By Brian Arsenault The first cut, “Big Noise, New York” storms in like a Saturday night in Manhattan and I go, “Great! powerhouse jazz served smoking.” But that’s not the whole of Denise Donatelli’s Find a Heart, not by a long shot. New York brassiness is followed by Paris Rain so soft, soft as… Read More CD Review: Denise Donatelli’s “Find A Heart” (Savant)
By Don Heckman – April 16. (Thurs.) The Mutter Bronfman Harrell Trio. Three international virtuosi – violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, pianist Yefim Bronfman and cellist Lynn Harrell – apply their remarkable skills to a program of classic piano trios: Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97 “Archduke” and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio in A minor, Op.… Read More Highlights of the Long Weekend: In Los Angeles
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 27. Tues.) Lyn Stanley “Lost in Romance.” Jazz vocalist Lyn Stanley celebrates the release of her new album in the stellar company of Tamir Hendelman, Mike Lang, Llew Matthews, Dominic Genova, Jim DeJulio, Bernie Dresel, Rickey Woodard, Bob McChesney and Grant Geissman. Add to that an appearance by… Read More Picks of the Week: August 26 – Sept. 1
By Don Heckman Grammmy-nominated pianist Geoffrey Keezer showcased his impressive solo talents at Vitello’s Friday night for an enthusiastic, overflow crowd sparkling with the presence of such stellar music world listeners as Chris Botti, Billy Childs, Bobby Colomby, John Proulx, Mike Lang, Denise Donatelli, Mark Winkler and others. Seemingly inspired by his audience, Keezer offered… Read More Live Jazz: Geoffrey Keezer at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Hollywood, CA. The line waiting to get in to Catalina Bar & Grill at 7:30 Thursday night stretched all the way back to the jazz venue’s nearby garage. And it was moving slowly. But there was no sign of anyone leaving. Not for this performance. Not with a stellar assemblage of talented… Read More Live Jazz: A Tribute to Bill Henderson at Catalina Bar & Grill
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 17. (Wed.) Corky Hale and special guest Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge perform selections from the Billie Holiday songbook. Pianist/harpist Hale, who accompanied Holiday in the ‘50s, is well qualified for the job. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. April 17. (Wed.) Julian Coryell. The son of fine… Read More Picks of the Week: April 17 – 21
By Don Heckman Studio City, CA. It was a return visit to Vitello’s Wednesday night for And They She Wrote. The cast was slightly different from the line-up that brought the same show to Vitello’s in June. But the selections were largely the same classics from the Great American songbook, once again illuminating how many of… Read More Live Music: “And Then She Wrote” with Peter Marshall, Carol Welsman, Denise Donatelli
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 27 & 28. (Tues. & Wed.) “And Then She Wrote.” With Peter Marshall, Carol Welsman and Denise Donatelli. A new version of an entertaining show dedicated to the female composers and lyricists of the Great American Songbook. Tuesday night the duo of Marshall and Welsman perform; on Wednesday,… Read More Picks of the Week: Nov. 27 – Dec. 2
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 8. (Tues.) Rick Braun Sings. Trumpeter Rick Braun, a high visibility instrumentalist in the smooth jazz arena, displays his engaging vocal skills on his latest album, the appropriately titled Rick Braun Sings With Strings. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Nov. 9. (Wed.) Phil Norman Tentet CD release party. The… Read More Picks of the Week Nov. 8 – 13
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 11. (Wed.) Perla Batalla. Blessed with a rich-toned voice, fascinated with a broad range of music, Batalla tells an engaging story with everything she sings. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. (562) 916-8501. – May 11. (Wed.) Julia Gottlieb. Emerging young singer Gottlieb does a showcase performance with… Read More Picks of the Week: May 10 – 15
The International Review of Music 