rehearsal process. Attendees can expect a level of musicianship that mirrors the film’s own themes of precision and passion.

Beyond the music, the event offers a fully immersive experience. The event will feature gourmet food trucks, a lively pre-show atmosphere, and a 15-minute intermission during which audience members may even get a chance to interact with the musicians or composer. A portion of the proceeds will also go toward MusiCares’ LA wildfire disaster relief fund, reinforcing the event’s commitment to supporting the local music community.

For those who have only ever experienced Whiplash on screen, this concert will offer a completely new way to engage with the film. “Watching it at home or in a traditional theater is one thing, but feeling the live music reverberate through the venue—it adds an entirely new layer of depth,” Allison says.

As for what to expect? Allison sums it up in three words: “Intensity, beauty, and the unexpected.”

Whiplash In Concert

When: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7; 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8

Where: Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills

Tickets and information: Tickets start at $65 at streetfoodcinema.com.