About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of July 13, 2015

Monday 7/13 – Natalie Cressman at Blue Whale

Trombonist/vocalist Natalie Cressman is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Mike Bono on guitar, Jonathan Stein on bass, and Mike Mitchell on drums. Saxophonist Ian Roller leads a jam at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Bill Strout’s Big Band 2000 is at Steamers in Fullerton. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Monday jam sessions include John Ziegler and Jamie Kime at The Baked Potato in Studio City, Matthew Yeakley at The Falls Lounge in downtown L.A., and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 7/14 – Kamasi Washington at Hollywood & Highland Center

Saxophonist Kamasi Washington is at the Hollywood & Highland Center for a free evening show with Patrice Quinn on vocals, Ryan Porter on trombone, Tony Austin and Ronald Bruner, Jr. on drums, Cameron Graves and Jamael Dean on keys, and Miles Mosley on bass. Guitarist Brad Rabuchin is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Rufus Philpot on bass and Ralph Humphrey on drums. Saxophonist Tom Luer’s Project Popular is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Strunz & Farah are at Vibrato in Bel Air. Ron Eschete is John Pisano’s guest for Guitar Night at Viva Cantina in Burbank.

Wednesday 7/15 – Jeff Hamilton Trio with Graham Dechter at Marriott Newport Hotel

Drummer Jeff Hamilton’s trio featuring Tamir Hendelman on piano and Christoph Luty on bass is at the Newport Beach Marriott Sunset Jazz series with special guest guitarist Graham Dechter. Harpist Carol Robbins is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Bassist Marco Renteria is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Hans Zermuehlen on keys, Louie Palmer on drums, and Tony Pulizzi on guitar. Drummer Andrew Lessman leads a trio at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Peter Buck is at Steamers in Fullerton. Pianist Cougar Estrada is at Jax in Glendale. Pianist Aaron Provisor has the Wednesday happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 7/16 – John Beasley Undercurrents at Blue Whale

Pianist John Beasley is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Ronald Bruner Jr. on drums, Bob Sheppard on sax and Ben Shepherd on bass. Bassist Pat Senatore leads a trio at Vibrato in Bel Air with Josh Nelson on piano and Mark Ferber on drums. Vocalist Julia Fordham is at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist/vocalist Peter Smith leads a trio at The Tap Room at the Hotel Langham Pasadena. The Ben Rose Band featuring vocalist Laura Mace is at Perch in downtown Los Angeles.

Friday 7/17 – Walter Smith III at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Walter Smith III is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat) with a first duo with pianist Josh Nelson, followed by a trio with Darek Oles on bass and Joe La Barbera on drums (Saturday has the same format with different players). Keyboardist Don Randi & Quest are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Cheryl Barnes is at the Aldabella Wintery in Westlake Village. Saxophonist Rob Lockart is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer Al Williams’ Jazz Society has the free Friday evening jazz show at LACMA.

Saturday 7/18 – Ann Hampton Callaway at Catalina

Vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway is at Catalina in Hollywood for the second of three nights (Fri-Sun). Brazilian vocalist Katia Moraes is at the Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. Trumpeter Kye Palmer is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Jeff Kollman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with a band including Tool drummer Danny Carey. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens’ trio is at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. The Ipanema Lounge Project is at Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica. Pianist Oscar Hernandez has the free Saturday Latin sounds show Saturday evening at LACMA in West L.A..

Sunday 7/19 – Open Hands at Levitt Pavilion Pasadena

Open Hands has the free Sunday jazz show at Levitt Pavilion Pasadena with Abraham Laboriel Sr. on bass, Justo Almario on sax, Greg Mathieson on organ, and Bill Maxwell on drums. The trio of bassist Travis Carlton, keyboardist Brandon Coleman, and drummer Gene Coye is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.  Latin percussionist/vocalist Louie Cruz Beltran is at Vibrato in Bel Air (also Saturday 7/18 at Steamers). Ethio Cali has an outdoor evening show at the Japanese American Cultural Center in downtown Los Angeles. Q Morrow is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Sunday brunch choices include Jesse Palter at Perch in downtown Los Angeles, Dori Amarillo and Gretje Angell at Firefly in Studio City, and the Peter Myers Big Band at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Monday 7/20 – Doug MacDonald at Jax

Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Jax in Glendale. Pianist/vocalist Areni Agbabian is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Glen Miller Arlene German Big Band is at Steamers in Fullerton. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Monday jam sessions include John Ziegler and Jamie Kime at The Baked Potato in Studio City, Matthew Yeakley at The Falls Lounge in downtown L.A., and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 7/21 – Bob Reynolds at Hollywood & Highland

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds is at Hollywood & Highland for the Tuesday evening free concert. Fusion trio Pet Shark is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A..  Saxophonist Nicolas Maldonado is at Catalina in Hollywood for the Young Artists Jazz Series.  Tim May is John Pisano’s guest for Guitar Night at Viva Cantina in Burbank.

Wednesday 7/22 – Kaveh Rastegar And Friends at Blue Whale

Kneebody bassist Kaveh Rastegar is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Jeff Babko and Larry Goldings on keys and Barbara Gruska on drums. French bassist Hadrien Feraud is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Nicki Gonzalez on vocals, Dennis Hamm on keys, and Gary Novak on drums. Brazilian vocalist Carol Bach-y-Rita and the Bill Cunliffe Septet are at the Sunset Jazz Series at the Newport Beach Marriott. Vocalist Billy Valentine is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Debbie Joyce is at Pips on La Brea. Pianist Cougar Estrada is at Jax in Glendale. “Conan” saxophonist Jerry Vivino leads a quartet for the Wednesday night happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.