By Don Heckman
Los Angeles
Nov. 7. (Wed.) John Proulx CD Release Party. Pianist/singer Proulx celebrates the release of his new CD, The Best Thing For You, In addition to a stellar back up band, Proulx’s guest artists include singer Sara Gazarek and pianist Bill Cunliffe. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.
– Nov. 8. (Thurs.) Jimmy Heath Master Class. Saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Heath has performed with virtually every jazz great since Dizzy Gillespie. Here he appears in a Master Class at Popper Hall, presented by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Heath will also perform and sign his autobiography after the class. If you’d like to attend, RSVP at info@monkinstitute.org.
– Nov. 8. (Thurs.) Rick Braun CD Release Party. Trumpeter Braun has been building a following of his melodic style since the release of his first album two decades ago. But only recently has he begun to showcase attractive singing, as well. He’ll feature selections from his latest CD, Swingin’ in the Snow with his band and a string quartet. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
– Nov. 8. (Thurs.) Pat Senatore. Bassist Pat Senatore has a busy schedule at Vibrato planning, booking, and often playing in the elegant room’s diverse bookings. But this time he steps in front, leading his own group, featuring Dayna Stevens on tenor saxophone and Dan Schnell on drums. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.
– Nov. 8 & 9. (Thurs. & Fri.) Badeya Baby! Allee Willis’ interactive tour de force, combining her work as a songwriter, artist, multi-mediaist, director and party thrower in an evening of ultimate entertainment. Call it a Happening. NoHoPAC, the North Hollywood Performing Arts Center. (818) 763-00086.
Nov. 9. (Fri.) Grupo Fantasma. With special guests Chicha Libre. A pair of contemporary Latin bands, covering everything from Grammy-winning Grupo Fantasma’s Latin funk to Chicha Libre’s crossover Latin pop rhythms. CAP UCLA Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101.
– Nov. 9. (Fri.) “The Gathering” The Clayton Bros. Quintet. And a fine Clayton family gathering it is, with brothers John (bass), Jeff (alto saxophone) and pianist son (of John), Gerald Clayton. Trumpeter Terrell Stafford and drummer Obed Calvaire add first rate support. A Jazz Bakery Movable Feast at the Musicians Institute Concert Hall. (310) 271-9039. http://jazzbakery.org
Nov. 9 & 10. (Fri. & Sat.) Arturo Sandoval Big Band. Multi-talented Sandoval, who moves easily from superb trumpet playing to stylish piano playing, drumming and singing, showcases his many skills in a big band setting. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.
– Nov. 10. (Sat.) Billy Childs Electric Quartet. Here’s an intriguing musical experience with yet another of the Childs creative ensembles: with Childs, piano, Bob Sheppard, saxes and flute, Jimmy Johnson, electric bass, and Joey Heredia, drums. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
– Nov. 10. (Sat.) The Rossetti String Quartet. Described as a “vital force among chamber ensembles,” the Rossetti players celebrate an exhibition of the Photographs of Ray K. Metzger. The program includes works by Haydn, Beethoven and Shostakovitch. Harold Williams Auditorium at The Getty Center. (310)440-73100.
– Nov. 10. (Sat.) Chucho Valdes. Multi-Grammy Award winning pianist/composer Valdes has been described – accurately — by the New York Times as one of the world’s great virtuosic pianists.” Luckman Fine Arts Complex. (323) 343-6600.
Nov. 10 and 11. (Sat. and Sun.) Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. The gifted players of the LACO perform a far-ranging program, reaching from Beethoven’s early Sympohony No. 2 and Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro for Strings to the premiere of Benjamin Wallfisch’s Violin Concerto, commissioned especially for (and performed by) the LACO’s Tereza Stanislav. Sat. at the Alex Theatre. Sunday at Royce Hall. The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. (213) 622-7001.
Nov. 11. (Sun.) Roberta Donnay. A singer who always charts her own musical path, Donnay celebrates the release of her new CD, A Little Sugar, cruising through the music of the ‘20s and ‘30s with her Prohibition Mob Band. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.
Santa Cruz
– Nov. 9 (Fri.) An Evening with Van Dyke Parks. A rare opportunity to experience some up close music-making from one of the imaginative pop composer/producers of the ‘60s and ‘’70s and beyond. Kuumbwa. (831) 427-2227.
Chicago
– Nov. 8 – 11. (Thurs. – Sun.) Joey De Francesco Trio. Organ Trio jazz doesn’t get any better than the musically adept, hard swinging organ work of De Francesco. With luck, maybe he’ll demonstrate his impressive skills as a trumpeter, as well. Jazz Showcase. (312) 360-0234.
New York
– Nov. 7 – 11. (Wed. – Sun.) The Django Reinhardt Festival. Dorado Schmitt with 3 sons and various cousins celebrate the Reinhardt lineage of ever-swinging gypsy jazz via “A Family Affair.” Birdland. (212) 581-3080.
– Nov. 8 – 11. (Thurs. – Sun.) Ellis Marsalis Quartet. The patriarch of the Marsalis family of New Orleans, pianist Marsalis displays the well-founded jazz styles that had a powerful impact upon his successful musical offspring. The Blue Note. (212) 475-8592.
– Nov. 10 & 11. (Sat. & Sun.) The Billy Cox Band of Gypsys Experience. Bassist Cox worked with Jimi Hendirx in both the Hendrix Experience and the Band of Gypsys. Since then, he’s worked with the Hendrix family, helping to keep the tradition alive. He’ll be joined by guitarists Steve Stevens and Eric Gales. The Iridium. (212) 582-2121.
London
– Nov. 7. (Wed.) Vinicius Cantuaria Quartet. Brazilian singer/guitarist Cantuaria applies his early skills as a percussionist, bringing irresistibly appealing rhythmic undercurrents to his singing and guitar playing. Tickets may be hard to find, but well worth the effort. Ronnie Scott’s.
Paris
– Nov. 7. (Wed.) Jose James Quintet. Since the 2008 release of his debut album, The Dreamer, vocalist James has been carving a unique musical path from hip-hop through jazz. New Morning. 01 45 23 51 41.
Berlin
– Nov. 9. (Fri.) Christian Scott Quintet. Grammy-nominated trumpeter Scott, still in his ‘20s has thoroughly established himself as one of the vital jazz artists of his generation. A-Trane. 030 / 313 25 50.
Copenhagen
– Nov. 8. (Thurs.) Makiko Hirabayashi Trio. A truly international jazz trio, with the playing of Hirabayashi, piano, Marilyn Mazur, percussion and Klavs Hovman, bass moving convincingly across the full range of contemporary jazz. Jazzhus Montmartre. (+45) 70 15 65 65.
Milan
– Nov. 8. (Thurs.) Take 6. A capella music of every imaginable style doesn’t get any better than the singing of this remarkably gifted ensemble. It’s early in the holiday season, but hopefully they’ll perform some of their marvelous Christmas specials. Blue Note Milano. 02.69016888.
Tokyo
– Nov. 7 – 10. (Wed. – Sat.) McCoy Tyner Trio with special guest Gary Bartz. Pianist McCyner has been demonstrating his skills at working with adventurous saxophonists since his ‘60s tenure with John Coltane. This time out, he’s in league with a similarly inventive artist in Bartz. Blue Note Tokyo. 03.5485.0088.
The International Review of Music 