AN OLYMPIC CARNAVAL AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL By Don Heckman What a great weekend. A remarkable synchronization , featuring performances of two remarkable Brazilian events . One is at the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro. As much as we’d all like to fly down to Rio, few Olympics fans will have ample funds for… Read More HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEKEND IN LOS ANGELES
By Don Heckman Renaissance Man is a label that’s been associated with Herb Alpert’s diverse career for years. And with good reason. How better to accurately describe Alpert’s mastery of skills reaching from the deep, often dark, complexities of the music business to his imaginative accomplishments as trumpeter, song writer, composer, band leader, producer, philanthropist… Read More CD Review: Herb Alpert’s “Come Fly With Me”
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 3 – 5. (Thurs. – Sat.) The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, presents a program of Bach and Mendelssohn. Violinist Gil Shaham is featured in a pair of Bach Concertos. The Philharmonic takes the spotlight with Mendelsohn’s Symphony No 1 and Overture for Harmoniemusik. An… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 2 – 6 (Wed. – Sun.) in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Chicago and New York City
By Don Heckman Wednesday August 19 at Catalina Bar & Grill Sally Kellerman She may be best known for her high visibility role as “Hot Lips Houlihan” in the film M*A*S*H. But Sally Kellerman has been a gifted singer since she was a teen-ager. And in her post-acting career, Sally has displayed the qualities of… Read More HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEKEND IN LOS ANGELES
By James DeFrances Perhaps we should be referring to her as the “Princess of Cool.” Last Sunday night, singer Deana Martin, daughter of the original “King of Cool,” Dean Martin, appeared at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. in Bel-Air. It was an evening of musical enrichment, great food and big smiles. The adoration Deana’s fans… Read More Live Music: Deana Martin at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman Herb Alpert’s at it again, encouraging young talent to display their skills by acknowledging their abilities with supportive rewards. Today, in a lunch at the Herb Alpert Foundation in Santa Monica, the 21st annual Herb Alpert Award in the Arts was presented to five exceptional mid-career artists. The awards recognize past… Read More The Herb Alpert 2015 Award in the Arts
By James DeFrances Bel Air, CA. Last Thursday evening at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Grill…etc. Sasha’s Bloc launched their new album – Heart On Fire – with a send off party in style. Alex Gershman’s jazz super group pulled out the stoppers during the second night of festivities for their release party bash. Complete with… Read More Live Music: Sasha’s Bloc at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc
By James DeFrancis Bel Air, CA. Last Tuesday night Pat Senatore, artistic director of Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz etc…, sardonically told me, “Christmas week is a big time for malls, not jazz clubs.” But as the lights dimmed and I looked around the room it occurred to me that something was altogether different about… Read More Live Music: Freda Payne at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By James DeFrances What do you call a blues version of Tony Bennett…? Simple, call him Tony Galla. Friday night at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz etc. Galla kept the Holiday energy going as he shifted from swinging jazz tunes to soulful blues ballads and literally everything in between. Galla and his trio have been… Read More Live Music: Tony Galla at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By James DeFrances Bel Air. Sunday night at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. one performer had the world on a string. That person was Seth MacFarlane and his name should ring a bell. MacFarlane has been the long time creator of Fox’s animated series Family Guy, as well as the brains behind the 2012 feature… Read More Live Music: Seth MacFarlane at Vibrato Grill Jazz..etc.
The International Review of Music 