By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 23 & 24 (Mon. & Tues.) Manhattan Transfer and Take 6. The two most masterful vocal ensembles of the past few decades get together for the first time. No wonder it’s called “The Summit” as they perform at the start of a national tour. Catalina Bar & Grill… Read More Picks of the Week in Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City, London, Copenhagen and Tokyo
By Devon Wendell So it’s that time again folks; another annual Playboy Jazz Festival has come and gone. As most of us know, the first rule when attending the festival is that we pissed off jazz enthusiasts must check our inner jazz- purist at the security gate before the festivities begin because you could actually… Read More Live Jazz: Highlights from the 36th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival At The Hollywood Bowl
By Don Heckman What is there to say about a Festival that loses its way? It’s a question that kept running through my mind during the 36th annual Playboy Jazz Festival Saturday and Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl. That’s not to challenge the quality of the sounds beamed from the Bowl stage to a capacity… Read More Live Jazz: The 36th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl
By Don Heckman Summer is upon us, and the live performance schedules around the world are largely dominated by the irresistible big venue festivals. But there’s still a lot of compelling music to be heard in smaller venues, as well. Los Angeles – June 10. (Tues.) Strunz and Farah. Jorge Strunz, born in Costa Rica… Read More Picks of the Week: June 10 – 15
For Last Minute Shoppers Only (We Need All the Help We Can Get) By Brian Arsenault Peggy Duquesnel All I Ask For Christmas (CD Baby) There’s a real neat Christmas music album that for whatever reason I didn’t get around to reviewing. Peggy Duquesnel’s All I Ask For Christmas is the complete package. You get… Read More Brian Arsenault’s Short Takes: CDs and DVDs from Peggy Duquesnel, Roy Orbison, Julie Cain and Favorites from 2013
Impressions from MJF 56, Saturday By Michael Katz. Saturday at MJF is a sprawl of music, food, and a friendly wave of humanity washing over everything. After years of vacillating between the supposedly bigger names in the sun-baked arena and the fun of the Garden Stage, I opted this year to grab a bench seat… Read More Live Jazz: Saturday at the Monterey Jazz Festival 56
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 Don Heckman Hollywood, CA. George Benson’s tribute to Nat “King” Cole at the Hollywood Bowl Wednesday night was a major musical effort. He could have simply performed a program of Cole-related songs with a small group comparable to the classic Cole Trio. Instead, Benson and the L.A. Phil elected – as Cole occasionally did… Read More Live Music: George Benson Salutes Nat “King” Cole at the Hollywood Bowl
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 10 (Tues.) Rachmaninoff and Gershwin. “Romantic Favorites.” The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya with piano soloist Daniil Trifonov, performs a program of richly colorful, early 20th century music. Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000. – Sept. 11. (Wed.) George Benson Inspiration Tour. A Tribute To Nat “King” Cole.… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 10 – 15
By Don Heckman Long time fans of the Playboy Jazz Festival are going to receive a surprise this year for the legendary event’s 35th anniversary. After having hosted virtually all of the previous Festivals, Bill Cosby has decided to retire. He’ll be replaced by George Lopez, stand up comedian, actor and host of the late… Read More Q & A: George Lopez and the Playboy Jazz Festival
The International Review of Music 