By James DeFrances Bel Air. Sunday night at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. one performer had the world on a string. That person was Seth MacFarlane and his name should ring a bell. MacFarlane has been the long time creator of Fox’s animated series Family Guy, as well as the brains behind the 2012 feature… Read More Live Music: Seth MacFarlane at Vibrato Grill Jazz..etc.
By Don Heckman Bel Air. Robert Davi was back at Herb Alpert’s elegant Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. at the top of Beverly Glen last night. And, as always happens in his performances, he spent most of his program demonstrating his belief in the Great American Songbook as “America’s Shakespeare.” Davi, whose acting career began in a… Read More Live Music: Robert Davi at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman Bel Air, CA. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. became a very special place when Herb Alpert took it over a few years ago, transforming a small venue in a mini-mall at the top of Beverly Glen into a fine food connoisseur’s delight and a world class showcase for jazz. And it becomes even more… Read More Live Music: Herb Alpert and Lani Hall at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 29. (Tues.) Nouveau Stride. Lorraine Feather and Stephanie Trick. Singer/songwriter Feather and stride pianist Trick combine their considerable talents for an evening inspired by the music of Fats Waller, James P. Johnson and Dick Hyman. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – April 29. (Tues.) Chamber Music Society: All… Read More More Picks of the Week: April 30 – May 4
By Don Heckman It’s always a pleasure to hear Herb Alpert and Lani Hall up close and personal. The veteran showbiz couple, whose prolific careers reach back to the ’60s, are still at the peak of their considerable creative powers. On Thursday night at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc., the elegant, Bel Air night club founded by… Read More Live Music: Herb Alpert and Lani Hall at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman Bel Air, CA. Robert Davi’s appearance at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. Sunday night was my third opportunity to hear the talented actor/singer in action. Once again, the program was devoted to his Frank Sinatra tribute. And no one does the Sinatra catalog, in all its entertaining essence, as well as Davi.… Read More Live Music: Robert Davi at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Don Heckman It was big band Wednesday at Vitello’s. Like several other clubs around town – notably Steamer’s in Fullerton, Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood, Typhoon in Santa Monica and Vibrato in Bel Air – Vitello’s has worked to keep alive the tradition of large ensemble jazz. On this night, the musical centerpiece… Read More Live Jazz: The Chris Walden Big Band and Tierney Sutton at Vitello’s
By Brick Wahl Just realized there are still comments bouncing around on this. Don Heckman’s got clout…. My whole point in that original rant is that if things continue as they are there will be no place left to play. The jazz scene has shrunk by at least two thirds in the past ten years.… Read More Brick Wahl: Keeping It Real 2
By Don Heckman Hearing Alan Bergman perform a program of his songs Tuesday night at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. was like hearing Johnny Mercer sing “One For My Baby” or Antonio Carlos Jobim do “Aguas de Marzo.” I say “his” songs inclusively, since they really were songs with lyrics written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, with… Read More Live Music: Alan Bergman at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
By Tony Gieske Not to dis the Baked Potato, but listening to that great John Daversa big band at Vibrato Tuesday was a revelation to the ear compared to what he sounded like in the venerable but cramped Studio City venue that has been his home. On the swifter numbers from the Daversa pen, such… Read More Live Jazz: The John Daversa Big Band at Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.
The International Review of Music 