By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 2. (Wed.) Diane Hubka. Singer/guitarist Hubka celebrates the release of her new CD, West Coast Strings. She’ll be backed by a prime group of players: Guitarists John Pisano, Barry Zweig & David Eastlee, organist Bobby Pierce, bassist Jeff D’Angelo and drummer Kendall Kay. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323)… Read More Picks of the Week: October 2 – 6
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 34 (Wed.) Sally Kellerman. Hot Lips herself, in action. But Sally’s a one of a kind vocalist, too, bringing interpretive magic to everything she sings. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Oct. 24. (Wed.) Gabriel Johnson. Emerging jazz trumpeter Johnson has been praised by Clint Eastwood and Chris Botti, and… Read More Picks of the Week – Oct. 24 – 28
BY DON HECKMAN Los Angeles Oct. 11. (Thurs.) Dr. John, the Lower 911 and the Blind Boys of Alabama. “Spirituals To Funk.” The title is right on target, with Dr. John’s inimitable, funk-driven, Crescent city swing and the gripping spirituals of the Blind Boys. Valley Performing Arts Center. (818) 677-8800. – Oct. 11. (Thurs.) Frank… Read More Picks of the Week: October 9 – 14
Twitter Music By Fernando Gonzalez A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to hear the David Sanchez Quartet with Stefon Harris in concert. It was, by any reasonable jazz standard, a beautiful performance. The music, for the most part originals, was compelling and nicely designed. The group worked like a chamber ensemble, eschewing… Read More Jazz With an Accent: Music, the Brain and the Internet
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 25. (Wed.) Corky Hale and Freda Payne. A Salute to Billie Holiday’s Birthday. Lovely Freda Payne has a convincing way with the musical riches of the Holiday legacy. And the versatile pianist/harpist Hale, once Lady Day’s accompanist, provides the perfect setting. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. –… Read More Picks of the Week: April 25 – April 30
By Michael Katz The 55th Monterey Jazz Festival announced its complete schedule yesterday, adding Tony Bennett and Michael Wolff (leading his Cal Tjader tribute band) to a program already rich with stars that include Pat Metheny, Showcase Artist Jack DeJohnette, Esperanza Spalding, Trombone Shorty, Bill Frisell and Artist-in-residence Ambrose Akinmusire. More on all that later.… Read More News: The 55th Monterey Jazz Festival Final Line Up.
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 6. (Tues.) John Pisano’s “Guitar Night.” Pisano takes his ever-entertaining, ever-popular “Guitar Night” to a new venue. To celebrate the move, the featured guest is veteran guitarist Mundell Lowe. Lucy’s 51. Toluca Lake. (818) 763-5200. Mar. 6. (Tues.) The Gonzalo Bergara Quartet. Guitarist Bergara and his crew bring… Read More Picks of the Week: March 6 – 11
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Jan. 31. (Tues.) Anthony Wilson. He’s had a lot of visibility the past few years backing Diana Krall, but Wilson’s a certified jazz star in his own right – as a performer, a composer and a band leader. This time out, he gets back to basics with guitarist and… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 31 – Feb. 5
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 12. (Mon.) Handel’s Messiah Singalong. It’s an annual delight for anyone who’s ever sung in a choir – and even those who haven’t – to share in the magic of Handel’s classic. The L.A. Master Chorale leads the way. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000. – Dec. 13 (Tues.) The… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 12 – 18
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 6 & 7. (Tues. & Wed.) Sophie Milman. The young Russian/Canadian singer has thoroughly established herself as one of the important new arrivals on the jazz scene. She’ll hopefully do a few selections from her latest CD, In the Moonlight. Catalina Bar & Grill (323) 466-2210. – Dec.… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 6 – 11
The International Review of Music 