By Don Heckman
Los Angeles
– Sept. 14. (Tues.) Michael Bolton. One World One Love Tour. The title says it all for the music of the two-time Grammy winner, Bolton, whose soft-rock style has been appealing to romantics since the ‘80s. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. (562) 915-8501.
– Sept. 14. (Tues.) John Proulx Trio. Proulx’s solid skills as a first-call jazz pianist bring an impressive blend of musicality to his highly personal vocals. Charlie O’s. (818) 994-3058.
– Sept. 15. (Wed.) Dolores Scozzesi. Blending the dark timbres of her voice with a thoughtful interpretive style, Scozzessi brings musical illumination to everything she sings. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
– Sept. 16. (Thurs.) Angela Carole Brown. Brown’s multi-faceted creativity – musical, poetic, dramatic – are essential elements in her engaging vocal performances. She’s backed by the Pat Senatore Trio. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.
– Sept. 16. (Thurs.) Sweet Baby Jai Quartet. She does it all – standards, blues, jazz and pop – with a charismatic style that commands a state. Crowne Plaza Brasserie Jazz Lounge. (310) 642-7500.
– Sept. 17. (Fri.) Bob Mintzer Quartet. Saxophonist Mintzer is also a prime composer and arranger who invests his far ranging improvisations with imagination and focus. LACMA. (323) 857-6000.
– Sept. 17. (Fri.) Anna Mjoll. In the mid-‘90s, Mjoll‘s “Sjubidu” (Shoo-Be-Do) was a hit at the Eurovision song festival. Since then, her rich-toned voice and assertive rhythms have evolved into a uniquely original jazz vocal style. Charlie O’s. (818) 994-3058.
– Sept. 17 &O 18. (Fri. & Sat.) Roy Gaines. The veteran singer/guitarist has been creating classic blues performances – live and on record – since the ‘50s. Catalina Bar & Grill.
– Sept. 19. (Sun.) KCRW World Festival. Viva Mexico! The Summer’s world music schedule at the Bowl wraps up with a celebration of Mexican music featuring performances from Ozomatli (with Cheech Marin and Cut Chemist), Calexico, the Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and special guests from various regions of Mexico. Raul Campos hosts. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000.
– Sept. 19. (Sun.) Caleb Quaye and the Faculty. Quaye – who’s played guitar with everyone from Elton John and Mick Jagger to Paul McCartney – leads his own jazz/rock/fusion band. Bubba Jackson hosts. KJAZZ Sunday Champagne Brunch. The Twist Restaurant in the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.
Monterey
Sept. 17 – 19. (Fri. – Sun.) The 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. It’s arguably one of the country’s prime musical events. And its inarguably a sensational way to experience a weekend of non-stop, world-class entertainment. With 500 artists, 85 performances on 8 stages, along with an instrument petting zoo, percussion playshop and jazzy jumper for the youngest attendees, there’s a list of attractions too long to completely include here. But the line-up, as always, is stellar. Among the highlights: Ahmad Jamal, Harry Connick, Jr., Angelique Kidjo, Mino Cinelu, Billy Childs and the Kronos Quartet in the premiere of a new, MJF commisioned work by Childs, Roy Hargrove Big Band, Roberta Gambarini, Marcus Roberts, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Chris Potter, Gretchen Parlato, Fred Hersch, Dianne Reeves and much more. The Monterey Jazz Festival. (925) 275-9255.
San Francisco
– Sept. 15. (Wed.) Rudresh Mahanthappa & the Indo-Pak Coalition. Saxophonist Mahanthappa leads Pakistani-American guitarist Rez Abbasi and tabla player Dan Weiss in a fascinating collection of Indo-jazz fusion. Yoshi’s Oakland. (510) 238-9200.
– Sept. 17 – 19. (Fri. – Sun.) Sadao Watanabe. Japanese alto saxophonist, at 77, is still soaring easily from his bebop roots to the smooth sounds of contemporary jazz. Yoshi’s San Francisco. (415) 655-5600.
New York
– Sept. 14 – 19. (Tues. – Sun.) Renee Rosnes Quartet. Pianist Rosnes showcases her adventurous playing in the stellar company of bassist Peter Washington, drummer Lewis Nash and vibist Steve Nelson. Village Vanguard. (212) 255-4037.
– Sept. 14 – 19. (Tues. – Sun.) The Generations in Jazz Festival. The Generations series continues with a pair of virtuosic jazz veterans: alto saxophonist Charles McPherson and trumpeter Randy Brecker with the New Jersey City University Jazz Ensemble. Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. (212) 258-9595.
– Sept. 14 – 19. (Tues. – Sun.) Diane Schuur. After several excursions through the pop world, Schuur is solidly back in a jazz groove, displaying the appealing qualities of her early jazz singing years. The Blue Note. (212) 475-8592.
Washington, D.C.
– Sept. 16 – 19. (Thurs. – Sun.) Mose Allison Trio. The Bard of the Bayou still has a lot to say. Hopefully he’ll include something from his recent album, The Way of the World, his first in more than a decade. Blues Alley. (202) 337-4141.
Seattle
– Sept. 16 – 19. (Thurs. – Sun.) Jeff Lorber, Eric Marienthal, Jimmy Haslip, Will Kennedy. They may be a quartet with contemporary and crossover references, but these guys can also carry their weight in every aspect of the jazz mainstream. Jazz Alley. (206) 441-9729.
The International Review of Music 