By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 17. (Thurs.) All Star Quartet. Pat Senatore, bass, Josh Nelson, piano, Larry Koonse, guitar, Mark Ferber, drums. “All Star” is the right label for this quartet of four of the Southland’s finest players. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Oct. 17 – 20. (Thurs. – Sun. Steve Gadd… Read More Picks of the Week: Oct. 14 – 20
Review by Michael Katz Photos by Bonnie Perkinson Hollywood CA. One happy problem with an eight hour music fest that runs uninterrupted through the shifting temperatures of a near-summer’s day at the Hollywood Bowl is a lineup so strong you don’t want to leave your seat. That was the occasion on Saturday, Day 1 of… Read More Live Jazz: The 35th Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, Day #1
David Basse Uptown (Cafe Pacific Records) By Brian Arsenault Uptown opens with another (yawn) jazz ode to Manhattan which is made more curious by the fact that David Basse is the acknowledged “leader” of the Kansas City jazz scene. In fact, two of the first three tracks are New York-centric which would be a little… Read More CD Review: David Basse’s “Uptown”
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 18 – 20. (Tues. – Thurs.) John Scofield. Always looking for new musical adventures, guitarist Scofield has moved through every imaginable jazz variation, including – among others –blues, gospel, pop, funk and beyond. But he’s always been a solid bebop master, as well. Lately, he’s been going back… Read More Picks of the Week: Oct. 18 – 22
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 16. (Tues.) Johnny Mandel Big Band. Multiple Grammy winner, gifted composer/arranger/songwriter Mandel is one of the Southland’s true musical treasures. This rare appearance with a big band serves as an early celebration of his 85th birthday on November 23. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Nov. 16. (Tues.) … Read More Picks of the Week: Nov. 16 – 21
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 21. (Tues.) Further. Featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. The music of the Grateful dead still lives, as Lesh and Weir, with an all star band take the classics “further” out. The Greek Theatre. (323) 665-3125. – Sept. 21. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. Pisano teams up for… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 20 – 26
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 24. (Mon.) Sopranos and Strings. Brad Dechter and Roger Neumann, soprano saxophones, Graham Dechter and Jim Fox, guitars and Chuck Nenneker, bass. The instrumentation makes for an evening of intriguing sounds, enhanced by the father and son presence of Brad and Graham Dechter. Charlie O’s. (919) 994-3058. –… Read More Picks of the Week: May 24 – 30
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 9. (Mon.) Judy Wexler. Wexler’s briskly swinging vocal style finds a perfect match with the trio of organist Joe Bagg, guitarist Bruce Forman and drummer Devin Kelly. Charlie O’s. (818) 989-3110. – Nov. 10. (Tues.) Reginald Robinson. The MacArthur Genius award winning pianist performs solo ragtime pieces… Read More PIcks of the Week: Nov. 9 – 15
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 9. (Mon.) Bill Holman Big Band. Holman is arguably one of the great, innovative arranger’composers of his – or of any – generation. With big band nights becoming difficult to maintain in the current economy, here’s a rare opportunity to hear Holman’s amazing charts up close and personal.… Read More Picks of the Week: March 9 – 15
The International Review of Music 