By Norton Wright Los Angeles, CA. It was SHOWTIME at Disney Hall on Saturday night as Gordon Goodwin’s 18-piece Big Phat Band performed like an inextinguishable stick of dynamite, exploding number after number in its featured hour-long set marking KJazz Radio’s third annual benefit concert. The recipient of the 2015 GRAMMY Award for “Best Large… Read More Live Jazz: Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band At Walt Disney Concert Hall
By Don Heckman Hollywood, CA. “Let’s Give the Band A Hand” was the title for the jazz celebration at Catalina Bar & Grill Sunday night. It was right on target. The program was the annual fund-raiser for the California Jazz Foundation. And the very worthy honoree was Catalina Popescu. Both the CJF and Catalina have… Read More Live Jazz: The Arturo Sandoval Big Band Performs for the California Jazz Foundation at Catalina Bar & Grill
By Don Heckman The wide stage at Catalina Bar & Grill was overflowing Friday night with a big jazz band featuring some of the Southland’s finest players. But the focus of the performance — repeated on Saturday night — was clearly centered on the band’s leader – the incomparable Arturo Sandoval. The first set had… Read More Live Jazz: Arturo Sandoval at Catalina Bar & Grill
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 Don Heckman The performance by Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band at Vitello’s Friday night was a hearty reminder of the decades when big bands were the stars of popular music. Some of those bands – Count Basie, Duke Ellington – were firmly rooted in jazz. Others – Sammy Kaye, Guy Lombardo – played music… Read More Live Jazz: Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band at Vitello’s
By Michael Katz The infectious beat of Cuban music has been part of the greater American consciousness since the post-World War II era. Desi Arnaz’s band came into our homes every week in the fifties and sounds from Havana were frequently heard in clubs from Miami to New York. Despite Fidel Castro’s repressive regime and… Read More Live Latin Jazz: Arturo Sandoval, Natalie Cole, Omara Portuondo, the Buena Vista Social Club and Ninety Miles at the Hollywood Bowl
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 31. (Tues.) Bruce Cockburn and Jenny Scheinman. Versatile guitarist/composer Cockburn performs selections from his latest album, Small Source of Comfort, with the aid of eclectic violinist Scheinman. The El Rey. http://www.theelrey.com (323) 936-6400. – May 31. (Tues.) Wayne Bergeron Big Band. One of the jazz world’s finest, most… Read More Picks of the Week: May 31 – June 5
By Tony Gieske Gordon Goodwin is one bandleader who really knows how to fill a room. I don’t know why his band looked so big. He doesn’t have strings or French horns or anything. But it seemed to fill half the upstairs room at Vitello’s Monday. I guess it’s just kind of a phat band,… Read More Live Jazz: The Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band at Vitello’s
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Oct. 13. (Wed.) Wayne Bergeron Big Band. Trumpeter Bergeron, whose skills reach from superb section work to solid soloing, steps into the spotlight as a leader. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Oct. 13. (Wed.) Ed Vodicka Big Band with Marlene VerPlanck. New York singer VerPlanck brings an imaginative… Read More Picks of the Week: Oct. 12 – 17
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 3. (Tues.) The Los Angeles Philharmonic. Gustavo Dudamel conducts a stunning program of Bernstein and Gershwin. Gabriela Montero solos in the Rhapsody In Blue. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000. – Aug. 3. (Tues.) Wayne Bergeron’s Big Band. Trumpeter Bergeron steps down from the trumpet section to lead own… Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 3 – 8
The International Review of Music 