By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 8. (Tues.) Dominick Farinacci. Trumpeter Farinacci’s debut U.S. CD, Lovers, Tales and Dances, announced the arrival of an impressive new young jazz artist. He makes one of his rare Southland appearances for one night only. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Dec. 8. (Tues.) Charles Lloyd, Joshua Redman,… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 7 – 13
By Michael Katz What happens when the world’s greatest jazz festival meets the era’s worst economy? The recession made its presence felt at the 52nd Monterey Jazz Festival, with arena seats available at curtain time for the first time in memory. Even the official program was slimmed down by about 20 pages. But by any… Read More Live Jazz: The Monterey Jazz Festival (I)
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 16. (Wed.) Dominick Farinacci. The twenty-something Farinacci has been making waves lately as an emerging new trumpet star. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. – Sept. 16. (Wed.) Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles. Listen to this gifted trio of jazz masters in one of their too-rare… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 16 – 20
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 1. (Tues.) Herb Alpert and Lani Hall. Trumpeter Alpert and vocalist Hall discuss their remarkable careers (individually and as a couple) and offer a few of the new slants on standards that make up the program in their impressive new live CD, “Anything Goes.” Grammy Museum. – Sept.… Read More Picks of the Week: September 1 – 6
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 18. (Tues.) John Altman Quartet. The English saxophonist/composer has a line of credits reaching from Monty Python to bebop (with all stops in between). And with pianist Mike Lang, bassist Harvey Newmark and drummer Frank De Vito on hand, he has the backing to support his every musical… Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 18 – 23
By Michael Katz Trumpeter Randy Brecker led the Jazz Bakery into its final month on Helms Ave. this weekend with a fiery hard bop quintet featuring Bob Sheppard on saxophones, Patrice Rushen on piano, Hamilton Price on bass and backed by superb drummer Gerry Gibbs. The first set Friday night featured a series of creative… Read More Live Jazz: The Randy Brecker Quintet at the Jazz Bakery
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 6. (Wed.) Seal with Peter Cincotti. Singer, songwriter and international celebrity Seal headlines a bill that also includes young jazz/cabaret artist Cincotti. The Nokia Theatre (213) 763-6030. http://www.nokiatheatrelalive.com. – May 6. (Wed.) The John Beasley and Pat Senatore Duo. Beasley’s adventurous excursions combine with Senatore’s solid time and… Read More Picks of the Week: May 5 – 10
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 28. (Tues.) The Trio: Terry Trotter, Peter Erskine, Chuck Berghofer. The label might seem a little prepossessive in some hands, but not with these guys, whose playing defines the notion of interactive musical intimacy. Charlie O’s. (818) 994-3058 http://www.charlieos.com. – April 29. (Wed.) Mitch Forman Trio, with Darek… Read More Picks of the Week: April 27 – May 3
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – March 30 (Mon.) The Frank Capp Juggernaut Big Band. It’s a juggernaut, all right – a hard driving, deeply swinging collection of L.A.’s finest players, working through the scintillating repertoire of the Great American Big Band Book. Charlie O’s. (818) 994-3058. http://www.charlieos.com – April 1. (Wed.) The Alan Broadbent… Read More Picks of the Week: March 30 – April 5
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 3. (Tues.) Dominick Farinacci. The much-heralded young trumpet prodigy has just released his first album, “Lovers, Tales & Dances.” Already a featured performer at Lincoln Center, where he has studied with Wynton Marsalis, the 25 year old Julliard graduate has the chops, the imagination and the presence to… Read More Picks of the Week: March 2 – 8
The International Review of Music 