New Year’s Day Fun – Rose Parade Jazz Breakfast at Pasadena Towers
Each year, my band members and I look forward to performing at the Rose Parade, starting bright and early at 6:00 AM on New Year’s Day at Pasadena Towers in Pasadena, California.
One of our favorite yearly traditions is visiting the photo booth to get our pictures taken. There’s an unspoken agreement that the photos should get a little goofier each year — a fun chronicle of just how much we enjoy this annual gig.
Elegant Music Jazz Trio performing on New Year’s Day for the Rose Parade at Pasadena Towers.
Pasadena Towers
The management and staff of Pasadena Towers are a dedicated team and truly a joy to work with. Their enthusiasm and professionalism set the tone for a successful event.
Despite a lot of rain on New Year’s Day 2026, it was clear that they also looked forward to kicking off the new year.
Tournament of Roses Parade – Live Jazz at the Epicenter
Pasadena Towers sits at the epicenter of the Tournament of Roses Parade, located at the intersection of Colorado Blvd. and Lake Ave. in Pasadena, California.
At times, the rain was coming down intensely. One of the engineers suggested elevating the ensemble on a platform made of tables so that rainwater flowing into the tent wouldn’t interfere with the amplifiers and electronic instruments.
Large doormats placed over the tables provided traction and a non-slip surface that looked nice. With a heater nearby, we stayed warm and dry throughout our performance. Yes, the staff of Pasadena Towers really took care of us.
We took requests, played something for everyone, and received compliments from passersby enjoying the parade festivities.
The Interesting History of the Tournament of Roses.
By studying history and tradition, we have the opportunity to learn from ideas that have proven to be successful over time. That knowledge can help guide us into the future.
For an idea to become a tradition, it has to be a good one. A brief look at the history of the Tournament of Roses is a study of the success of a very good idea:
- Whose idea was it?
- Is it true that chariot races were once part of the Tournament of Roses?
- In a race between a camel and an elephant, which do you think would win?
Chariot races were indeed part of the Tournament of Roses in 1908.
Find out the answers to these questions and learn more about Pasadena history here: Chariot Races @ The Rose Parade, Pasadena Celebrates!
Elegant Music provides:
- Live Music
- DJ Dance Music
- Professional Announcing for weddings and events throughout Southern California.
This New Year’s Day celebration and performance is a great way to begin the new year. We always have fun.
Sincerely, Eric Zimmermann
Elegant Music 323-270-3650
One More Goofy Picture of the Trio:
