By Don Heckman
Los Angeles
– July 4. (Wed.) Barry Manilow and July 4 Fireworks Spectacular. A high energy celebration of the 4th. With one soaring Manilow hit after another, a lot of patriotic music from the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by Sarah Hicks. And the usual spectacular pyrotechnics. Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2040.
– July 6 & 7 (Fri. & Sat.) Rodger Fox’s Wellington Jazz Orchestra. A big jazz band from New Zealand? They’re in town to make a recording, while giving Angeleno jazz fans a taste of jazz from the other side of the world. Should be interesting. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
– July 6 & 7 (Fri. & Sat.) Deana Martin. Yes, she’s Dean Martin’s daughter, and the musical inheritance is obvious. But it’s the way Deana transforms that inheritance into her own expressiveness that makes her such an intriguing singer. She’s backed by the stellar trio of Mike Lang, Chuck Berghofer, Jim Fox and Steve Schaeffer. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.
– July 7. (Sat.) Pete Christlieb Quartet. Saxophonist Christlieb is at the top of everyone’s first call list – for big band jazz, small group, whatever. And with good reason. Here’s a chance to hear him in the spotlight, backed by Tom Ranier, piano, Pat Senatore, bass and Kendall Kay, drums. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.
– July 8. (Sun.) Hiroe Sekine. Pianist/composer/singer Sekine celebrates the release of her new CD, After the Fall. With Larry Koonse, guitar, Bob Sheppard, saxophones, Edwin Livingston, bass, Aaron Serfaty, drums. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
San Francisco
– July 6 – 8. Fri. – Sun.) Roy Ayers. Vibraphonist Ayers moved quickly beyond his bebop roots into early jazz funk and, more recently, into funk, house music and other pop/jazz crossovers. Yoshi’s Oakland. (510) 238-9200.
New York
– July 5 – 8. (Thurs. – Sun.) Carmen Lundy. Lundy is not only a gifted jazz singer, she’s also a talented songwriter, approaching both skills with a rich palette of musical creativity. The Blue Note. (212) 475-89592.
– July 6. (Fri.) Mark Helias: The Parlance of Our Times. Bassist Helias leads alto saxophonist Tim Berne, trumpeter Kirk Knuffke and drummer Mark Ferber in an exploration of “the lexicon of composition and improvisation practices presented over the last few decades.” Cornelia St. Cafe. (212) 989-9319.
London
– July 6 & 7. (Fri. & Sat.) Jimmy Cobb, Joey DeFrancesco and Larry Coryell Trio. A tribute to Jimmy Smith by a great trio of all-stars. It would be hard to imagine three guys who could do it better. Ronnie Scott’s. 020 7439 0747.
Paris
– July 6. (Fri.) John Scofield’s Hollowbody. In his Hollowbody bands, guitarist Scofield sparks the creativity by juxtaposing his unique skills against other guitarists. This time out, he’s working with guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, as well as bassist Ben Street and drummer Bill Stewart. New Morning Paris. 01 45 23 51 41.
The International Review of Music 