By Don Heckman Hollywood, CA. Jazz vocalist Cat Conner‘s performance at Catalina Bar & Grill last week was clearly expected to be a special event, which is precisely how it turned out. It was, first of all, a release party for Cat’s new CD, appropriately titled Cat House. Add to that the fact that any… Read More Live Music: Cat Conner at Catalina Bar & Grill
By Don Heckman Studio City, CA. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. An evening of well prepared Italian food, fine wine and even finer music at Vitello’s is a great way to experience world class jazz. And this past weekend offered a superb opportunity to all that and more. On Friday night… Read More Here, There & Everywhere: A Weekend at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Johnny Mandel was at Vitello’s again Saturday night, leading a big band at the venue for the third time in a year. Despite the familiarity of the music – or, perhaps, because of it — one couldn’t ask for better evidence of the long term quality of his achievements, as a composer,… Read More Live Jazz: The Johnny Mandel Big Band
By Don Heckman Studio City, CA. It wasn’t quite Johnny Mandel’s birthday last night. Not yet. But it was close enough to the actual date – November 25 – to celebrate the 87th anniversary of the great composer and arranger. And the packed crowd at Vitello’s enthusiastically joined in a group singing of “Happy Birthday.” … Read More Live Jazz: The Johnny Mandel Big Band at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman It’s no news that female singers have been arriving on the jazz scene in the past few decades with far greater frequency than males. Which makes it worth noticing when a male jazz singer with credentials as an instrumentalist makes an appearance. John Proulx isn’t exactly a new jazz artist, either as… Read More Live Jazz: John Proulx at Catalina Bar & Grill
By Don Heckman Bill Holman and his big band made one of their rare but always welcome Southland appearances Friday night at Vitello’s. And, with a packed house listening avidly to every note, Holman once again displayed his remarkable mastery of the big band format. One could make a good case for big band instrumentation… Read More Live Jazz: The Bill Holman Big Band Upstairs at Vitello’s
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 The Phil Norman Tentet’s music is a refreshing reminder of the fine jazz that has been produced over the years by medium sized – 9, 10, 11 pieces – bands. Some sterling examples come quickly to mind, headlined by the classic Miles Davis Birth of the Cool band. In their performance at… Read More Live Jazz: The Phil Norman Tentet at Vitello’s
By Tony Gieske The great Bill Holman writes all his own charts, as we know. So the bounty being bestowed from the bandstand at Vitello’s Monday night had mostly to do with the creative stovetop of the silver-haired bandleader drinking it all in as he stood a few feet away amid the tables. Watching his… Read More The Bill Holman Big Band at Vitello’s
By Tony Gieske Jack Sheldon began his birthday serenade to himself Saturday night with one of his favorite rousers, “Yo Mama,” his 16 piece band riffing behind him in their boisterous way, the crowd at Catalina’s cheery and full of good wishes for the guy celebrating the first moments of his 79th year. Naturally, he… Read More Live Jazz: Jack Sheldon’s Birthday Bash at Catalina Bar & Grill
The International Review of Music 