By James DeFrances As Janis Siegel sang “the sun is shining, the grass is green, there’s never been quite a day in Beverly Hills LA” (the verse to Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas”) it became apparent that the Manhattan Transfer singers are just as comfortable in LA as they are back home in New York. Walt… Read More Live Music for the Holidays: The Manhattan Transfer at Walt Disney Concert Hall
By Norton Wright Los Angeles, CA. Over eleven hundred jazz buffs streamed into the Walt Disney Concert Hall last Saturday night for the first every KJAZZ Radio Summer Benefit Concert to hear three separate groups, each with its own unique style. There was something for every taste. Kicking off the evening was Harvey Mason’s powerhouse,… Read More Live Music: “Jazz At The Philharmonic.” The KJAZZ Radio Summer Benefit Concert At Walt Disney Concert Hall.
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 Don Heckman Los Angeles – April 10 – 14. (Wed. – Sun.) Chick Corea Trio. With bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Ronald Bruner, Jr. Corea’s musical activities lately have ranged in all directions. But here’s an irresistible opportunity to hear his uniquely inventive playing in an illuminating piano trio setting. Catalina Bar & Grill. … Read More Picks of the Week: April 10 – 14
By Don Heckman There’s one thing that can almost always be anticipated about a Bobby McFerrin appearance: that there’s no telling what to expect. His performance at Disney Hall Wednesday night, for example, seemed to be specifically on track, with the whimsical title, “Spirityouall,” announcing a program honoring his father, Robert McFerrin, Sr., an operatic… Read More Live Music: Bobby McFerrin at Disney Concert Hall
By The iRoM Staff Los Angeles Valentine’s Day – Feb. 13 – 17. (Wed. – Sun.) Steve Tyrell. Vocalist Tyrell applies his appealing, jazz-driven style, enhanced by his warm Texas roots, to five evenings of memorable Valentine’s Day celebrating. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210. – Feb. 14 (Thurs.) Dream Street & Bobbi Page. The… Read More Picks of the Week: Feb. 12 – 17
By Don Heckman On the way home from Disney Hall Sunday, the traffic on the 101 magically – and unexpectedly — opened up, and we suddenly realized we could reach Vitello’s just in time to catch the second set by the Ron Jones Jazz Influence Orchestra. Call it an unusual sequence – from the Christmas… Read More Live Jazz: The Ron Jones Jazz Influence Orchestra with April Williams at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 10 & 11. (Thurs. & Fri.) Peter Eldridge: Foolish Hearts. Grammy winning pianist/vocalist Eldridge is joined by bassist Matt Aronoff for an intimate musical excursion through originals and standards. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – May 10 – 12. (Thurs. – Sat.) The Los Angeles Philharmonic. Gustavo Dudamel conducts a sparkling… Read More Picks of the Week: May 9 – 13
By Michael Katz Keith Jarrett and Disney Hall were a perfect match Tuesday night. It wasn’t just the pristine acoustics of the hall, its warm interiors surrounding Jarrett’s solo piano. An adoring capacity house brought him back for three encores, even coaxing Jarrett to converse gently with them on several occasions. The performance itself was… Read More Live Music: Keith Jarrett performs solo at Walt Disney Concert Hall
By Don Heckman Despite the title of his performance at Disney Hall Wednesday night – “Masters of Percussion” – Zakir Hussain did a lot more than fill the stage with a company of drummers. And that’s not to say there wasn’t a lot of propulsive rhythm taking place. Son of the legendary tabla player, Ustad… Read More Live Music: Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion at Walt Disney Concert Hall
The International Review of Music 