By Don Heckman Diana Krall’s continuing quest to widen her already far reaching repertoire has led her to some of the most memorable songs of the ’70s and ’80s in this fine new Verve outing. I’ve been hearing, seeing and writing about Diana in action since the ’90s. And I’ve been consistently awed by her… Read More CD Review: Diana Krall “Wallflower”
By Ella Leya (iRoM’s European Correspondent) London, Engand. Both names illuminated Eventim Apollo, formerly the Hammersmith Apollo, one of the UK’s largest and best-preserved original Art Deco theaters – a venue that played host to many legendary acts of the past – The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley. As well as to Steven Demetre… Read More Live Music: YUSUF or CAT STEVENS? at London’s Eventim Apollo
By Don Heckman Northridge, CA. Memories galore resonated through the architecturally grand, acoustically captivating Valley Performing Arts Center on the campus of CalState Northridge Saturday night. Memories, that is, of an era dominated by the Beatles. The performance, by the Fab Faux, was yet another display of the Center’s growing presence as the creative center… Read More Live Music: The Fab Faux at the Valley Performing Arts Center
By Devon Wendell The Experience Hendrix estate and the good people of PBS present a brand new Jimi Hendrix documentary, Hear My Train A Comin’ as a part of their American Masters series. There was an advanced screening of the film at The Sony Entertainment Room in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, October 2nd. It will… Read More Film Review: American Masters: Jimi Hendrix- “Hear My Train A Comin’”
By Don Heckman An extraordinarily well-planned performance at the Hollywood Bowl Friday night opened with a delightful appearance by Lyle Lovett and his Large Band. Lovett’s far-ranging career has reached from acting to music, with a variety of stops in between. But heard in a wide open, Hollywood Bowl setting, driven by the jazz rhythms… Read More Live Music: Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett at the Hollywood Bowl
By Devon Wendell I was saddened when I learned that Hugh McCracken passed away of leukemia yesterday – March 28th, 2013 – in New York City. While working at Donald Fagen’s recording studio in New York in the 90s, I was constantly surrounded by the top session musicians of the world on a constant basis,… Read More An Appreciation: Hugh McCracken — A Fond Remembrance
By Don Heckman Drummer Denny Seiwell, who made a rare appearance at Vitello’s Friday night, has a resume reaching from Zoot Sims and Al Cohn to Joe Cocker, the Who, Art Garfunkel, James Brown and many other jazz and rock luminaries. But his most significant musical association may have been the time he spent as… Read More Live Jazz: Denny Seiwell, John Chiodini and Joe Bagg at Vitello’s
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 Mike Finkelstein On Saturday night Brian Wilson played a homecoming show of sorts at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, a gorgeous venue with a sound that is on a par with its architecture. In the late ‘50s/early ‘60s Wilson and his brothers grew up in Hawthorne just a few miles west of… Read More Live Music: Brian Wilson at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
Morgan Ames apprenticed with Quincy Jones; sang/contracted singers for Queen Latifah for opening of 2010 Super Bowl; sang backgrounds on 2011 Oscar telecast and with Celine Dion for 9/11 telethon, conducted singers onstage for Paul McCartney at a Green Peace concert at the Hollywood Bowl (“Hey Jude”); has written songs with Johnny Mandel, Bob James,… Read More Op Ed Commentary: Morgan Ames on Millennium Women and A Cappella
The International Review of Music 