By Don Heckman The vast accomplishments that made Benny Carter a jazz icon are far too numerous to mention here. Suffice to say that he was a brilliant instrumentalist (on saxophone, trumpet and more), a gifted composer/arranger for everything from small jazz bands to symphonic orchestras, the creator of a string of Swing Era big… Read More Live Jazz: Deborah Pearl sings her Benny Carter songs at Vitello’s
One of the many pleasures of reviewing music is the opportunity to hear gifted performers grow and evolve in their art. And that’s exactly the feeling I had Wednesday night, when I heard singer/pianist Carol Welsman perform at Vitello’s. I’ve been fond of her music since the first time I heard her a few years… Read More Live Jazz: Carol Welsman at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Strunz and Farah have been around for so long that it can be easy to take them for granted. The two-guitar partnership of Costa Rican-born Jorge Strunz and Iranian native Ardeshir Farah reaches back to their first CD, Mosaico, released in 1980. And their three-decade musical relationship (lasting longer than many marriages)… Read More Live World Music: Strunz & Farah at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman Bill Cunliffe is a musical adventurer. His CDs, as well as his live performances reach out in all directions, challenging his pianistic and compositional skills with a compelling range of genres and instrumentations. On Saturday night at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. he led his “Imaginación Quartet” in a group of Latin-jazz oriented selections… Read More Live Jazz: Bill Cunliffe’s Imaginacion Quartet at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 20. (Mon.) Phil Norman Tentet. Norman’s collective of L.A.’s premium players, performing briskly swinging charts recalls the buoyant West Coast jazz of the ’50s and ’60s. Charlie O’s. (818) 994-3058. www.charlieos.com – April 21. (Tues.) Kristen Korb Sextet. She sings, she swings, she plays the bass and celebrates… Read More Picks of the Week: April 20 – 26
The International Review of Music 