By Michael Katz I’m going to tell you about the second set at Vitello’s Saturday night, featuring the Wolff & Clark Expedition, led by pianist Michael Wolff and drummer Mike Clark. Not that there was anything wrong with the first set. It was, in fact, quite wonderful. It’s just that some of you were no… Read More Live Jazz: The Wolff and Clark Expedition at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Apri. 3. (Wed.) Bobby McFerrin. One of the music world’s most uniquely gifted vocal talents, applying his startling skills to a celebration of his father’s gospel singing in a program titled Spirit You All. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000. – April 3. (Wed.) Dave Damiani and the No Vacancy… Read More Picks of the Week: April 2 – 7
By Michael Katz Los Angeles, CA. Looking back over the year’s worth of live performances I covered, mostly in jazz, is a bittersweet experience. There are surely enough terrific moments to fill a column, but in a city with L.A.’s diversity of talent, you can’t help wishing for more. Our club scene is struggling, with… Read More Live Music: 2012 in Review
By Michael Katz Saturday at the Monterey Jazz Festival is an Olympian feast, with just about everything you can imagine, from the blasting steel pedal of Robert Randolph to the nuanced guitar of Mimi Fox, the cult-like dominance of Trombone Shorty to the indomitable Tony Bennett. Not to mention the ear-splitting Thunderbirds flyover, courtesy of… Read More Live Jazz: Monterey Jazz Festival Notebook; Day #2
By Mike Katz Every year the Monterey Jazz Festival program features a Top Ten list from Artistic Director Tim Jackson, and I always think that’s interesting, but what does he tell everybody else? And how can he not mention (your favorite here). So I figured I’d take a stab at my own Top Ten, but… Read More Live Jazz: Mike Katz’s Monterey Jazz Festival Top Ten
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 14 & 15. (Tues. & Wed.) Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour. Cirque du Soleil. The music and lyrics of Michael Jackson are the foundation for a show that “immerses audiences in Michael’s creative world and literally turns his signature moves upside down,” performed by the incomparable artists… Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 14 – 19
By Michael Katz The 55th Monterey Jazz Festival announced its complete schedule yesterday, adding Tony Bennett and Michael Wolff (leading his Cal Tjader tribute band) to a program already rich with stars that include Pat Metheny, Showcase Artist Jack DeJohnette, Esperanza Spalding, Trombone Shorty, Bill Frisell and Artist-in-residence Ambrose Akinmusire. More on all that later.… Read More News: The 55th Monterey Jazz Festival Final Line Up.
By Michael Katz Of all the reasons to record a live album, “Because we can” might not seem the most compelling until you consider the opportunity that manifested itself Tuesday night at Vitello’s, and then you would ask, “How could you not?” Start out with lifelong friends all gathered in town, add some of the… Read More Live Jazz: The Michael Wolff Quartet Records Live at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 30 & 31. (Tues. & Wed.) Michael Wolff Quartet. Pianist and television personality Wolff does a live recording with the stellar ensemble of trumpeter/film composer Mark Isham, bassist John B. Williams and drummer Mike Clark. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Aug. 31. (Wed.) George Benson, George Duke, Marcus Miller… Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 30 – Sept. 4
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 11. (Mon.) Cabaret Cares. A Song For Japan. A benefit performance to aid the stricken populace of Japan features cabaret artists Andrea Marcovicci, Daisy Eagan, Lee Lessack, Sharon McNight and others. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. . – April 12. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. With Sid… Read More Picks of the Week: April 11 – 17
The International Review of Music 