“How Long Has This Been Going On?” By Roger Crane, the Song Scout BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION “How Long Has This Been Going On?” is an early song (1927) composed by the Gershwin brothers that expresses the delight of a first kiss. George was blessed to have a brother who was a… Read More Keeping the GAS (Great American Songbook) Flame Burning
By Don Heckman Electricity and internet problems in iRoM land prevented the posting of a full week of International Picks. But now we finally have enough power and web access to list some Picks of the Weekend here in L.A. Next week, Picks of the Week will be back on track with our global overview.… Read More Picks of the Weekend: May 3 – 5 in Los Angeles
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 12. (Tues.) Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Marsalis and his JLCO players continue to bring life to the past, the present and the future of big band jazz. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000. Mar. 12. (Tues.) Allison Adams Tucker. “Women in Jazz.” Jazz singer Tucker… Read More Picks of the Week: Mar. 12 – 17
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 2. (Tues.) An Evening with Emmylou Harris and Her Red Dirt Boys. Grammy winning country music icon Harris possesses one of the pop/country world’s finest voices. Hopefully she’ll apply it to some of the memorable songs from her catalog of classics. CAP UCLA Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101.… Read More Picks of the Week: Oct. 2 – 7
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 15 – 20. (Tues. – Sun.) Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke celebrate Jack’s 70th birthday. It would be hard to ask for a more stellar trio than this. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear three authentically iconic jazz artists performing together. Catalina Bar & Grill. … Read More Picks of the Week: May 15 – 20
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Jan. 4. (Wed.) Kris Bowers. 22 year old pianist Bowers, a graduate student at Julliard, was the winner of the Thelonious Monk Piano Competition in 2011.) Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. – Jan. 5. (Thurs.) Jon Mayer Quintet. Veteran pianist Mayer, whose resume includes gigs with the likes… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 4 – 8
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 11. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. It’s a Los Angeles jazz institution, combining veteran guitarist Pisano with some of the Southland’s (and the world’s) finest guitarists. This week, he’s trading riffs with Pat Kelley. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Oct. 11 – 13. (Tues. – Thurs.) HIT Week. Italian… Read More Picks of the Week: Oct. 11 – 16
By Michael Katz Pianist Brad Mehldau brought an estimable quintet to Disney Hall Friday night to perform compositions from his Night Rider album, backed by a chamber orchestra conducted by Scott Yoo. The combination of jazz and orchestra always presents challenges to both musicians and audience, as traditional soloing and interplay within a small group… Read More Live Jazz: Brad Mehldau and Friends at Walt Disney Concert Hall
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Jan. 18. (Tues.) John Pisano Guitar Night. With Larry Koonse and Tom Warrington. Koonse is everybody’s first call guitarist. Here’s a too rare chance to hear him in the spotlight. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Jan. 18. (Tues.) Theo Saunders Quartet. Pianist Saunders has a resume with activities covering every… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 18 – 23
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 31. (Tues.) The Karen Lovely Band. Rising vocal star Lovely is applying her powerful singing to classic blues, richly investing the styles of the ’30s and ’40s — Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, etc. — with her uniquely contemporary perspective. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Aug. 31.… Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 30 – Sept. 5
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