By Don Heckman Bel Air CA. There was music in the air Thursday night at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. Not that it was especially unusual to hear an engaging program of songs at Herb Alpert’s elegant Bel Air jazz club. But on this evening, with singer/pianist Betty Bryant displaying the full range of her remarkable skills,… Read More Live Jazz: Betty Bryant at Vibrato Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 27 & 28. (Tues. & Wed.) “And Then She Wrote.” With Peter Marshall, Carol Welsman and Denise Donatelli. A new version of an entertaining show dedicated to the female composers and lyricists of the Great American Songbook. Tuesday night the duo of Marshall and Welsman perform; on Wednesday,… Read More Picks of the Week: Nov. 27 – Dec. 2
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 21. (Tues.) McGegan conducts Haydn. Nicholas McGegan conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a program of Papa Haydn’s finest, including the Alleluia Symphony and the Drumroll Symphony. Add to that an appearance by the brilliant British trumpeter Alison Balsom performing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000. –… Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 20 – 26
By Don Heckman It’s always a good night at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. when the club’s Music Director, bassist Pat Senatore, books some of L.A.’s finest players for a laid-back, quasi-jam session performance. On Friday night, it was a quartet led by alto saxophonist/flutist Gary Foster, with pianist Tom Ranier, drummer Ramon Banda and… Read More Live Jazz: The Gary Foster Quartet at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 6. (Tues.) John Pisano’s “Guitar Night.” Pisano takes his ever-entertaining, ever-popular “Guitar Night” to a new venue. To celebrate the move, the featured guest is veteran guitarist Mundell Lowe. Lucy’s 51. Toluca Lake. (818) 763-5200. Mar. 6. (Tues.) The Gonzalo Bergara Quartet. Guitarist Bergara and his crew bring… Read More Picks of the Week: March 6 – 11
By Tony Gieske Every once in a while you get to hear some straight no rocks saxophone playing, and such was on tap, or perhaps uncorked would be a better term, when Dale Fielder played Vibrato on Friday. He did the whole set on baritone saxophone. So it was fresh sound all the way, not… Read More Live Jazz: Dale Fielder at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 30. (Mon.) Gala Opera Night. Demetra George and Ralph Cato perform “Villains and Heroines at the Opera,” selections from Puccini, Verdi and Strauss. Frank Fetta is music director. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Nov. 30. (Mon.) Slide FX Trombone Tentet. Not quite enough trombones to play “76… Read More Picks of the Week: Nov. 30 – Dec. 6
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 9. (Mon.) Judy Wexler. Wexler’s briskly swinging vocal style finds a perfect match with the trio of organist Joe Bagg, guitarist Bruce Forman and drummer Devin Kelly. Charlie O’s. (818) 989-3110. – Nov. 10. (Tues.) Reginald Robinson. The MacArthur Genius award winning pianist performs solo ragtime pieces… Read More PIcks of the Week: Nov. 9 – 15
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 11. (Tues.) John Pisano Guitar Night. Every Guitar Night — Tuesdays at Spazio — is a great night for music. And this one’s even more special, with Pisano trading licks with the versatile, imaginative Larry Koonse. Tom Warrington‘s bass keeps the dueling guitars in line. Spazio. (818) 728-8400.… Read More Picks of the Week: August 11 – 16
The International Review of Music 