By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 34 (Wed.) Sally Kellerman. Hot Lips herself, in action. But Sally’s a one of a kind vocalist, too, bringing interpretive magic to everything she sings. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Oct. 24. (Wed.) Gabriel Johnson. Emerging jazz trumpeter Johnson has been praised by Clint Eastwood and Chris Botti, and… Read More Picks of the Week – Oct. 24 – 28
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 11. (Tues.) Sarah Chang. A gifted child prodigy, violinist Chang has matured into a superb interpretive artist. In this far-reaching program, she performs a suite from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Bramwell Tovey. Also on the bill – works by Copland… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 11 – 16
By Don Heckman Los Angeles * * * * * * HIGHLIGHT * * * * * * The 34th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival: Saturday and Sunday, June 16 & 17 The Playboy Jazz Festival umbrella seems to get bigger year by year. And this year is no exception, with a program that reaches into… Read More Picks of the Week: June 12 – 17
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 2. (Wed.) Arturo Sandoval Big Band. He plays the trumpet, the piano and the drums, and he sings, too. The musical multi-hyphenate from Cuba showcases his dynamic versatility in the second installment of the new jazz series at The Federal. (818) 980-2655, – May 2. (Wed.) Llew… Read More Picks of the Week: May 2 – 6
By Don Heckman The 2012 Grammys are in, and once again there’s not much sound of surprise in the results. Certainly nothing in the same ballpark as last year’s Best New Artist award for Esperanza Spalding. That’s not to say that any of the wins were undeserved. Because they all were the products of gifted… Read More Here, There & Everywhere: The 2012 Jazz Grammy Winners
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 Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 6 & 7. (Tues. & Wed.) Sophie Milman. The young Russian/Canadian singer has thoroughly established herself as one of the important new arrivals on the jazz scene. She’ll hopefully do a few selections from her latest CD, In the Moonlight. Catalina Bar & Grill (323) 466-2210. – Dec.… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 6 – 11
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 13. (Tues.) Mozart’s Requiem. The Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, conducted by Bramwell Tovey, perform the masterpiece work, appropriately, two days after the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000. – Sept. 14. (Wed.) Carol Chaikin quartet. Saxophonist/flutist… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 13 – 18
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 23. (Tues.) Clay Jenkins. Good Signs CD concert. Trumpeter Jenkins celebrates the September release of his new CD with the stellar band on the album — guitarist Larry Koonse, bassist Tom Warrington and drummer Joe LaBarbera. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Aug. 24. (Wed.) Alan Ferber Quartet. Versatile trombonist… Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 23 – 28
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – June 6. (Mon.) Candi Sosa: Bolero Meets Jazz. Cuban born singer Sosa finds surprisingly compatible musical linkages between jazz and the lyrical Latin ballad style. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – June 7. (Tues.) Jennifer Leitham Trio. Bassist/singer Leitham celebrates the release of her DVD, The Real Me Live!, the chronicle… Read More Picks of the Week: June 6 – 12
The International Review of Music 