By Michael Katz When you consider the arc of Ray Charles’ career – jazz, blues, R&B, country, it’s no surprise that it took a village Wednesday night at the Hollywood Bowl to pay tribute to him. There was an all-star jazz band, in addition to the Count Basie Band, strings, a choir, headliners from all… Read More Live Music: A Ray Charles Tribute at the Hollywood Bowl
By Michael Katz In 1970, when I started collecting jazz albums, one of my first was Quincy Jones’ Walking In Space. I’d heard the title tune from the show Hair on the radio, along with the killer version of Benny Golson’s “Killer Joe.” I’d recognized many of the soloists: Hubert Laws, Freddie Hubbard, Toots Thielemans.… Read More Live Music: Quincy Jones’ Global Gumbo All Stars at the Hollywood Bowl
By Michael Katz Jazz has always attached itself to the popular musical idioms of the day, from Tin Pan Alley to the Beatles and even (gasp) hip hop. But Wednesday night’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl highlighted a reverse aspect, Joni Mitchell’s mid-seventies adaptation of jazz into her own style of songwriting and performance. Make… Read More Live Jazz: Joni’s Jazz with Herbie Hancock and an All-Star Ensemble at the Hollywood Bowl
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 17. (Wed.) Joni’s Jazz. With Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Kurt Elling,Wayne Shorter, Tom Scott, Cassandra Wilson, etc. Hancock’s fascination with Joni Mitchell’s music resulted in the 2008 Grammy winning Album of the Year, River. Here he goes again, with a stellar line up to illuminate Mitchell’s compelling songs. … Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 15 – 21
By Don Heckman The Playboy Jazz Festival returns to the Hollywood Bowl this weekend for the 33rd time with another celebration of America’s great musical art. And the Festival’s long, remarkable string of successes, over the course of more than three decades, is best described by Playboy’s founder, Hugh Hefner. “I’ve had a lot of… Read More Here, There & Everywhere: Guitars Galore at The Playboy Jazz Festival
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Nov. 16. (Tues.) Johnny Mandel Big Band. Multiple Grammy winner, gifted composer/arranger/songwriter Mandel is one of the Southland’s true musical treasures. This rare appearance with a big band serves as an early celebration of his 85th birthday on November 23. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Nov. 16. (Tues.) … Read More Picks of the Week: Nov. 16 – 21
By Don Heckman It was Gershwin night at the Bowl on Wednesday. And there wasn’t a moment’s doubt about the identities of the real stars of the show. Although the line up embraced a collection of singers ranging from BeBe Winans, Monica Mancini and Jason Mraz to Annie Clark and Nancy Wilson, I’m sure that… Read More Live Music: Gershwin Across America, with Nancy Wilson, Monica Mancini, BeBe Winans, Jason Mraz and Annie Clark at the Hollywood Bowl
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 24. (Tues.) Sarah Chang. The gifted young violinist takes on the fascinating musical demands of the Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Leonard Slatkin, plays the Shostakovich Symphony No. 5. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000. – Aug. 24. (Tues.) Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. The… Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 24 – 29
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 2. (Tues.) Larry Goldings All-Stars. Keyboardist Goldings is completely worth hearing on his own. But it’ll be even better with this group of solid veteran players: Tom Scott, saxophones, Chuck Berghofer, bass, Jeff Hamilton, drums. Spazio. – Mar. 2. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. Always one of the… Read More Picks of the Week: Mar. 2 – 7
The International Review of Music 