By Don Heckman There was good news for jazz Friday night at Catalina Bar & Grill. Good news because the Sunset Blvd. Jazz club – L.A.’s principal destination for world class jazz groups – was packed. Good news because the enthusiastic crowd seemed captivated by the music. And, best of all, good news because the… Read More Live Jazz: The Ron Carter Trio at Catalina Bar & Grill.
By Don Heckman There were only two musicians on stage Saturday night in a CAP UCLA performance at the University’s cozy Schoenberg Hall. But no more were needed. The musical encounter between pianist Fred Hersch and guitarist Julian Lage offered a definitive display of jazz improvisation at its finest. Hersch’s long, musically rich career has… Read More Live Jazz: Fred Hersch and Julian Lage at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall
By Cathy Segal-Garcia John Pisano on guitar, Jamie Findlay guest guitarist, John Belzaguy on bass and Tin Pleasant on drums. They were all on stage last Tuesday as I walked into Lucy’s 51 in Toluca Lake (on the location of the old Money Tree). I’ve seen Guitar Night many times in the past, but I… Read More Live Jazz: John Pisano’s Guitar Night at Lucy’s 51
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 Los Angeles – May 30. (Wed.) Gene Cipriano. “The World According to ‘Cip” Veteran saxophonist Cipriano, backed by a band of L.A.’s veteran jazz artists, in an evening of stories and song. His stellar band includes trombonist Dick Nash, pianist Tom Ranier, bassist Trey Henry and drummer Ralph Humphrey. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.… Read More Picks of the Week: May 29 – June3
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 17. (Tues.) Robert Davi. The warm, expressive sound, brisk rhythms and lyrical phrasing recall Frank Sinatra. But Davi is no Sinatra imitator. Inspired by Ol Blue Eyes, Davi has taken the style and shaped it into his own creative identity. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – April 17.… Read More Picks of the Week: April 16 – 22
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 15. (Tues.) Carol Welsman. Pianist/singer Welsman makes her last L.A. area performance of the year, which makes it one not to be missed. Hopefully she’ll play a few tunes from her soon to be released latest CD. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Nov. 16. (Wed.) Jane Harvey. … Read More Picks of the Week: Nov. 15 – 20
By Don Heckman Keyboardist Larry Goldings’sappearance at Vitello’s Friday night was a dramatic contrast from his usual musical environments. A regular with James Taylor, his resume also reaches from Christina Aguilera and John Mayer to Jim Hall, Norah Jones and beyond. At other times, he leads his own stellar organ trios. For this gig, however,… Read More Live Jazz: Larry Goldings at Vitello’s
By Tony Gieske I never thought I would be bored at a Bill Frisell concert, but that is what happened to me at Royce Hall on Saturday night. I was looking forward to a rich evening of fully developed playing by Frisell, one of a handful of electric guitar players worth hearing (others being, to… Read More Live Jazz: Bill Frisell at a UCLA Live concert in Royce Hall
By Michael Katz There is a moment at the Musicians Institute Saturday night when all is stillness. Guitarist Jim Hall has just announced the next tune, “All The Things You Are.” The near capacity house is riveted as Hall plucks the first few chords, his left hand working up and down the frets like a… Read More Live Jazz: The Jim Hall Quartet in a Jazz Bakery Movable Feast Concert
The International Review of Music 