By Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 17. (Wed.) Corky Hale and special guest Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge perform selections from the Billie Holiday songbook. Pianist/harpist Hale, who accompanied Holiday in the ‘50s, is well qualified for the job. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. April 17. (Wed.) Julian Coryell. The son of fine… Read More Picks of the Week: April 17 – 21
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 – Jan. 16. (Mon.) Clare Fischer Big Band. The multiple Grammy-winning composer/arranger/pianist (and more) has a resume reaching from Dizzy Gillespie and Donald Byrd to Prince and Paul McCartney, with numerous stops in between. His own groups have reached from small to large, covering a brilliantly eclectic array of creative… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 16 – 22
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Jan. 4. (Wed.) Kris Bowers. 22 year old pianist Bowers, a graduate student at Julliard, was the winner of the Thelonious Monk Piano Competition in 2011.) Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. – Jan. 5. (Thurs.) Jon Mayer Quintet. Veteran pianist Mayer, whose resume includes gigs with the likes… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 4 – 8
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 11. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. It’s a Los Angeles jazz institution, combining veteran guitarist Pisano with some of the Southland’s (and the world’s) finest guitarists. This week, he’s trading riffs with Pat Kelley. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Oct. 11 – 13. (Tues. – Thurs.) HIT Week. Italian… Read More Picks of the Week: Oct. 11 – 16
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Feb. 8. (Tues.) The John Daversa Progressive Big Band. Trumpeter/composer/arranger Daversa takes the big band instrumentation into fascinating new musical areas. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Feb. 8. (Tues.) Lianne Carroll. BBC Jazz Award winner Carroll, who accompanies her vibrant vocals with equally dynamic piano playing, makes her… Read More Picks of the Week: Feb. 8 – 14
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Jan. 25. (Tues.) John Pisano Guitar Night features the always compelling playing of Anthony Wilson in the downstairs lounge. Upstairs, the jazz voices take over, with the Peter Eldridge Group and Dollison & Marsh’s Vertical Voices. Grammy nominated pianist Geoff Keezer provides his usual scintillating accompaniment. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 25 – 31
By Michael Katz Pianist Brad Mehldau brought an estimable quintet to Disney Hall Friday night to perform compositions from his Night Rider album, backed by a chamber orchestra conducted by Scott Yoo. The combination of jazz and orchestra always presents challenges to both musicians and audience, as traditional soloing and interplay within a small group… Read More Live Jazz: Brad Mehldau and Friends at Walt Disney Concert Hall
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Jan. 18. (Tues.) John Pisano Guitar Night. With Larry Koonse and Tom Warrington. Koonse is everybody’s first call guitarist. Here’s a too rare chance to hear him in the spotlight. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Jan. 18. (Tues.) Theo Saunders Quartet. Pianist Saunders has a resume with activities covering every… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 18 – 23
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Jan. 5. (Wed.) Tierney Sutton Band. Vocalist Sutton doesn’t just sing with a band; she brings her songs alive in an intimate, creative, musical companionship. And the results are always fascinating. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Jan. 6. (Thurs.) Elliot Deutsch Big Band. Trumpeter Deutsch celebrates his birthday leading his… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 5 – 9
The International Review of Music 