By Don Heckman
Los Angeles
– April 20. (Mon.) Phil Norman Tentet. Norman’s collective of L.A.’s premium players, performing briskly swinging charts recalls the buoyant West Coast jazz of the ’50s and ’60s. Charlie O’s. (818) 994-3058. www.charlieos.com
– April 21. (Tues.) Kristen Korb Sextet. She sings, she swings, she plays the bass and celebrates the release of her new CD “In the Meantime.”. Jazz Bakery (310) 271-9039. www.jazzbakery.com
– April 22. (Wed.) Sara Lieb. Talented young Lieb is quickly establishing herself as one of the Southland’s most intriguing new jazz vocalists. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. www.catalinajazzclub.com
– April 22. (Wed.) Veteran jazz guitarist Barry Zweig livens it up at Hermosa Beach’s jazz and flamenco hot spot. Sangria.
– April 22. (Wed.) Elvis Schoenberg’s Orchestre Surreal. Bassist Schoenberg’s motley crew of versatile studio players go fearlessly into areas of musical fusion and theatrical hi-jinks, where few – if any – orchestras have ever ventured. Cerritos Center. (562) 467-8818 www.cerritoscenter.com
– April. 22 – 25. (Wed – Sat.) Eric Alexander’s big, brawny sound, fast fingers and take-no-prisoners improvising are on display with the David Hazeltine Trio. Jazz Bakery (310) 271-9039. www.jazzbakery.com
– April 23. (Thurs.) Neurologist and author Oliver Sacks.discusses the mind, music, health and the connections between them all in a lecture/seminar titled ” Spoken Word. Music, Healing and the Brain.” UCLA Live Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101. www.uc.lalive.org
– April 23. (Thurs.) Otmaro Ruiz Quartet. Dan Lutz, bass, Walter Smith, sax, Jimmy Branly, drums. Spazio. (818) 728-8400. www.spazio.la/jazz.php
– April 23. (Thurs.) The “Skipper,” bassist Henry Franklin has a resume that includes gigs with most of the major jazz stars of the past four decades. He performs with his trio. Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel. (310) 642-7500. www.CrownePlaza.com
– April 24. (Fri.) Tommy Tune and the Manhattan RhythmKings. “Steps in Time.” Tall, lanky Tune has been expanding the horizon of the musical theatre as a dancer, choreographer, actor and director since the mid-’60s. And he’s still at it. Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine Center for the Arts, Smothers Theatre. http://arts.pepperdine.edu
– April 25. (Sat.) Celtic Woman: Isle of Hope. The beguiling Celtic singers – Billboard’s #1 World Music Act — return with a new show (and plenty of their past hits).Greek Theatre. www.greektheatrela.com.
– April 26. (Sun.) Dolo Coker Scholarship Benefit Jazz Concert is always a combination of first rate music and a worthwhile cause. This year’s headliners include Ernie Andrewss with the Art Hillary All Stars and Eric Reed. Church Auditorium. 3281 W. 8th St. (323) 935-1374. 3 – 6:30 p.m.
Indio
– April 25 & 26. (Sat. & Sun.) Stagecoach Country Music Festival. A week after Coachella’s Woodstock revisited pop festival at the same location, here’s an event that includes almost anyone who’s anybody in the country music field. Empire Polo Field, Indio, CA. www.stagecoachfestival.com.
San Francisco
April 22. (Wed.) Third World Love. The name is right on target, for an international ensemble that includes trumpeter Avishai Cohen, pianist Yonatan Avishai, bassist Omer Avital and drummer Daniel Freedman. Yoshi’s San Francisco. (415) 655-5600. www.yoshis.com
New York City
– April 21 – 22 (Tues. & Wed.) Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra. The Argentine composer/arranger/bassist leads his 12-piece jazz ensemble through a program of selections from the recently released CD, “El Viaje.” Jazz Standard (212) 576-2252. http://www.jazzstandard.net/red/index.html
– April. 21 – 26. (Tues. – Sun. Rene Marie. The adventurous, sometimes controversial Marie can always be counted on to find an intriguing new way with a song. Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. (212) 258-9595. www.jalc.org/dccc
– April 23 & 25. (Thurs. & Sat.) Luciana Souza, Romero Lubambo and Cyro Baptista. Brazilian jazz doesn’t get any more authentic – or more entrancing – than this. Allen Room.in Rose Theatrel. Jazz at Lincoln Center. (212) 258-9800. http://www.jalc.org/venues/index.html
– April 23 – 25. (Thurs. – Sat.) Five Peace Band. Chick Corea and John McLaughlin continue their touring road show display of world class, crossover fusion. Rose Theatre. Jazz at Lincoln Center. (212) 258-9800. http://www.jalc.org/venues/index.html
The International Review of Music 