By Mike Katz Every year the Monterey Jazz Festival program features a Top Ten list from Artistic Director Tim Jackson, and I always think that’s interesting, but what does he tell everybody else? And how can he not mention (your favorite here). So I figured I’d take a stab at my own Top Ten, but… Read More Live Jazz: Mike Katz’s Monterey Jazz Festival Top Ten
By Michael Katz This Friday night’s appearance of Mingus Dynasty in a UCLA Live concert at Royce Hall brings to mind the first and only time I saw Charles Mingus perform. It was at a small club called the Good Karma, in the basement of a health food store in Madison, Wisconsin, circa 1976. I’d… Read More Katz of the Day: Reflections on Charles Mingus
By Michael Katz The revelation that Stephen Colbert is really a folkie at heart wasn’t all that surprising, if you follow his show. Still, as a retired camp counselor, it was a kick to see him with Don Fleming, Emmylou Harris and Elvis Costello last night, listening to old reel to reel tape recordings from… Read More Katz of the Day: Reflections on Mountain Dew
By Michael Katz Of all the reasons to record a live album, “Because we can” might not seem the most compelling until you consider the opportunity that manifested itself Tuesday night at Vitello’s, and then you would ask, “How could you not?” Start out with lifelong friends all gathered in town, add some of the… Read More Live Jazz: The Michael Wolff Quartet Records Live at Vitello’s
By Michael Katz It’s always an occasion to celebrate when pianist Michael Wolff returns to LA. On Friday night at Vitello’s he led an all-star quartet, featuring his longtime running mate John B. Williams on bass, Bob Sheppard on tenor and soprano sax and, in a rare treat for this SoCal audience, Mike Clark on… Read More Live Jazz: The Michael Wolff Quartet at Vitello’s
By Michael Katz Disney Hall and the LA Phil continued their West Coast Left Coast series Tuesday night with A Night at the Beats, featuring two fine jazz ensembles, two classic West Coast poets and two singers from divergent backgrounds. A slight disclaimer before I go further: I was seated in the so-called “Orchestra View”… Read More Live Jazz: “A Night at the Beats” with Charles Lloyd, Joshua Redman, John Handy, Kurt Elling, Michael McClure, Exene Cervenka and others at Disney Hall
by Michael Katz Sunday at the Monterey Jazz Festival is always a mixed bag of styles, from the high school big bands to the closing headliners, with jazz variations on everything from salsa and bluegrass to the traditional Hammond B3 blowouts. Given that the mission of MJF is jazz education, I always like to check… Read More 60th Monterey Jazz Festival Day 3
By Michael Katz It’s 5:30 Friday night; a light breeze cools off a balmy mid-September evening at the Monterey Fairgrounds. The line of folks waiting to get in snakes all the way down the street, almost to the rear gate. Inside, a few of us scrivener types sit at picnic tables, observing the calm. In… Read More DAY ONE, 60th Monterey Jazz Festival
by Michael Katz The 60th Anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival takes place September 15-17, featuring 100th birthday salutes to Ella, Dizzy and Thelonius – and yes, if referring to those giants by their first names infers a name-dropping familiarity, that is what a personal 20 year history attending the MJF fosters. It’s a vibe,… Read More Monterey Jazz Festival 60th Anniversary Preview
By Michael Katz For the multitudes of jazz fans on the West Coast and beyond, the third weekend of September is the highlight of the year. The 59th annual Monterey Jazz Festival was a perfect antidote to the ever-acrimonious political miasma we find ourselves in. An oasis of joy and spirituality, MJF 59 was three… Read More Monterey Jazz Festival 2016
The International Review of Music 