Picks of the Week: Sept. 11 – 16 – The International Review of Music

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

– Sept. 11. (Tues.) Sarah Chang. A gifted child prodigy, violinist Chang has matured into a superb interpretive artist. In this far-reaching program, she performs a suite from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Bramwell Tovey. Also on the bill – works by Copland and Gershwin. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000.

– Sept. 12. (Wed.) Dave Matthews Band. Hollywood Bowl. Twenty years after singer/songwriter/guitarist formed the Band, the Grammy-winning ensemble continues to produce fascinating music – most recently in the just released CD Away From the World. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000.

– Sept. 13. (Thurs.) Patrick Berrogain’s Hot Club Combo. The hard swinging sounds and rhythms of Django Reinhardt’s gypsy jazz are alive and well in the hands of Berrogain’s Hot Club. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.

– Sept. 13. (Thurs.) Itzhak Perlman plays Tchaikovsky. The final classical concert of the 2012 Bowl season climaxes, appropriately, with the incomparable Perlman, performing the irresistible Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Bramwell Tovey. Call it a winning combination. The Hollywood Bowl. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000.

– Sept. 13. (Thurs.) Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. “Music and Story” The LACO’s first “Westside Connection” of the new season features writer Mark Salzman in a musical narrative piece describing the way Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3 (here performed by Andrew Shulman) relieved his struggles with writers’ block. The Broad Stage. (213) 622-7001.

– Sept. 13. (Thurs.) Sons of Etta. A celebration of the life and music of the great Etta James. Featured performers include Thelma Jones, saxophonist/harmonica player Jimmy Z and Donto James – the Grammy-winning son of James and the leader of her Roots Band. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.

– Sept. 14. (Fri.) Sascha’s Bloc Band. A stirring evening of music tinged with an Eastern European flavor, while reaching out to encompass gypsy jazz, contemporary jazz, flamenco, swing, blues and country. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.

– Sept. 14. (Fri.) Fiona Apple. The Grammy winning singer/songwriter celebrates the release of The Idler Wheel…, her first album in seven years. The Greek Theatre. (323) 665-5857.

– Sept. 14. (Fri.) Joe Bagg Organ 4. Keyboardist Bagg brings some ear-opening new ideas to the traditional organ jazz trio, with the enthusiastic aid of trumpeter Ron Stout, guitarist Jamie Rosenn and drummer Ryan Doyle. The eminently listenable duo of pianist Jeff Colella and pianist Putter Smith open the evening. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.

– Sept. 14 – 16. (Fri. – Sun.) Brian Setzer Orchestra. The Fireworks Finale. The Grammy winning rockabilly swingster leads his big band, aided by conductor Thomas Wilkins and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in a glorious, season-topping grand finale. The Hollywood Bowl. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000.

– Sept. 16. (Sun.) Phil Norman Tentet. Swinging West Coast jazz of the ‘50s is alive, well, and completely contemporary in the arrangements and the playing of Norman’s talented Tentet. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.

San Francisco

– Sept 14 – 16. (Fri. – Sun.) John Scofield Trio. Guitarist Scofield’s eclectic musical path has now arrived at a classic musical encounter with a pair of gifted musical associates – bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart. Yoshi’s Oakland. (510) 238-9200.

Seattle

– Sept. 13 – 16. (Thurs. – Sun.) The Pat Metheny Unity Band. Ever on the lookout for new ideas, guitarist Metheny now finds inspiration in an older instrumentation – the jazz quartet, with the stellar aid of Chris Potter, saxophones, Ben Williams, bass and Antonio Sanchez, drums. Jazz Alley. (206) 441-9729.

Chicago

– Sept. 13 – 16. (Thurs. – Sun.) Mulgrew Miller Trio. Everybody’s a-list pianist, Miller – active as a musician and an educator – steps into the spotlight to display his invigorating improvisational style. Jazz Showcase. (312) 360-0234.

Boston

– Sept. 13 & 14. (Thurs. & Fri.) Joe Lovano “Us Five.” Saxophonist Lovano’s new band is overflowing with talent: Grammy-winning bassist/singer Esperanza Spalding, pianist James Weidman, and drummers Francisco Mela and Otis Brown III. Scullers. (617) 562-4111.

New York

– Sept. 11. (Tues.) Roz Corral and Judi Silvano. A pair of the jazz vocal art’s most adventurous practitioners share the stage with equally venturesome accompanists – Alan Broadbent and Boris Kozlov with Corral, and Frank Kimbrough and Ben Allison with Silvano. Expect to experience some compelling musical surprises. Cornelia St. Cafe. (212) 989-9319.

– Sept. 11 – 15. (Tues. – Sat.) The Dave Liebman Group. NEA Jazz Master Liebman continues to set the contemporary jazz pace on the soprano saxophone, while adding in some impressive flute and tenor saxophone playing, as well. Birdland. (212) 581-3080.

– Sept. 11 – 16. (Tues. – Sun.) The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion. A revival of one of the jazz world’s great fraternal ensembles, in memory of the incomparable Michael Brecker. With Randy Brecker, trumpet, Mike Stern, guitar, Rodney Holmes, drums, Ada Rovati, saxophone, George Whitty, keyboards, Will Lee, bass and Oli Rockberger, vocals and keyboards. The Blue Note. (212) 475-8592.

– Sept. 13 – 16. (Thurs. – Sun.) Oliver Lake. The veteran alto saxophonist performs in three very different musical settings. On Thurs. with the Oliver Lake Organ Quartet; on Fri. with the Oliver Lake Big Band; on Sat. and Sun. with the Oliver Lake Trio (with Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille and speial guest Geri Allen). Jazz Standard. (212) 576-2232.

London

– Sept. 13 – 15. (Thurs. – Sat.) Frank Sinatra, Jr. The entertainment world is filled with Sinatra tributes and imitators. But no one comes closer to the original than #1 son, Frank Sinatra, Jr. Hearing his familiar vocal timbre and well-crafted phrasing in the Sinatra classics is an experience to remember. Ronnie Scott’s. (0) 20 7539 0747.

Milan

– Sept. 12. (Wed.) Benny Golson. Saxophonist Golson has composed some memorable jazz classics, among them “I Remember Clifford,” “Killer Joe,” “Whisper Not,” “Along Came Betty” and more. Here’s a chance to hear them from the originator. The Blue Note Milano. 02.69016888.

Tokyo

– Sept. 11 &o 12. (Tues. & Wed.) Joe Sample. Keyboardist and one of the founders of the Jazz Crusaders, performs selections from his new album, Creole Joe Band. Blue Note Tokyo. 03-5485-0088.