By Don Heckman
Los Angeles
- Nov. 9. (Mon.) Judy Wexler. Wexler’s briskly swinging vocal style finds a perfect match with the trio of organist Joe Bagg, guitarist Bruce Forman and drummer Devin Kelly. Charlie O’s. (818) 989-3110.
Steve Gadd & Friends
- Nov. 10. (Tues.) Reginald Robinson. The MacArthur Genius award winning pianist performs solo ragtime pieces to accompany silent film clips of animation by cartoon pioneers Walter Lantz, Otto Messmer and Earl Hurd. The Hammer Museum.
- Nov. 10 – 12. (Tues. – Thurs.) Steve Gadd and Friends. After bringing the authentic flavor of jazz to a long list of pop artists, drummer Gadd does his own thing. With Joey DeFrancesco, Ronnie Cuber and Paul Bollenback. Catalina Bar & Grill (323) 466-2210. (Also at Yoshi’s SanFran Nov. 13 – 15. See Below)
- Nov. 11. (Wed.) The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. Nicholas McGegan conducts this superb period orchestra, six soloists and the Philharmonia Chorale in a rare evening devoted completely to the music of Henry Purcell. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000.
- Nov. 12. (Thurs.) McCoy Tyner. Versatile, ever-intriguing Tyner has been one of the most powerful piano innovators of the past five decades. He performs with his trio and alto saxophonist Gary Bartz. The large improvisational ensemble, Build an Ark, opens the show. UCLA Live at Royce Hall. (310) 825-4401.
Janis Mann
- Nov.12. (Thurs.) Janis Mann. Although she’s been compared to such iconic singers as Sarah Vaughan, Mann bring’s her own unique qualities to the classic jazz vocal style. Crown Plaza Brasserie Jazz Lounge. (310) 642-7500. m
- Nov. 12. (Thurs.) Pete Christlieb Tall and Small Band w. vocalist comedian Tony Russell. Saxophonist for all seasons Christlieb leads a snappy 10-piece band with his wife, trombonist Linda Small-Christlieb. This is the first event in which comedy is added to Vitellos’ Red Carpet Jazz Series. More on the way. Upstairs at Vitellos. (818) 769-0905.
- Nov. 12. (Thurs.) Denise Donatelli. A singer with the sound, the rhythm and the interpretive imagination to bring a song to life – that’s Donatelli. Charlie O’s. (818) 989-3110.
- Nov. 12 – 15. (Thurs. – Sun.) Dawn Upshaw with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.. Upshaw sings Luciano Berio’s fascinating cycle of folk songs and Dudamel conducts Schubert’s Symphony #8 (Unfinished). Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000.
- Nov. 13. (Fri.) “Loud and Rich. “ Loudon Wainwright and Richard Thompson. A pair of veteran songwriters, each with a witty, sometimes sardonic, way with a phrase, make a rare duo appearance. UCLA Live at Royce Hall. (310) 825-4401.
Frank Marocco
- Nove. 13. (Fri.) Dr. Bobby Rodriguez. ” Latin Dance Party”. Trumpeter and educator Rodriguez knows all the connections between the steaming rhythms of Latin jazz and Latin dance. The Culver Club in the Radisson Hotel Los Angeles Westside. (310) 649-1776.
- Nov. 14. (Sat.) Frank Marocco Quartet. Marocco keeps affirming the role of the accordion in jazz and beyond with his rich, inventive musical imagination. He’s backed by Pat Senatore, bass, Robert Hardt, piano and Ramon Banda, drums. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.
San Francisco
- Nov. 9. (Mon.) Ian Anderson plays acoustic Jethro Tull. Anarchic flutist Anderson revisits his past. The Warfield.
- Nov. 11. (Wed.) Leon Russell. A rare club appearance by the great songwriter, pianist and character. Yoshi’s San Francisco. (415) 655-5600.
- Nov. 12. (Thurs.) Ray Davies performing the Kinks Choral Collection. Forty years after, Davies is still producing memorable music. The Warfield.
- Nov. 13. – 15. (Fri. – Sun.) Steve Gadd and Friends. W.. Joey DeFrancesco, Ronnie Cuber and Paul Bollenback. Yoshi’s San Francisco. (415) 655-5600.
New York
- Nov. 9 – 12. (Mon. – Thurs. Gal Costa and Romero Lubambo. An irresistible combination: Costa’s dark-toned, intimate lyricism and Lubambo’s remarkably intuitive guitar backing. The Blue Note. (212) 475-8592.
Jim Hall
- Nov. 10 – 14. (Tues. – Sat.) Jim Hall Quartet. Veteran guitarist Hall, always eager to test his wares in a contemporary setting, performs with Greg Osby, alto sax, Steve Laspina, bass and Joey Baron, drums. Birdland. (212) 581-3080.
- Nov. 11. (Wed.) Kat Edmonson. A stand-out in the crowded field of young female jazz vocalists, Edmonson has an ear caressing sound and an easygoing sense of rhythmic swing. The Jazz Standard. (212) 447-7733.
- Nov. 13 & 14. (Fri. & Sat.) The Mike Melvoin Trio. The veteran pianist is backed by the world class rhythm team of bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Bill Goodwin. Mike promises that they “will play music for your blood, your heart and your spirit.” Kitano. (212) 885-7119.
Los Angeles
- Nov. 6. (Fri.) Laurence Juber. Grammy-winning, former member of Paul McCartney’s Wings, Juber is a guitarists’ guitarist, universally admired for both the skill and the creativity of his finger style playing. 
