By Don Heckman Friday and Saturday Oct. 23 & 24 Thelma Houston. “My Motown” Grammy-winning r&b singer Houston recalls the glories of the Motown era. Catalina Bar o& Grill. Friday Oct. 23 Doug Webb and the Webb Allstars. Saxophonist Webb is a master of every kind of woodwind instrument. Here he is, in action. The… Read More Picks of the Long Weekend in Los Angeles: October 23 – 25
By The iRoM Staff Los Angeles Valentine’s Day – Feb. 13 – 17. (Wed. – Sun.) Steve Tyrell. Vocalist Tyrell applies his appealing, jazz-driven style, enhanced by his warm Texas roots, to five evenings of memorable Valentine’s Day celebrating. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. – Feb. 14 (Thurs.) Dream Street & Bobbi Page. The… Read More Picks of the Week: Feb. 12 – 17
By Don Heckman Studio City, CA. Sometimes a music reviewer just has to do a lot in a single night – often unexpectedly. As I did on Friday. Even though it hadn’t actually started out that way. My schedule for the evening originally included a stop at Vitello’s to hear the Bill Cunliffe big band… Read More Live Jazz: A Busy Friday Night at Vitello’s and the Out Take Bistro
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 15 – 20. (Tues. – Sun.) Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke celebrate Jack’s 70th birthday. It would be hard to ask for a more stellar trio than this. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear three authentically iconic jazz artists performing together. Catalina Bar & Grill. … Read More Picks of the Week: May 15 – 20
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 21. (Wed.) Zana Messia and the Balkan Soul Orchestra. Yugoslavian singer-songwriter Messia celebrates the release of her new album, Balkan Soul, featuring the arching melodies and gypsy rhythms of her songs. Guest performers will reportedly be in attendance as well. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Mar. 21. (Wed.) Zakir… Read More Picks of the Week: Mar. 20 – 25
By Don Heckman The subtitle for this splendid program of song at Vitello’s Wednesday night was “A Salute to Black History Month.” And both the title and the subtitle were right on target. The performance was dedicated to selections from the extraordinary song catalog of Jimmy McHugh – who is surely one of the least… Read More Live Music: A Jimmy McHugh Celebration at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Feb. 29. (Wed.) Carol Robbins. She’s that rare musical combination – a jazz harpist. And Robbins has brought it off in convincing style, playing with everyone from Frank Sinatra and the Manhattan Transfer to Billy Childs and Dianne Reeves. This time out, Robbins does it her way. Vibrato Grill… Read More Picks of the Week: Feb. 28 – Mar. 4
By Don Heckman When Rick Braun asked me to write the liner notes for his new album a few months ago, I wasn’t sure what to say. I knew he was a fine jazz trumpeter with solid mainstream skills, despite the fact that he was best known as a high visibility performer in the smooth… Read More Here, There & Everywhere: Rick Braun Sings
By Don Heckman Clarinetist Eddie Daniels’ masterful performance at Vitello’s Friday was – as his appearances often are – a gripping reminder of his instrument’s adventurous jazz past, present and future. For the first half of the jazz century, the clarinet was one of the music’s key voices. Vital to the New Orleans style, a… Read More Live Jazz: The Eddie Daniels Quartet at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 23. (Tues.) Clay Jenkins. Good Signs CD concert. Trumpeter Jenkins celebrates the September release of his new CD with the stellar band on the album — guitarist Larry Koonse, bassist Tom Warrington and drummer Joe LaBarbera. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Aug. 24. (Wed.) Alan Ferber Quartet. Versatile trombonist… Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 23 – 28
The International Review of Music 