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 Don Heckman Los Angeles – June 5. (Tues.) “And Then She Wrote.” Peter Marshall, Carol Welsman, Calabria Foti. Five time Emmy Award-winning Marshall (Yes, he sings, too) is joined by the lovely singer/instrumentalists Welsman and Foti in an evening of great standards written by women. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – June 5. (Tues.) Corliss Dale… Read More Picks of the Week: June 5 – 10
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Feb. 21. (Tues.) Strunz & Farah. Two guitars together don’t get any more exciting than the high speed musical magic of long-time partners Jorge Strunz and Ardeshir Farah. After more than three decades together, they’re still in rare form. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Feb. 22. (Wed.) “An… Read More Picks of the Week: Feb. 20 – 26
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 26. (Wed.) Goran Bregovic Wedding and Funeral Orchestra. Sarajevo’s wildly eclectic bandleader Bregovic leads an orchestra that combines Roma gypsy music, a brass band, strings, a male choir, Bulgarian back-up singers and traces of rock into an inimitable evening of mind-bending music. Disney Hall. (323) 8502000. – Oct.… Read More Picks of the Week: Oct. 24 – 30
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 Michael Katz Monterey, California. Sunday at Monterey began with a group of precocious teenagers and ended with an ageless octogenarian, concluding a festival that had highlights from every corner of the musical world. The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, MJF’s signature contribution to jazz education, is more than just a group of talented kids gathered… Read More Live Jazz: The 54th Monterey Jazz Festival — Sunday
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 24. (Tues.) A Tribute to Gene Harris. This is as close as live music gets to the irresistible sounds of the late Gene Harris’ Quartet. Pianist Bradley Young takes the lead role, backed by a trio of alumni from the original Harris ensemble – Luther Hughes, bass,… Read More Picks of the Week: May 24 – 29
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 18 (Wed.) Bill in Brazil. Grammy-winning pianist Bill Cunliffe, always unpredictable, displays his fascination with Brazilian music. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – May 18. (Wed.) John Proulx Trio. Pianist/singer Proulx mixes his crisp piano styings with the gentle vocals of his Chet Baker-inspired singing. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.… Read More Picks of the Week: May 17 – 22
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 22. (Tues.) Lisa McClowry. Eclectic singer McClowry –nominated for International Vocalist of the Year in the 2011 Wave Awards — ranges freely across pop, rock, jazz and folk boundary lines. She’ll be backed by a group that features guitarist/singer/Grammy winning songwriter Jim Peterik. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Mar.… Read More Picks of the Week: Mar. 22 – 27
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 8. (Tues.) Corky Hale and Friends. “I’m Glad There Is You.” Pianist, harpist, singer and imaginative producer Hale assembles most of the cast of prime talent on her album I’m Glad There Is You. The impressive line up includes Sally Kellerman, Ariana Savalas, Tricia Tahara and Brenna Whitaker,… Read More Picks of the Week: Mar. 8 – 13.
The International Review of Music 