This post is part of the Jazz Journalists Association’s international “Blogathon.” By Don Heckman It’s always a significant event when a new room for jazz opens. Whether it’s small or large, daily or weekly, it’s still something to acknowledge, at a time when existing music venues are struggling to survive and new arrivals are in… Read More Here, There & Everywhere: Jazz at the Federal
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 27 – Jan 1. (Tues. through Sunday) Jane Monheit. The beautiful Monheit gets an early start, ramping up all week to the big Saturday night New Year’s celebration. And what better way to bring in 2012 than by hearing her velvet voice and gentle swing delivering “Auld Lang… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 27 – Jan. 1
By Rachel Cantrell Last Thursday marked the opening sets of a four-night jazz series at The Jazz Standard, featuring trumpeter Dave Douglas and music from his recent 2011 releases on the Greenleaf Portable Series. The Key Motion Quintet, a fusion of another Dave Douglas group, Keystone, and tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin’s group, Perpetual Motion, was… Read More Live Jazz: Dave Douglas at The Jazz Standard
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Jan. 25. (Mon.) The Saxtet. A cluster of L.A.’s finest jazz saxophonists get together. Dave Angel, Gene Cipriano, Phil Feather, Roger Neumann, Bob Carr, Dave Koonse, Kendall Kay. Charlie O’s. (818) 989-3110. – Jan. 25. (Mon.) Larry Goldings Organ Night. It’s boogaloo night this time, with a dance floor… Read More Picks of the Week: Jan. 25 – Jan. 31
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 9. (Wed.) Natalie Cole and Hollywood Bowl Orch. The versatile, always entertaining Cole returns to action, like the veteran trouper she is, after kidney transplant surgery. Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000 – Sept. 9. (Wed.) Jacob Fred Odyssey. One of the most intriguing of the nu-jazz groups makes a… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 8 – 13
Krantz Carlock Lefebvre (Abstract Logix) By Casey Dolan Wayne Krantz, Keith Carlock and Tim Lefebvre have thrown down the gauntlet with their new album, Krantz Carlock Lefebvre, (Abstract Logix, Aug. 18), showering the listener with swaths of tone, color and dynamics. This is a remarkable release that sets the barre for all current guitarists, bassists… Read More Jazz CD: Krantz Carlock Lefebvre
By Devon Wendell As flocks of devoted Chris Botti fans scurried to find their seats at the Greek Theatre Thursday night, they were first greeted by 20 year old singer, Renee Olstead. Although she may be best known as a TV star — appearing as a regular on the CBS sitcom Still Standing, and other… Read More Live Jazz: Chris Botti, Renee Olstead and more at the Greek Theatre
by Casey Dolan Rudder “Matorning” (Nineteen-Eight Records) Most rock listeners will not know who the hell these guys are, coming up, as they do, from the modern jazz ranks. That’s an injustice and just ridiculous. Rudder should be major. This is neither jazz in the strict sense nor rock, nor any of the conventional notions… Read More CD Review: A Little Bit of Stomp, A Little Bit of Whomp
The International Review of Music 