Jay Jackson & Nu Lu Perform Tonight at Barbara Morrison PAC

Singer Jay Jackson & Nu Lu, a band named in honor of Lou Rawls, will perform a range of pop hits in their unique style in a New Year's Eve performance at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park.

"We call our band that because we like to put a modern twist on some of the great classics of Lou Rawls," Jackson explained. "Contemporary beats and harmonies play really well with his work."

Jackson, also a well-known actor who has a recurring role on NBC's sitcom "Parks and Recreation" and whose credits also include "Scandal," "Revenge," and "The Mentalist" and feature films, but his first love is music. The Simi Valley resident trained at the prestigious LoDuca Brothers Music Academy in Milwaukee before serving in the U.S. Navy on a nuclear submarine and became an Emmy-winning television reporter who appeared on CBS, ABC, CNN and the Oprah Winfrey Show.

"Music is my passion and focus," he said. "I'm a singer who happened to have a journalism career. I spent so much time doing it to support myself, 22 years, and during every second of it thinking of doing music. Music is the signature of my soul."

Jackson couldn't have imagined he'd be singing the songs of Rawls, who died in 2006 at age 72, growing up.

"For years, people would tell me my voice is like Lou Rawls," he said. "I never really thought so because he has an extremely rare sound. His tone and timbre is like no one else, so I never thought of doing Mr. Rawls' music. But after enough people say the same thing, you have to start listening. I never met Lou Rawls, but his music was played in our house every day. To be honest, I really couldn't stand it. The sound was too old for me.

"But now, as an adult, his sound, to me, is the purest, deepest, truest voice there is. It takes people back to a time in their lives. To see the sheer joy in the eyes of men and women, most far older than I am, is special and the highest compliment to a singer."

Jackson & Nu Lu's performances also include the songs of Van Morrison and Barry White.

"We do all of Mr. Rawls' hits, 'Lady Love,' 'You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,' 'A Natural Man,' but we also like to do the songs that weren't universal hits like 'Spring Again,' and 'Let Me Be Good To You,' " Jackson said. "These songs were hits, but not in all areas. But for people who love these songs, it's a great treat for them because they don't hear them performed often. It's always great to see them sing every word of the lesser known songs. That tells me I'm getting it right.

"From Van Morrison, we love 'Moondance.' That's a very cool song because it's a subtle mix of swing jazz and soft rock, a true classic. With Barry White, we'll play hits such as 'Can't Get Enough of Your Love.' It really gets the crowd moving. You can't go wrong with any of these artists, really."

Barbara Morrison, a legendary jazz, blues and pop vocalist who was nominated for her third Grammy in December, will make a special appearance with Jackson & Nu Lu. Jackson is a co-star with her in "I Wanna Be Loved," the story of Dinah Washington, a play nominated this year for three NAACP Theatre Awards.

"I'll love having Barbara sing with us," Jackson said. "I think the crowd will like us to do a song or two together."

Jackson will be accompanied by Charles Small (guitar), Fritz Wise (drums) and Charles Derek Beach (bass).

"They're great cats," Jackson said. "We're gonna be smokin'."

The New Year's Eve celebration, titled "Jay Jackson & Friends" begins at 8 p.m. and runs to midnight. The price is $50 per person and includes refreshments and food. Tickets are available at www.barbaramorrison.com or by calling 310 462-1439.