By James DeFrances As Janis Siegel sang “the sun is shining, the grass is green, there’s never been quite a day in Beverly Hills LA” (the verse to Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas”) it became apparent that the Manhattan Transfer singers are just as comfortable in LA as they are back home in New York. Walt… Read More Live Music for the Holidays: The Manhattan Transfer at Walt Disney Concert Hall
By Don Heckman Studio City CA. There was no doubt in my mind that Cheryl Bentyne would deliver a memorable performance at Vitello’s Saturday night. I just didn’t know how memorable it would be. Fully returned to performing action after recovering from a life threatening illness, Cheryl was in peak condition. She had been a… Read More Live Jazz: Cheryl Bentyne at Vitello’s
Two Songbirds and the American Songbook By Brian Arsenault The so-called American Songbook doesn’t get old. It gets better. Because artists of the day keep reinterpreting and expanding it. The branches of the tree grow gracefully and the songbirds perch higher. Robin Bessier other side of forever (Whispering River) In On the Road, Sal Paradise… Read More Record Rack: Robin Bessier, Eliane Elias (and a few words for Boones the Cat)
By Don Heckman Studio City, CA. The stage setting for Cheryl Bentyne’s performance at Vitello’s Friday night seemed surprisingly spare. An acoustic bass and a music stand on the left, a pair of guitars and a music stand on the right, and a stool and a vocal mic in the middle. That was it. “Up… Read More Live Jazz: Cheryl Bentyne at Vitello’s
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
Cheryl Bentyne “Let’s Misbehave – The Cole Porter Songbook” (Summit Records) By Brian Arsenault You come back from cancer knowing you are mortal — you are therefore human — so Cole Porter’s ability to “cover the human condition” seems so right for Cheryl Bentyne, long of Manhattan Transfer. And it is. Thoughtful, playful, wry, romantic,… Read More CD Review: Cheryl Bentyne “Let’s Misbehave – The Cole Porter Songbook”
By Don Heckman There was a celebratory mood in the air at Vitello’s Saturday night. And with good reason. Cheryl Bentyne – one of the four vocal stars in the Manhattan Transfer constellation – was returning to action after successfully confronting a life threatening illness. In characteristic fashion, she did it in full out, take… Read More Live Jazz: Cheryl Bentyne and Mark Winkler 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 Los Angeles – Feb. 7. (Tues.) Misha Piatigorsky and Sketchy Black Dog. Winner of the 2004 Thelonious Monk Composers’ Competition, Piatigorsky applies his adventurous composition and piano playing skills within the offbeat string quartet sounds of the Sketchy Black Dog. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. http://www.vibratogrilljazz.com (310) 474-9400. – Feb. 7. (Tues.) Guitar Night. … Read More Picks of the Week: Feb. 6 – 12
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 12. (Mon.) Handel’s Messiah Singalong. It’s an annual delight for anyone who’s ever sung in a choir – and even those who haven’t – to share in the magic of Handel’s classic. The L.A. Master Chorale leads the way. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000. – Dec. 13 (Tues.) The… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 12 – 18
The International Review of Music 