By Don Heckman
Los Angeles
– July 13. (Tues.) French Passion. The Los Angeles Philharmonic with a program of lush French music. Violinist Martin Chalifour performs the Saint-Saens Violin Concerto No. 3. and Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos conducts the Philharmonic through the Impressionistic timbres of Debussy’s La Mer and Ravel’s Daphnis & Chloe. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000.
– July 14. (Wed.) Smokey Robinson and Liz Wright. Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl opens its umbrella widely to include the veteran Robinson and emerging new star Wright. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000.
– July 14. (Wed.) Austin Peralta. Young composer/pianist Peralta’s impressive musical skills are aking him on a distinctly different career path from that of his father, skateboarder/film director Stacy Peralta. Vibrato. (310) 474-9400.
– July 14. (Wed.) Bob Sheppard Quartet. Everybody’s first-call woodwind player takes a rare opportunity to front his own ensemble. Charlie O’s. (818) 994-3058.
– July 15. (Thurs.) Harry Allen Quartet. Tenor saxophonist Allen keeps mainstream jazz alive and well in the sterling company of pianist Tom Rainer, bassist Chuck Berghofer and drummer Paul Kreibich. Crowne Plaza Hotel. (310) 642-7500.
– July 15. (Thurs.) Graham Dector and Steve Cotter. It’s guitar night at Vibrato, with a pair of rising young stars exchange riffs, backed by bassist Pat Senatore and drummer Kevin Kanner. Vibrato. (310) 474-9400. .
– July 15. (Thurs.) Larry Goldings Piano Trio. The versatile Goldings takes a break from the B-3 playng he’s been doing lately to display his impressive piano skills. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
– July 15. (Thurs.) Miles Evans Band. Trumpeter Evans leads a band whose mission, he says is to “pick up where Gil Evans (his father), Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Jaco Pastorius and Rashied Ali left the notes on the page.” Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. www.catalinajazzclub.com.
– July 16. (Fri.) Bill Cunliffe: Blues and the Abstract Truth. Pianist/composer/arranger Cunliffe showcases his dynamic revival of classic Oliver Nelson. The Culver Club in the Raddison. (310) 649-1776 ext. 4137.
– July 17. (Sat.) Kendra Shank. New York-based Shank returns to her L.A. roots with a program of songs identifying her as a standout in the over-crowded field of female jazz singers. Vitello’s (818) 769-0905.
– July 17 & 18. (Sat. & Sun.) The Gipsy Kings. France’s always-entertaining clan of gypsy musicians make their annual appearance in the Southland with a program that brings timeless Roma rhythms into the 21st century. Greek Theatre. (323) 665-3125.
– July 18. (Sun.) KCRW World Festival. The KCRW programmers stretch the “World Festival” label to include a trio of singer/songwriter duos: The Swell Season, She and Him and The Bird and the Bee. The Hollywood Bowl. http://www.hollywoodbowl.com (323) 850-2000.
– July 18. (Sun.) Mitch Forman All-Stars. Keyboardist Forman fronts a solid gang of fusion/crossover specialists: Saxophonist Brandon Fields, trumpeter Walt Fowler, guitarist Mike Miller, percussionist Munyungo Jackson, bassist Trey Henry and drummer Ray Brinker. The Baked Potato. (818) 980-1615.
San Francisco
– July `3. (Tues.) Leon Russell. The legendary rock singer/songwriter makes a far too-rare nightclub appearance. Standing Room only tickets available for this very special event. Yoshi’s San Francisco. (415) 655-5600
New York
– July 13 – 18. (Tues. – Sun.) Chuck Mangione. Trumpeter/flugelhornist Mangione – one of jazz’s great melodists – performs two shows nightly in this rare appearance. The Blue Note. (212) 475-8592. .
– July 13 – 18. (Tues. – Sun.) “The Music of Art Blakey, Max Roach and Elvin Jones.” Drummer Ali Jackson leads his quintet in a salute to a trio of his noble predecessors. Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. (212) 258-9595.
– July 14. (Wed.) Lew Soloff and the Afro-Cuban Ensemble. Veteran trumpeter Soloff applies his versatile wares to a program of simmering Latin jazz rhythms. Expect musical excitement, from Soloff’s first shimmering note to the last. Iridium. (212) 582-2121.
– July 15 – 18 (Thurs. \- Sun.) Vinicius Cantuaria. Brazilian singer/songwriter/guitarist celebrates fifty years of bossa nova with Jobim classics and his own memorable originals. The Jazz Standard. (212) 576-2232.
The International Review of Music 