Picks of the Week: Dec. 2 – 6 (Wed. – Sun.) in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Chicago and New York City

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

Live Jazz: Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein and Bill Stewart at Vitello’s

By Don Heckman Let’s start with full disclosure: I haven’t always been a fan of B-3 organ jazz.  But what I’ve realized over the years is that the problem hasn’t been the instrument, but a few of the instrument’s players. All of which was fully clarified last night at Vitello’s with the stellar performance of… Read More Live Jazz: Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein and Bill Stewart at Vitello’s

Live Jazz: Charlie Haden, Larry Goldings and Tri-Tone Asylum at Castle Press

By Don Heckman Pasadena CA.  It was a night to remember.  A jazz concert in a printing company. The machine-filled Castle Press in Pasadena, to be precise.  With some of the performers positioned on a stage that consisted of a 460-ton printing press.   Add to that the party-like atmosphere, with listeners scattered across folding chairs… Read More Live Jazz: Charlie Haden, Larry Goldings and Tri-Tone Asylum at Castle Press