By Don Heckman Studio City, CA. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. An evening of well prepared Italian food, fine wine and even finer music at Vitello’s is a great way to experience world class jazz. And this past weekend offered a superb opportunity to all that and more. On Friday night… Read More Here, There & Everywhere: A Weekend at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Anyone with a more than passing interest in world class jazz singing should make a reservation for tonight or tomorrow night at Catalina Bar & Grill. Why? To hear Roberta Gambarini offer a set that is an entertaining display of jazz singing at its finest. Add to that the virtual seminar in… Read More Live Jazz: Roberta Gambarini at Catalina Bar & Grill
By Don Heckman There’s a long history of great jazz artists, reaching as far back as Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller, who understood the value of communicating, connecting and – yes, here’s that awful word – entertaining an audience. It’s a history that hasn’t had much impact upon recent jazz generations. When those qualities do… Read More Live Jazz: Judy Carmichael at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Judy Carmichael is a jazz rarity — a lively, contemporary pianist who has been specializing in classic jazz piano styles, especially stride piano, since the early ’80s. Count Basie nicknamed her “Stride,” and her early career was also aided by the likes of Sarah Vaughan, Benny Carter, Freddie Green and Roy Eldridge,… Read More Q & A: Judy Carmichael
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 1. Tues.) Hilary Hahn. The musically insightful violinist performs an intimate recital accompanied by pianist Valentina Lisitsa. On the program: Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000. – NOv. 1 & 2. (Tues. & Wed.) Barb Jungr. English singer Jungr’s versatility is revealed in her highly personal… Read More Picks of the Week: Nov. 1 – 6
By Don Heckman The vast accomplishments that made Benny Carter a jazz icon are far too numerous to mention here. Suffice to say that he was a brilliant instrumentalist (on saxophone, trumpet and more), a gifted composer/arranger for everything from small jazz bands to symphonic orchestras, the creator of a string of Swing Era big… Read More Live Jazz: Deborah Pearl sings her Benny Carter songs at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Los Angeles June 21. (Tues.) Misha Piatigorsky with Sketchy Black Dog. The winner of the 2004 Thelonious Monk Composers Competition, pianist Piatigorsky’s extraordinary skills reach from soundtrack composing for major films to collaborations with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Jon Hendricks and Joe Lovano. His piano trio combines with a string quartet… Read More Picks of the Week: June 21 – 26
By Tony Gieske Let’s talk about that undermeditated topic, lighting. The lighting at Vibrato’s voluminous listening room, for instance, is without stain and healthy, which is to say clean and well. Equally clean and well lighted, if you’ll forgive the segue, was the Steve Huffsteter big band, a precision ensemble that played the room last… Read More Live Jazz: The Steve Huffsteter Big Band at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
This is the first in a continuing series of iRoM holiday gift recommendations that will be adding new items until the end of 2009. By Don Heckman The latest entry in the Jazz Icons DVD series – Jazz Icons Series 4 – continues to provide extraordinary collections of live performances by some of the music’s… Read More iRoM’s Holiday Gift Guide: Jazz Icons Series 4
The International Review of Music 