By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 30 & 31. (Tues. & Wed.) Michael Wolff Quartet. Pianist and television personality Wolff does a live recording with the stellar ensemble of trumpeter/film composer Mark Isham, bassist John B. Williams and drummer Mike Clark. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Aug. 31. (Wed.) George Benson, George Duke, Marcus Miller… Read More Picks of the Week: Aug. 30 – Sept. 4
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Aug. 9. (Tues.) George Cables Trio. Pianist Cables doesn’t make a lot of L.A. club appearances, so don’t miss this opportunity to hear the veteran artist in action. He’ll be backed by Pat Senatore and Joe LaBarbera. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400. – Aug. 9. (Tues.) Jennifer Leitham. It’s… Read More PIcks of the Week: Aug. 9 – 14
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 28. (Tues.) Gerald Clayton Trio. Grammy nominated pianist Clayton has moved rapidly from being an upcoming L.A. prodigy to an emerging new jazz star. He’s based in New York City now, so don’t miss this fairly rare opportunity to hear him back in the Southland. Steamers. (714) 871-8800… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 28 – Jan. 2
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Sept. 21. (Tues.) Further. Featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. The music of the Grateful dead still lives, as Lesh and Weir, with an all star band take the classics “further” out. The Greek Theatre. (323) 665-3125. – Sept. 21. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. Pisano teams up for… Read More Picks of the Week: Sept. 20 – 26
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – May 24. (Mon.) Sopranos and Strings. Brad Dechter and Roger Neumann, soprano saxophones, Graham Dechter and Jim Fox, guitars and Chuck Nenneker, bass. The instrumentation makes for an evening of intriguing sounds, enhanced by the father and son presence of Brad and Graham Dechter. Charlie O’s. (919) 994-3058. –… Read More Picks of the Week: May 24 – 30
By Tony Gieske Willie Jones III brought a couple of familiar homies, Eric Reed and Trevor Ware, to Catalina’s Tuesday night to herald the release of his new CD. But the guy who stole the show was his Mexican born trumpet player Gilbert Castellanos, who played faster than Arturo Sandoval, Dizzy Gillespie or Freddie Hubbard. … Read More Live Jazz: The Willie Jones III Quartet at Catalina Bar & Grill
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 15. (Mon.) Keith Jarrett Solo. Jarrett’s solo performances — revelatory journeys through his ever imaginative musical mind — don’t take place very often. So don’t miss this rare opportunity. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000 – Mar. 16. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. Every Guitar Night is a winner, and… Read More Picks of the Week: Mar. 15 – 21
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Mar. 9. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night. John Pisano trades riffs with Pat Kelley, who has transformed his Oklahoma roots into an amiable, highly personal guitar style. Ralph Humphrey, drums and John Belzaguy, bass, provide sturdy back-up. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905. – Mar. 9. (Tues.) Bill Watrous and the San… Read More Picks of the Week: Mar. 8 – 14
By Don Heckman Los Angeles – Dec. 21 – 23. (Mon. – Wed.) Lady Gaga. Performance as pop art reaches a new level in Lady Gaga’s ‘The Monster Ball’ — a multimedia artistic experience she describes as the first-ever ‘pop electro opera.’ Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE. (213) 763-6030. – Dec. 22. (Tues.) Marilyn King. Still… Read More Picks of the Week: Dec. 21 – 27
By Michael Katz Roberta Gambarini steps up to the stage, dark hair flowing over a tan blouse offset by black pants, and launches into the first few bars of “Stardust,” a cappella. You think this might segue into a full trio version, but it doesn’t. Instead, you are jolted into attention, wondering if you have… Read More Live Jazz: Roberta Gambarini at the Culver Room
The International Review of Music 