By Don Heckman Oct. 1 – 4. (Thurs. – Sun.) IMMORTAL BEETHOVEN. Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a remarkable, four night tour de force program devoted to all nine of the Beethoven symphonies: #1 and #2 on Thursday; #3 and #4 on Friday; #5, #6, #7 and #8 on Saturday; and a… Read More Highlights of a Long Weekend: Oct. 1 – 4 in Los Angeles
By Brick Wahl In my heart of hearts, my favorite jazz festival ever has always been the one held every year on Central Avenue in the shadow of the Dunbar Hotel. It’s close to the roots of jazz in this town, it has band after swinging band, the musicians play like their lives depended on… Read More The Central Avenue Jazz Festival This Weekend
By Don Heckman It’s a light weekend, as Yom Kippur ushers in October. But there are some intriguing musical events to experience. Like these: – Oct. 3. (Fri.) Angelique Kidjo, With special guest Red Baraat, Dynamic, exciting and entertaining only begin to describe Angelique Kidjo’s remarkable performances. And this one includes the added high energies… Read More Picks of the Weekend in L.A.: October 3 – 5.
By Don Heckman As the warm days of September wind to a close, while autumn is just beginning to arrive, the bookings are light at clubs and concert venues around the world, but there’s still some very special music to hear. Los Angeles – Sept. 25. (Thurs.) Pat Senatore Trio. Bassist Senatore and his trio… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 24 – 28
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 18. (Wed.) Gina Saputo. Emerging young jazz vocal star Saputo shares the stage with a talented group of L.A.’s finest singers — Courtney Lemmon, Dave Damiani and Mark Christian Miller. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. – Sept. 18. (Wed.) The Sammy Cahn-cert. Vocalist Kurt Reichenbach sings the… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 18 – 22
Review by Devon Wendell Photos by Bonnie Perkinson Hollywood, CA. For the most part, it’s not just the music that has made The Annual Playboy Jazz Festival a Los Angeles summer tradition, but instead, it’s the music combined with the ever present party atmosphere. And this year was no different. Amidst the clouds of pot… Read More Live Jazz: the 35th Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl (Day #2)
Review by Michael Katz Photos by Bonnie Perkinson Hollywood CA. One happy problem with an eight hour music fest that runs uninterrupted through the shifting temperatures of a near-summer’s day at the Hollywood Bowl is a lineup so strong you don’t want to leave your seat. That was the occasion on Saturday, Day 1 of… Read More Live Jazz: The 35th Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, Day #1
By Don Heckman It’s coming up to that time of year again. Summer doesn’t really seem to spread its golden wings in Los Angeles until the annual middle of June Playboy Jazz Festival. And the first advance word about the annual event is always presented in a mid-February press conference at the Playboy Mansion. As… Read More Here, There & Everywhere: The 35th Anniversary Playboy Jazz Festival
By the iRoM Staff Los Angeles – Jan. 31. (Thurs.) The Don Williams Group. Percussionist Williams, a busy studio musician (not the country singer), takes a break to lead an all-star collective featuring saxophonist Bob Sheppard, trumpeter Carl Saunders, trombonist Bill Reichenbach, pianist Christian Jacob and bassist Dave Stone. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Jan. 31.… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 30 – Feb. 3
By Don Heckman The place was overflowing Tuesday night. But it wasn’t exactly the sort of music one usually hears at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. The name alone says it. Everyday musical cuisine at Herb Alpert‘s elegant jazz bistro, nestled in the high hills of Bel Air, is world class jazz, some occasional cabaret, musical theatre… Read More Live Music: Overtone at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
The International Review of Music 