By Don Heckman Bill Cosby’s irrepressible personality has been such a vital element at the Playboy Jazz Festivals that the event seemed to lose its spark in the one year in which he took a hiatus. In addition to his role as master of ceremonies, his all-star Cos of Good Music band has become one… Read More Q & A: Bill Cosby, Jazz and the Playboy Jazz Festival
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 19. (Mon.) Pat Metheny. The ever-adventurous, all-star guitarist has put together a computerized, remote control ensemble that allows him to play all the instruments in his band. The Orchestrion Tour. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000. – April 19. (Mon.) Larry Goldings. Organ Night. The B-3 rules on Monday nights… Read More Picks of the Week: April 19 – 25
By Don Heckman Dick Gregory and Mort Sahl at Catalina Bar & Grill? Stand up comics at a jazz club? You bet. And a perfect combination it is. Gregory and Sahl (in particular) are still-potent survivors of the new comedians of the late ’50s and ’60s, comedians who, like Lenny Bruce and Lord Buckley, took… Read More Live Humor: Dick Gregory and Mort Sahl at Catalina Bar & Grill
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 1. (Tues.) Herb Alpert and Lani Hall. Trumpeter Alpert and vocalist Hall discuss their remarkable careers (individually and as a couple) and offer a few of the new slants on standards that make up the program in their impressive new live CD, “Anything Goes.” Grammy Museum. – Sept.… Read More Picks of the Week: September 1 – 6
The International Review of Music 