Picks of the Week: Sept. 8 – 13

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

– Sept. 9. (Wed.) Natalie Cole and Hollywood Bowl Orch. The versatile, always entertaining Cole returns to action, like the veteran trouper she is, after kidney transplant surgery. Hollywood Bowl.  (323) 850-2000

– Sept. 9. (Wed.) Jacob Fred Odyssey. One of the most intriguing of the nu-jazz groups makes a rare L.A. appearance. Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210.

– Sept. 10 – 13. (Thurs.. – Sun.) Frank Sinatra, Jr. and his Band. No one knows the Sinatra lexicon better than Junior, and no one sings it with a more convincing connection with the original. Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210

– Sept. 11. (Fri.) Manhattan Transfer bring their remarkable harmonies to a performance benefiting the Society of Singers. El Portal Theatre. North Hollywood. (818) 995-7100

Highlight: Brazil Comes To L.A.

– Sept. 11, 12 and 13. (Fri. – Sun.) Blame It On Rio.  A Fireworks Finale featuring Bebel Gilberto, Seu Jorge and the Hollywood Bowl Orchstra conducted by Thomas Wilkins.  The Hollywood Bowl.  (323) 850-2000

– Sept. 12. (Sat.) Brazilian Day in L.A. The Consulate General of Brazil and the Brazil Foundation sponsor a Brazilian afternoon at the La Brea Tar Pits hosted by Sergio Mielniczenko.  Among the performers: Triorganico, Brasilidade, Andrea Ferraz, Pepeu Gomes and DJ Marlos. The La Brea Tar Pits. 12 noon to 6 p.m.  Free.

– Sept. 12. (Sat.) George Benson. “Tribute to Nat King Cole.” It may seem an unlikely connection, but Benson finds a way to apply his trademark voice and guitar style to a catalog of songs closely associated with Cole’s voice and piano. The Cerritos Center.  (562) 916-8501

– 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. The  Ford Amphitheatre.  (323)  461-3673

– Sept. 12. (Sat.) The Count Basie Orchestra with Nnenna Freelon. The beat goes on with the big band that has never stopped swinging and a singer who knows how to find the heart of a song. The CBO celebrates the release of their new album, “Salute to the Jazz Masters.”  CalState University Northridge Performing Arts.  (810) 677-5768.

– Sept. 12 & 13. (Sat. & Sun.) A Tribute to Scott LaFaro. Two concerts featuring the music of Bill Evans and Scott Lafaro and a book signing by Helene LaFaro-Fernandez celebrating the release of “Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LaFaro.” Saturday: Terry Trotter, John Giannelli and Joe LaBarbera. Sunday: Dave MacKay. John Giannelli and Joe Correro. Giannelli Square. (818) 772-1722.

– Sept. 13. (Sun.) Anne Walsh. The soaring soprano voice of Walsh moves comfortably from musical theatre songs to Brazilian classics to lyricized instrumental tunes. Spazio.  (818) 728-8400

– Sept. 13. (Sun.) Barbara Morrison’s Birthday Bash: “Up Close and Personal.” The Morrison birthday party continues, this time in the elegant setting of Vibrato, with a line up of surprise guests. Vibrato Grill Jazz. (310) 474-9400.

– 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. Good Hurt Club. .(310) 390-1076.

San Francisco

– Sept. 11 – 13 (Fri. – Sun.) Hiroshima.  Smooth jazz with an Asian Groove.  Yoshi’s Oakland.(510) 238-9200

– Sept. 11 – 13. (Fri. – Sun.  The Bad Plus.  One of the defining groups of the decade’s crossover, nu-jazz, the Bad Plus break out of the box with a music vision wide enough to encompass almost every imaginable genre.  Yoshi’s San Francisco.  (415) 655-5600.

New York

Sept. 8 – 12. (Tues. – Sat.) Gonzalo Rubalcaba. The Cuban expatriate pianist combines improvisational inventiveness with a rich harmonic imagination. Birdland.  (212) 581-3080.

– Sept. 8 – 13. (Tues. – Sun.) The premiere performance of the Overtone Quartet — as all-star as an all-star band can get. With Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Jason Moran and Eric Harland. The Blue Note.  (212) 475-8592.

– sept. 8 – 13. (Tues. – Sat.) The Kenny Barron Quintet. Barron expands the lush palette of his piano work into the multi-textural possibilities of a quintet featuring trumpeter Brandon Lee, alto saxophonist Dayna Stephens, bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake. The Village Vanguard. (212) 255-4037.

– Sept. 9 & 10. (Wed. & Thurs.) Bedrock. An imaginative name for the power trio of keyboardist Uri Caine, bassist Tim LeFebvre and drummer Zach Danziger. Club 55. (212) 929-9883

– Sept. 11. (Fri.) Magos Herrera. Mexico-born singer Herrera’s voice soars across the rhythms if jazz-tinged Latin music with a remarkably appealing quality of musical mystery. Saxophonist Tim Ries guests. Joe’s Pub.  (212) 967-7555.

Sept. 12. (Sat.) Henry Grimes and Friends in a benefit concert for Harlem Textile Works. Featuring Grimes’ adventurous bass playing, with Andrew Lamb, woodwinds, flute and percussion, and Michael Wimberly, drums and percussion. At the Black Box Theatre, Harlem. (212) 926-3101.