By Don Heckman
Los Angeles
– Mar. 30. (Tues.) Ginger & Scott. Jackie Cain and Roy Kral? Not exactly, but Cain herself has described Ginger Berglund and Scott Whitfield as “a new duo who provide hope and inspiration.” Catalina Bar & Grill (323) 466-2210.
– Mar. 31. (Wed.) Susan Krebs Jazz Aviary. Krebs and her Soaring Sextet perform a program inspired by the sights and the sounds of our fine feathered friends. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
– Mar. 31. (Wed.) Lesa Terry. Violinist Terry successfully explores the rich territory between jazz and classical. Wilshire Ebell. (323) 931-1277.
– Mar. 31. (Wed.) Gaea Schell Trio hosts a jam session. Schell’s vibrant piano playing and intimate vocal style are a jam session in themselves. But this time out she opens up the proceedings to an eclectic band of players. Café 322. (626) 836-5414.
– April 1. (Thurs.) Dominick Farinacci. Trumpeter Farinacci is one of the breakout stars of the last year, still soaring into an orbit of brilliant, ever-compelling music making. Vibrato. (310) 474-9400.
– April 1. (Thurs.) Betty Bryant. Pianist/singer Bryant has been around long enough to know how to bring a song vividly to life – and she’ll do it with everything she sings. Crown Plaza Brasserie Jazz Lounge. (310) 642-7500.
– April 1. (Thurs.) Sony Holland. The tender, but gripping voice of Holland, underscored by her subtle rhythmic swing, finds perfect support in the backing of the Theo Saunders Quartet. Charlie O’s. (919) 994-3058.
– April 1 – 3. (Thurs. – Sat.) Kenny Werner Quartet. Pianist Werner, always a cutting edge player, performs with the stellar companionship of tenor saxophoist Chris Potter, drummer Peter Erskine and bassist Johannes Weidenmueller. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.
– April 3. (Sat.) Rick Derringer and Edgar Winter. The seventies are revived by a pair of still dynamic icons from the decade. Expect to hear “Hang On Sloopy” and ‘Frankenstein.” Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. (562) 916-8501.
– April 3. (Sat.) Ustad Aashish Khan, sarod, Pandit Sapan Chaudhuri, tablas, offer an intriguing program of classical Hindustani ragas. Opening the performance: Chaudhuri’s CalArts Tabla Ensemble. REDCAT. (213) 237-2800.
– April 3. (Sat.) Wadada Leo Smith’s Golden Quartet. Trumpeter Smith has long been one of the Southland’s leaders in exploring the wide open territory of free jazz improvising. Barnsdall Gallery Theatre.
– April 3. (Sat.) Grant Geissman and the Cool Man Cool Band. Versatile guitarist Geissman plays selections from his foot-tapping album Cool Man Cool. Spaghettini in Seal Beach. (562) 596-2199.
– April 4. (Sun.) KJAZZ Easter Sunday Jazz Brunch. Vortex, a far-ranging gospel group, celebrates the joy of Easter with a high spirited collection of soulful song reaching from traditional spirituals to jazz and blues. And the brunch menu is even more far-ranging, in quality and quantity. 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Twist Restaurant in the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. (323) 491-1000. More information on the Brunch series at KJAZZ.
San Francisco
– Mar. 30 – April 1. (Tues. – Thurs.) Tierney Sutton. Always musical, always entertaining, always a superb vocal story teller, Sutton’s a joy to hear. Rrazz Room. (415) 394-1189.
– April 1 – 4. (Thurs. – Sun.) Habib Koite and Bamada. Mali’s guitarist/singer Koite’s unique instrumental style and intimate, understated singing, are best heard in the company of his veteran back up band, Bamada. Yoshi’s San Francisco. (415) 655-5600.
– April 1 – 4. (Thurs. – Sun.) Brad Mehldau Trio. Mehldau’s been stretching into other areas lately, but he’s always at his best performing in his Grammy-nominated partnership with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. Yoshi’s Oakland. (510) 238-9200.
New York
– Mar. 30 – April 3 (Tues. – Sat.) Gary Peacock, a long time associate of Keith Jarrett steps into a different piano trio format, with pianist Marc Copland and drummer Bill Stewart. Birdland. (212) 581-3080.
– Mar. 30 – April 4. (Tues. – Sun.) Tom Harrell Quintet. Trumpeter Harrell always has something intriguing to say musically. This time out, he’ll be in creative conversation with Wayne Escoffery, tenor saxophone, Danny Grissett, piano, Ugonna Okegwo, bass, Johnathan Blake, drums. Village Vanguard. (212) 255-4037.
– Mar. 30 – Apri. 4. (Tues. – Sun.) Take 6. The marvelous a cappella ensemble has been getting some competition lately, but they’re still cruising as the top level of their unique vocal style. Blue Note. (212) 475-8592.
– Mar. 30 – April 4. (Tues. – Sun.) The “Sing Into Spring Festival,” a celebration of the jazz vocal art, continues with Ernestine Anderson and tenor saxophonist Houston Person, backed by bassist Lonnie Plaxico, drummer Willie Jones III and keyboardist Lafayette Harris, Jr. Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. (212) 258-9800.
– April 1 – 4. (Thurs. – Sun.) Danilo Perez. Pianist Perez is always looking for a new area in which to spread his creative wings. This time out, he celebrates material from his CD, “Things To Come – 21st Century Dizzy” Jazz Standard. (212) 576-2232.
– April 2. (Fri.) Avishai Cohen Trio. One couldn’t ask for a better example of the creative globalization of jazz than this impressive trio, with Israeli trumpeter Cohen, Malian guitarist Lionel Loueke, and Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth. 55 Bar. (212) 929-9883.
The International Review of Music 