By Don Heckman The first weekends of 2016 are upon us. And a glance at the music filling the Southland’s music arenas — from clubs to concert halls — is a reminder of the far-reaching pleasures available to Angelenos’ music fans. We’ve mostly been away from the Los Angeles area for the past year, spending… Read More Picks of the Long Weekend in Los Angeles – Jan. 7 – 10
By Don Heckman Johnny Mandel was at Vitello’s again Saturday night, leading a big band at the venue for the third time in a year. Despite the familiarity of the music – or, perhaps, because of it — one couldn’t ask for better evidence of the long term quality of his achievements, as a composer,… Read More Live Jazz: The Johnny Mandel Big Band
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 12. (Tues.) Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Marsalis and his JLCO players continue to bring life to the past, the present and the future of big band jazz. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000. Mar. 12. (Tues.) Allison Adams Tucker. “Women in Jazz.” Jazz singer Tucker… Read More Picks of the Week: Mar. 12 – 17
By Don Heckman On the way home from Disney Hall Sunday, the traffic on the 101 magically – and unexpectedly — opened up, and we suddenly realized we could reach Vitello’s just in time to catch the second set by the Ron Jones Jazz Influence Orchestra. Call it an unusual sequence – from the Christmas… Read More Live Jazz: The Ron Jones Jazz Influence Orchestra with April Williams at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Studio City, CA. Jazz performances don’t get any more up close and personal than the bi-weekly appearances of Cat Conner and Gene “Cip” Cipriano at the Out Take Bistro in Studio. City. At their performance on Friday night, singer Conner and saxophonist/clarinetist Cipriano, with the aid of guitarist Jim Fox, were comfortably… Read More Live Jazz: Cat Conner and Gene “Cip” Cipriano at the Out Take Bistro
By Don Heckman Studio City, CA. It wasn’t quite Johnny Mandel’s birthday last night. Not yet. But it was close enough to the actual date – November 25 – to celebrate the 87th anniversary of the great composer and arranger. And the packed crowd at Vitello’s enthusiastically joined in a group singing of “Happy Birthday.” … Read More Live Jazz: The Johnny Mandel Big Band at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Bel Air, CA. Alan Bergman made one of his too-rare club appearances Wednesday night in an utterly captivating performance at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. It’s always a pleasure to hear songwriters do their own music. And even more fascinating when the songwriter is as fine a performing artist as Bergman. In… Read More Live Music: Alan Bergman at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov 14. (Wed.) David Sanborn. Alto saxophonist Sanborn is the star of pop jazz, r & b and crossover. But at the heart of his playing is a deep involvement with the essential elements of straight ahead jazz. Catalina Bar & Grill. http://www.catalinajazzclub.com (323) 466-2210. – Nov. 14. (Wed.)… Read More Picks of the Week: Nov. 14 – 18
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 Vitello’s was packed to the gills Saturday night. And with good reason. Johnny Mandel was making one of his rare appearances, leading an assemblage of Southland jazz all-stars in an evening surveying his long, productive career as a composer, arranger and songwriter. At 86, recovering from hip problems and walking with a… Read More Live Jazz: The Johnny Mandel Big Band at Vitello’s
The International Review of Music 