By Don Heckman
Los Angeles
– Mar. 20. (Wed.) “Three For the Show.” A trio of veteran performers celebrate the music of Broadway, cabaret and beyond: Dorothy Dale Kloss, at 89, is described as the world’s oldest, still performing show girl; Suzy Cadham was a Golddigger on the Dean Martin Show, and Ken Prescott starred on Broadway in 42nd St. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.
– Mar. 20. (Wed.) Amanda Brecker. Singer/songwriter Brecker has an impressive lineage – her mother is Brazilian pianist/singer Eliane Elias, her father is jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker. But Amanda has her own unique musicality, as well. Her current project is Blossom, a new CD honoring the 40th anniversary of Carole King’s Tapestry. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.
– Mar. 22 & 23. (Fri. & Sat.) Julie Esposito. She’s a rare hyphenate – attorney/singer, but she manages to fulfill both roles impressively. Julie’s current show, “Open Your Window,” is a musical celebration of life—through the songs of Sondheim, Bernstein and more – delivered with the stylish, story-telling qualities that are the essence of her art. The Gardenia. (323) 467-7444.
– Mar. 22. (Fri.) Savion Glover. Watching, and hearing, tap dancer Glover is like experiencing a world class drummer in tap shoes. There’s no one quite like him, so don’t miss one of his rare Southland appearances. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. (562) 916-8501
– Mar. 23. (Sat.) Frank Stallone. Vitello’s. Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated actor/singer Stallone follows convincingly in the classic styles of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and others. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
– Mar. 24. (Sun.) Yuja Wang. Pianist Wang makes her Disney Hall recital debut with a challenging program reaching from Mendelssohn and Ravel to Debussy, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000.
– Mar. 24. (Sun.) The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. “Mostly Baroque.” The title is right on target for a LACO program encompassing Bach, Handel, Mozart and Stravinsky. Music Director Jeffrey Kahane will conduct from the keyboard, with soloists Margaret Batjer, violin, and David Shostac, flute. A CAP UCLA concert at Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101.
San Francisco
– Mar. 20 – 22. (Wed, – Fri.) Sheila E. She comes from a high visibility music world family, but she’s learned how to dominate a stage with her magnetic skills as a percussionist, singer, vocalist, songwriter and a lot more, while looking sensational. Yoshi’s Oakland. (510) 238-9200.
New York City
– Mar. 19 – 23. (Tues. – Sat.) The Tierney Sutton Band. Grammy-nominated Sutton approaches every song she sings with an imaginative overview, superbly aided by the Band that is an essential element in her deeply expressive musical story telling. Birdland. (212) 581-3080.
– Mar. 22 – 24. (Fri. – Sun.) Madeleine Peyroux. Always an unusual vocal talent, Peyroux has moved well beyond the Billie Holiday influences in her early recordings, into a versatile singer with the skill and the imagination to embrace everything from classic standards to Leonard Cohen, Randy Newman, John Hartford and beyond. Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. (212) 258-9800.
London
Mar. 20. (Wed.) Kai Hoffman. The glamorous vocalist Hoffman celebrates the release of her new CD, Do It While You Can. Click HERE to read an iRoM review of the album. Ronnie Scott’s. +44 20 7439 0747
Copenhagen
– Mar. 22. (Fri.) Marilyn Mazur. Percussionist Mazur was American-born, but she’s lived in Denmark since the age of 6. She performs here with Celestial Circle — a group of stellar European jazz artists that includes vocalist Josefine Cronholm, pianist John Taylor and bassist Anders Jormin. Jazzhus Montmarte. +45 31 72 34 94.
Stockholm
– Mar. 21. (Thurs.) Frank Gambale Natural High Trio. Australian fusion guitarist Gambale moves comfortably across genre lines, from rock shredding to straight ahead jazz. He’s joined in his Natural High Trio by pianist Otmaro Ruiz and bassist Alain Caron. Fasching. 08-534 829 60.
Berlin
– Mar. 24. (Sun.) The Sandro Albert Quartet. Guitarist Albert is one of Brazil’s most convincing jazz artists. He’s backed here by a prime American rhythm section – keyboardist James Weidman, bassist Michael O’Brian and drummer Tom Brechtlein. A-Trane. +49 30 3132 ext. 550.
Milan
– Mar. 23. (Sat.) The Ron Carter Trio. Iconic bassist Carter has spent his life playing for world class artists. And he continues to do so here with his own group, featuring pianist Donald Vega and guitarist Russell Malone. Click HERE to read a recent iRom review of Carter. Blue Note Milano. +39 02 6901 6888
Qatar
– Mar. 19 – 24. (Tues. – Sun.) Ulysses Owens Jr. Quintet. Grammy-winning drummer Owens has already established himself – in his ‘20s – as first call player whose resume is already filled with world-class performances. Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha. +974.4446.0000.
Tokyo
.
– Mar. 22 – 24. (Fri. – Sun.) Hiromi Uehara Solo. Performing in a solo setting, the gifted Hiromi finds ways to transform her keyboards – from acoustic to electric – into a virtual orchestra for the fullest expression of her improvisational ingenuity. Blue Note Tokyo. +81 3-5485-0088.
The International Review of Music 