Pianos On The Loose By Don Heckman Gerald Clayton: Life Forum (Concord Music) I’ve been listening to and marveling at the playing of Gerald Clayton since he was displaying all the makings of a unique jazz artist while still a teen-ager. Now 28, with three Grammy nominations, his credentials have been thoroughly established, and never… Read More Record Rack: Gerald Clayton, Steve Kuhn and Roberta Piket
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 2. (Tues.) An Evening with Emmylou Harris and Her Red Dirt Boys. Grammy winning country music icon Harris possesses one of the pop/country world’s finest voices. Hopefully she’ll apply it to some of the memorable songs from her catalog of classics. CAP UCLA Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101.… Read More Picks of the Week: Oct. 2 – 7
By Don Heckman Sara Gazarek’s performance at Vitello’s Saturday night called up recollections of the first time I heard her in action. That was six years ago at The Vic in Santa Monica. In my Los Angeles Times review I wrote that “she may well turn out to be the next important jazz singer.” That… Read More Live Jazz: Sara Gazarek at Vitello’s
By Michael Katz Vocalist Gretchen Parlato returned home to Los Angeles Saturday night before a large and enthusiastic audience at the Musician’s Institute, under the aegis the of the Jazz Bakery’s Movable Feast program. Having seen Parlato twice previously, the most notable addition was a steady working trio behind her that weaved seamlessly with her… Read More Live Jazz: Gretchen Parlato at a Jazz Bakery Movable Feast
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Jan. 16. (Mon.) Clare Fischer Big Band. The multiple Grammy-winning composer/arranger/pianist (and more) has a resume reaching from Dizzy Gillespie and Donald Byrd to Prince and Paul McCartney, with numerous stops in between. His own groups have reached from small to large, covering a brilliantly eclectic array of creative… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 16 – 22
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 24. (Tues.) A Tribute to Gene Harris. This is as close as live music gets to the irresistible sounds of the late Gene Harris’ Quartet. Pianist Bradley Young takes the lead role, backed by a trio of alumni from the original Harris ensemble – Luther Hughes, bass,… Read More Picks of the Week: May 24 – 29
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 19. (Tues.) Dave Damiani Orchestra. Singer Damiani celebrates the Swing Era and the songs of Frank Sinatra. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. . – April 19. (Tues.) Steve Huffsteter Big Band. Trumpeter Huffsteter steps out of the section to lead his own collective of all-stars. Vibrato Grill… Read More Picks of the Week: April 19 – 24
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Jan. 25. (Tues.) John Pisano Guitar Night features the always compelling playing of Anthony Wilson in the downstairs lounge. Upstairs, the jazz voices take over, with the Peter Eldridge Group and Dollison & Marsh’s Vertical Voices. Grammy nominated pianist Geoff Keezer provides his usual scintillating accompaniment. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 25 – 31
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 21. (Tues.) Further. Featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. The music of the Grateful dead still lives, as Lesh and Weir, with an all star band take the classics “further” out. The Greek Theatre. (323) 665-3125. – Sept. 21. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. Pisano teams up for… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 20 – 26
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 14. (Tues.) Michael Bolton. One World One Love Tour. The title says it all for the music of the two-time Grammy winner, Bolton, whose soft-rock style has been appealing to romantics since the ‘80s. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. (562) 915-8501. – Sept. 14. (Tues.) John Proulx… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 14 – 19.
The International Review of Music 