By Don Heckman
Los Angeles
– Sept. 29. (Wed.) Strunz & Farah. The dynamic guitar duo display their fast-fingered magic. Click HERE to read an iRoM review of a recent S&F appearance. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.
– Sept. 29 – Aug. 3 (Wed. – Sun.) McCoy Tyner Quartet. The ever-exploratory Tyner, leads a group that features the similarly adventurous alto saxophonist Gary Bartz. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.
– Sept. 30. (Thurs.) Alfredo Rodriguez. Cuba’s latest jazz piano prodigy has been startling listeners with his improvisational virtuosity since he arrived here a year ago. Click HERE to read an iRoM review of one of Rodriguez’s first L.A. appearances. Jazz Bakery Movable Feast. Musicians Institute Concert Hall. (310) 271-9039.
– Sept. 30. (Thurs.) John Cale. When Past and Future Collide – Paris 1919. Cale presents a complete live performance of his classic 1973 album, Paris 1919, with members of the UCLA Philharmonia and special guests Ben Gibbard and Mark Lanegan. UCLA Live. Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101.
– Oct. 1. (Fri.) Lorraine Feather. She’s an engaging singer, as well as a brilliant wordsmith, and she doesn’t make many appearances in L.A. So don’t miss this one. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
– Oct. 1. (Fri.) Betty Buckley. “Broadway by Request” with Seth Rudetsky. She’s starred on Broadway in Cats and 1776, in television (Eight is Enough) and films (Tender Mercies), and she’s at her best with an audience and a song. Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University. (310) 506-4522.
– Oct. 1. (Fri.) America. The 40th Anniversary Tour. Forty years after their glory days, America can still turn on a crowd with tunes such as “A Horse With No Name,” “Tin Man” and more. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. (562) 916-8501.
– Oct. 1. (Fri.) Mary Stallings. With the Eric Reed Trio. Her resume reaches back to appearances with the likes of Ben Webster, Earl Hines, the Montgomery Brothers and more in the ‘50s, and she can still deliver a song. The Culver Club at the Radisson. (310) 649-1776 ext. 4137.
– Oct. 1 & 2. (Fri. & Sat.) Yoko Ono. We Are Plastic Ono Band. An extremely rare live performance from Yoko, surrounded by a posse of performers empathetic with her envelope stretching ideas. With Nels Cline (10/1), Iggy Pop (10/1), Mike Watt (10/1), Lady Gaga (10/2), Kim Gordon (10/2), Thurston Moore (10/2), Cornelius, Perry Farrell, Carrie Fisher, Vincent Gallo, Yuka Honda, Haruomi Hosono, Sean Lennon, RZA, Harper Simon, Tune-Yards. The Orpheum. (877) 677-4386.
– Oct. 2. (Sat.) Lee Konitz New Quartet. Alto saxophonist Konitz is one of the few certifiably original practitioners of his instrument in the post-Charlie Parker era. At 83, he continues to approach improvisation as a new adventure every time he plays. He’s backed by the international rhythm team of bassist Jeff Denson, German pianist Florian Weber, and Israeli drummer Ziv Ravitz. UCLA Schoenberg Hall. Friends of Jazz at UCLA. (310) 206-3269.
– Oct. 2. (Sat.) Alan Pasqua Trio. Pianist Pasqua, a first call rhythm section master on everyone’s list, takes time away from his day gig as Chairman of USC’s Jazz Studies program to lead his own trio – in the supportive company of bassist Darek Oles and drummer Joe LaBarbera. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
– Oct. 2. (Sat.) Luckman Jazz Orchestra. A Tribute to Lee Morgan. The LJO, one of the Southland’s finest, and least appreciated, large jazz ensembles, dips into the memorable music of Lee Morgan. Luckman Fine Arts Complex. (323) 343-6600.
– Oct. 2 & 3. (Sat. & Sun.) Angel City Jazz Festival. The ACJF kicks off its week-long run with a pair of stylistically far-ranging events. Sat.: Dwight Trible and John Beasley, REDCAT. Sun.: Ravi Coltrane/Ralph Alessi Quintet, Wadada Leo Smith Golden Quartet, Vinny Golia Sextet and Kneebody. Ford Amphitheatre. Angel City Jazz Festival.
– Oct. 3. (Sun,.) Tamir Handelman: Solo Piano. Pianist Handelman’s diverse skills are coveted by everyone from Barbra Streisand the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Here, he does it all himself.. Atelier Concert.
San Francisco
– Sept. 28 & 29. (Tues. & Wed.) Dave Liebman Quartet. Saxophonist Liebman and his quartet have a knack for taking their audiences on fascinatingly exploratory musical journeys. Click HERE to read a recent iRoM review of the Liebman Quartet. Yoshi’s Oakland. (510) 238-9200.
– Oct. 1. (Fri.) Roy Ayers. Vibist Ayers transforms every performance into soul and r&b-driven excitement. Yoshi’s San Francisco. (415) 655-5600.
New York
– Sept. 28 – Oct. 2. (Tues. – Sat.) Wallace Roney Sextet. Trumpeter Roney molds the Miles Davis sound into his own, unique expression. Birdland. (212) 581-3080.
– Sept. 28 – Oct. 3. (Tues. – Sun.) Anat Cohen Quartet. Woodwind specialist Cohen can do everything from down-home, bar-walking tenor saxophone playing to brilliantly virtuosic clarinet stylings. Village Vanguard. (212) 255-4037.
– Sept. 28 – Oct. 3. (Tues. – Sun.) Stanley Clarke Band featuring Hiromi. Bassist Clarke and pianist Hiromi have found illuminating common ground enhanced by their individual instrumental virtuosity. The Blue Note. (212) 475-8592.
– Sept. 30. (Thurs.) Jimmy Webb. One of the most successful singer/songwriters of the late ‘60s and ‘70s continued, over succeeding decades, to expand his catalog of music well beyond the limits of song. But expect to hear some very familiar tunes, as well as something new. Iridium. (212) 582-2121.
– Sept. 30 – Oct. 3. (Thurs. – Sun.) Joshua Redman Trio. Tenor saxophonist Redman continues to find improvisational treasures in an instrumental format reaching back to Sonny Rollins’ classic recordings of the late ‘50s. Jazz Standard. (212) 447-7733.
Photos of Dave Liebman and Anat Cohen by Tony Gieske.
The International Review of Music 