By Roger Crane What is left to say about the lovely and iconic “Over the Rainbow?” Well, some basics. The music is by Harold Arlen and the lyric by E. Y. “Yip” Harburg. As many of you know, it was written for and featured in the 1939 Judy Garland movie The Wizard of Oz. The… Read More Keeping the GAS (Great American Songbook) Flame Burning: “Over the Rainbow”
By Don Heckman Hollywood, CA. There seems to be more and more good news for jazz lately at Catalina Bar & Grill. A couple of weeks ago it was a stunning performance by the Ron Carter Trio. And this week offers another memorable set of performances with the arrival Tuesday night of Chick Corea and… Read More Live Jazz: Chick Corea and The Vigil at Catalina Bar & Grill
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 15. (Wed.) Brenna Whitaker. She could have been a ‘30s platinum blond star. But Whitaker doesn’t just look good; she can sing, too. This time out she picks a set of tunes to enhance the birthday of Vibrato co-owner Eden Alpert. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – May… Read More Picks of the Week: May 14 – 19
By Michael Katz Let’s start with this: Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, an acoustic jazz trio, a nightclub appearance. Fill out the trio with an energetic young drummer, Marcus Gilmore, grandson of Roy Haynes, no less. Enough? Hardly. Make it a quartet with Hubert Laws sitting in on flute. Jam an appreciative overflow crowd into the… Read More Live Jazz: The Chick Corea/Stanley Clarke Trio with Hubert Laws at Catalina Bar & Grill
The 2012 Playboy Jazz Festival, which takes place at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend, features the rare presence of three world class female jazz drummers. Writer/musician Devon Wendell describes his reaction when he first saw the Festival line up. By Devon Wendell Growing up, I always thought of the drums as being this potent… Read More The Playboy Jazz Festival: The First Ladies of the Skins
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 15 – 20. (Tues. – Sun.) Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke celebrate Jack’s 70th birthday. It would be hard to ask for a more stellar trio than this. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear three authentically iconic jazz artists performing together. Catalina Bar & Grill. … Read More Picks of the Week: May 15 – 20
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Feb. 14. (Tues.) Nedra Wheeler. Bassist/vocalist Wheeler is a convincing performer as an instrumentalist and a singer. and she’ll no doubt be in rare form with the backing of Lanny Hartley, piano, Clarence Webb, saxophone and Munyungo Jackson, drums. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Feb. 15. (Wed.) Spanky… Read More Picks of the Week: Feb. 14 – 19
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 7. (Wed.) Quincy Jones Band featuring the Global Gumbo All-Stars and Friends. No one knows how to put together an evening of immensely entertaining music as well as Quincy Jones. And he’s assembled one of his characteristically spectacular programs for an event that easily promises to be one… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept 5 – 11
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 8. (Tues.) Neil Sedaka. Hitmaker Sedaka showcases his memorable catalog of songs in a performance replacing a date cancelled in late October. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000. – Dec. 8. (Wed.) Carol Welsman Canadian-born Welsman has the rare ability to surround the supple timbres of her voice with an… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 7 – 12
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 2. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. Brasil Night. Pisano expands his usual two-guitar format into an evening simmering with the irresistible rhythms of Brazil. With Federico Ramos, guitar, Jose Marino, bass, Enzo Todesco, drums. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Nov. 3. (Wed.) Ornette Coleman. Jazz in the post-bebop era… Read More Picks of the Week: Nov. 1 – 7
The International Review of Music 