About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of July 27, 2015

Monday 7/27 – Braxton Cook Quartet at Blue Whale

Alto saxophonist Braxton Cook is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Ruslan Sirota on piano, Joshua Crumbly on bass, and Jonathan Pinson on drums. Guitarist Bruce Lofgren is at Jax in Glendale. Bassist Kevin “Brandino” Brandon is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Pianist Kim Brooks leads a trio at SoHo in Santa Barbara. 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 7/28 – Poncho Sanchez at Hollywood & Highland

Percussionist Poncho Sanchez leads his group at the final installment of this year’s Tuesday free concert series at Hollywood & Highland. Guitarist Allen Hinds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Donald Barrett on drums, Ethan Farmer on bass, and Matt Rohde on keys. Guitarist Tim Conley leads a quintet at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Jon Dalton is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. 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.. Excursion is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Lowery Brothers are at H.O.M.E. in Beverly Hills. Jamie Rosenn is John Pisano’s guest for Guitar Night at Viva Cantina in Burbank.

Wednesday 7/29 – Scott Kinsey at The Baked Potato

Keyboardist Scott Kinsey is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Bob Reynolds on sax, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Kirk Covington on drums. Bassist John Snow plays a farewell to L.A. Gig at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with a large ensemble. Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon is at the Marriott Newport Beach Sunset Jazz series. Vocalist Gregg Arthur is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Cougar Estrada is at Jax in Glendale. Saxophonist Wes Smith is at the Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A.. Drummer Donald Dean has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 7/30 – Webb All-Stars at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Doug Webb is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Danny Carey on drums, Jimmy Earl on bass, Mitchel Forman on keys, and John Ziegler on guitar. Keyboardist Jeff Babko is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Jimmy Branly leads a trio at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale with Dennis Hamm on keys and Ahmet Sezin on bass. Percussionist Calixto Oviedo celebrates a CD release at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist John Campbell is at The Tap Room at the Hotel Langham Pasadena. Vocalist Gina Kronstadt is at The E Spot Lounge at Vitello’s. Steamers in Fullerton celebrates its last night with a jam featuring many of its regular artists from past years.

Friday 7/31 – Josh Johnson Quinet at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Josh Johnson is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Jeff Parker on guitar, Miro Sprague on piano, Dave Robaire on bass, and Christian Euman on drums. Keyboardist Lao Tizer is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Judy Wexler is at the Brand Library in Glendale. Vocalist Miki Howard begins a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Catalina in Hollywood. The Jet Set Quintet is at Spaghettini Beverly Hills. Polychrome is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Vocalist Dwight Trible has the free Friday evening jazz show at LACMA.

Saturday 8/1 – Dean Brown Band at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Dean Brown is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Gerry Etkins on keys, Hadrien Feraud on bass, and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. Pianist Taylor Eigsti is at Blue Whale. Trumpeter Don Rader is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Dorian Holley is at Spaghettini Beverly Hills. Trumpeter Tony Guerrero is at the Festival of the Masters Pageant of the Arts in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Aldabella Winery in Westlake Village. Trumpeter Elliott Caine is at Shoreline Village in Long Beach.  Percussionist/vocalist Estaire Godinez has the free Latin Sounds evening show at LACMA.

Sunday 8/2 – Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band at Grand Performances

Gordon Goodwin leads his Big Phat Band at Grand Performances at the California Plaza in downtown Los Angeles. Drummer Jason Harnell is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Chuck Johnson is at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra are at SoHo in Santa Barbara. Vocalist Laura Dickinson is at The Federal Bar in North Hollywood. Pianist Lenny Stack is at Jax in Glendale. Chieli Minuci & Special EFX have the free Sunday evening jazz show at Levitt Pavilion Pasadena. The L.A. Collective is at Spaghettini Seal Beach. Vocalist Jeffrey Gimble has a free afternoon concert at Kings Road Park in West Hollywood. Trumpeter Nate Birkey kicks off the August Jazz On The Lawn Sunday series at Stewart Street Park in Santa Monica.  Sunday brunch choices include pianist/vocalist John Proulx at H.O.M.E. In Beverly Hills, vocalist Jesse Palter at Perch in downtown L.A., and vocalist Sharon Marie Cline at The Little Easy in downtown L.A..

Monday 8/3 – John Proulx at Festival of the Arts Pageant of the Masters

Pianist/vocalist John Proulx is at Festival of the Arts Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. Sax/flute wiz Katisse Buckingham’s quartet including vibraphonist Nick Mancini is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Trumpeter Nate Birkey is at SoHo in Santa Barbara. French horn player Rick Todd is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Jax in Glendale. 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 8/4 – Bob Reynolds at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Ruslan Sirota on keys, Janek Gwizdala on bass, and Gary Novak on drums. Latin percussionist Paris Escovedo is at Catalina in Hollywood. The Lowery Brothers are at H.O.M.E. in Beverly Hills. Drummer Dan Schnelle hosts a jam session at Blue Whale. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in dowtown L.A.. Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. John Pisano’s Guitar Night is at Viva Cantina in Burbank.

Wednesday 8/5 – Matt Politano Trio at Blue Whale

Pianist Matt Politano is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Dave Robaire on bass and Abe Lagrimas on drums. Drummer Andy Sanesi’s Raggedy Andy is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Organist Tony Monaco has the Wednesday Sunset Jazz show with saxophonist Rickey Woodard at the Marriott Newport Beach. Saxophonist Michael Lington is at Vibrato in Bel Air.