By Michael Katz Every year I head up to the Monterey Jazz Festival with a battle plan for seeing as much of the three days and over 500 artists as reasonably possible, and every year that plan gets shredded almost from the opening notes. Musicians whom I’d intended to sample (like Gregory Porter last year)… Read More Preview: The 56th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival
By Michael Katz For those of us in love with the Monterey Jazz Festival, the longest six months of the year are the time between the final note of the last Sunday night show at the fairgrounds and the April 1 announcement of artists for the next MJF. That wait ended Monday morning with the… Read More Preview: The Monterey Jazz Festival 56
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Feb. 14. (Tues.) Nedra Wheeler. Bassist/vocalist Wheeler is a convincing performer as an instrumentalist and a singer. and she’ll no doubt be in rare form with the backing of Lanny Hartley, piano, Clarence Webb, saxophone and Munyungo Jackson, drums. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Feb. 15. (Wed.) Spanky… Read More Picks of the Week: Feb. 14 – 19
By Don Heckman Don Lucoff’s DL Media company has been one of the jazz world’s primary public relations and marketing consultants since 1988. In addition to a more than two decade association with Blue Note, Lucoff has worked with virtually every major and independent record label as well as a stellar list of individual jazz… Read More Q & A: Don Lucoff — Jazz Media Expert and Managing Director of the Portland Jazz Festival
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – July 12. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. With Mundell Lowe and bassist Jim Hughart. Guitar Night’s always a pleasure, but here’s one not to miss – a pair of veteran jazz guitarists in action with the support of a fine bassist. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – July 13. (Wed.) Chris… Read More Picks of the Week: July 12 – 17
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 8. (Tues.) Neil Sedaka. Hitmaker Sedaka showcases his memorable catalog of songs in a performance replacing a date cancelled in late October. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000. – Dec. 8. (Wed.) Carol Welsman Canadian-born Welsman has the rare ability to surround the supple timbres of her voice with an… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 7 – 12
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 14. (Mon.) Larry Goldings and Anthony Wilson. The launch of Organ Night at Vitello’s and it’s hard to think of a pair of players who could do it better. Red Carpet Jazz Serries. Upstairs at Vitellos. (818) 769-0905. – Dec. 14 – 16. . (Mon. – Wed.) An… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 14 – 20
The International Review of Music 