San Francisco
Oct. 26. (Mon.) Charito. Japanese singer Charito performs convincingly in areas reaching from jazz to r&b and soul music. She also appears at Yoshi’s Oakland on Oct. 27 (see below). 
California appearance in two nights (see above). She performs in collaboration with the San Francisco American Jazz Festival. 
drums, Tony Monaco, organ. 
and his steady regulars, bassist Tony Dumas and drummer Ralph Penland are always great to hear. But Mike’s been bugged by the recent noise in some of the media about jazz being “in trouble.” “I think,” he says, “that it’s time to disprove that dark vision.” He’ll no doubt have a few special guests show up to give him a hand in that admirable task. 
- Oct. 9. (Fri.) Carol Chaikin. She’s been around a while, playing alto saxophone and flute with an ever-adventurous style; but she’s still not heard as much as she should be. So don’t miss this chance. Chaikin performs with pianist John Campbell, bassist Tom Warrington and drummer Ryan Doyle. 
and Billy Davis, Jr. Forty years as a married couple, hit-makers McCoo and Davis can probably do a complete set of songs – from the Fifth Dimension as well as their own duo recordings – that cruised the tops of the charts. 
- Oct. 10 (Sat.) Babbie Green and John Boswell. Green is show biz second generation, the daughter of composer Johnny Green (“I Cover the Waterfront,” “Body and Soul”) and TV personality Betty Furness. But her catalog of songs stands on its own, surely one of the best – if, sadly, too little known – examples of contemporary songwriting. She performs rarely, so don’t miss this chance to hear her – and her songs – performed with long-time partner, accompanist and singer Boswell. The Gardenia. (323) 467-7444.
compete before an impressive panel of judges: Ron Carter, Dave Holland, Bob Hurst, Christian McBride, John Patitucci, Charlie Haden and David Baker. The Gala Concert will salute the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records with appearances by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Bobby McFerrin, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Heath, Joe Lovano, Dee Dee Bridgewater and numerous others. 
- Oct. 2. (Fri.) Terese Genecco. San Francisco’s own Swing Diva performs with her Little Big Band and the enthusiasticc backing of legendary bongo player Jack Costanzo. The 
Gustavo Dudamel, the much-anticipated savior of classical music in L.A. (and beyond) begins his inaugural season as the new Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic with a Target Free Community Concert at the Hollywood Bowl. The gifted young Venezuelan conducts the YOLA – EXPO Center Youth Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, followed by a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 by Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Other artists on the program include Andrae Crouch, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Herbie Hancock, David Hidalgo, Taj Mahal and Alfredo Gonzalez. (Although tickets are no longer available, there may be some cancellations, up to the date of the concert.) 
- Oct. 4. (Sun.) La Vida Music Festival. Summer’s end brings with it one of the year’s most action-packed programs, with a cast of players reaching across the spectrum of Latin jazz. Featured artists include Hubert Laws, Pete Escovedo, Luis Cruz Beltran, Mariachi Elias Son, Robert Kyle Brazilian Band, Chris Bennett (saluting the Ladies of Latin Jazz), and Chalo Eduardo and the Brazlian Beat. 
jazz/cabaret vocalist Kosut — yet another amazing Bay Area canary — brings her skills as an actress to her insightful interpretations of songs underscored with a fusion of jazz, pop and folk. She performs in an atmospheric venue that blends the pleasures of wine and jazz. Backing her: the 
- Sept. 29 – Oct. 4. (Tues. – Sun.) Karrin Allyson displays her eclectic musical tastes, swinging rhythms and engaging personality in the Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival. 
Sept. 25. (Fri.) Sally Kellerman. Yes, of course you know her as the original Hot Lips in the film verson of M.A.S.H. But Kellerman’s always had at least one foot in the music world. And over the past decade she’s thoroughly established herself as an entertaining diva who easily finds the linkages between jazz, folk, country and pop. She performs with the Joel Scott Quartet. 
well known yet, but Rose’s extraordinary skills — as a singer, songwriter, composer and arranger, mark her as a soon-to-break-out, potential major talent. Here her now, before the cover charge goes up, and you can brag that you saw a new star in her ascendance. The 
- Sept. 27. (Sun.) Louie Cruz Beltran. “Dancing on the Water” Beltran’s enthusiastic performances, ranging across r&b, salsa, reggae, Latin jazz, Brazilian bossa nova and rock should stimulate plenty of dancing during this cruise through Long Beach Harbor. 
- Sept. 26 & 27. (Sat. & Sun.) 
Hendrix” With Sheryl Bailey and Vic Juris, guitars, Brian Charette, keyboards, George Gray, drums. The 55 should be rocking happily when Bailey and Juris take on high flying pleasures of the Hendrix songbook.
- Sept. 16. (Wed.) Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles. Listen to this gifted trio of jazz masters in one of their too-rare performances, and you’ll wish that their busy schedules would allow them to play more frequent gigs. 
class contemporary jazz. 
- Sept. 12. (Sat.) Barbara Morrison’s Jazz & Blues Party. Morrison begins a weekend of birthday celebrations — her own, as well as all musicians turning 60 this year. Special guests include James Moody, Charmaine Clamor, Ernie Andrews and Tierney Sutton. 
- Sept. 13. (Sun.) Painted on Water. The Turkish duo, vocalist Sertab Erener and guitarist Demir Demirkan — two of their country’s most celebrated musicians — make a rare Southland appearance with their fascinating, idiosyncratic blend of traditional music, rock, jazz and pop. 
keyboardist Uri Caine, bassist Tim LeFebvre and drummer Zach Danziger. 