About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of October 26, 2015

Monday 10/26 – Off To Farofa at Blue Whale

Bassist Isaias Elpes and Off To Farofa celebrate a CD release at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Paul McDonald leads his big band at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport with vocalist Jay Jackson.  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 10/27 – Luis Conte at Mambo’s Cafe

Cuban percussion master Luis Conte leads a group at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Trombonist Joey Sellers is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Bernie Mora is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Bassist Kevin O’Neal and Latin vocalist Candi Sosa are at Catalina in Hollywood. The Ipanema Lounge Project is at Genghis Cohen in West Hollywood. The Lowery Brothers are at H.O.M.E. in Beverly Hills. 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..

Wednesday 10/28 – Kenny Burrell at Catalina

Guitarist Kenny Burrell celebrates a CD release at Catalina for the first of three nights (Wed-Fri) in Hollywood with Justo Almario on sax, Tom Ranier on piano, Clayton Cameron on drums, and Tony Dumas on bass, with guest vocalist Barbara Morrison. Keyboardist Haakon Graf is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Cellist Artyom Manukyan is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Organist Ty Bailie is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Pianist Cougar Estrada is at Jax in Glendale. Guitarist/vocalist Frank Stallone is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Trombonist Steve Johnson is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Guitarist Matt Cohen is at Pips in La Brea in West Hollywood. Vocalist Laura Mace is with the Ben Rose Band at Perch in downtown L.A.. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Saxophonist Doug Webb has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Saxophonist Kirsten Edkins plays an early afternoon recital at Bird Studio at Occidental College in Eagle Rock.

Thursday 10/29 – Julie Kelly at Mambo’s Cafe

Vocalist Julie Kelly is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale with Larry Koonse on guitar, Mike Gurrola on bass, and Tina Raymond on drums. The LA Jazz Institute begins its four-day (Thu-Sun) big band festival dedicated to the music of Frank Sinatra at the Sheraton Gateway LAX. Vocalist Sarah Charles is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Saxophonist Scott Martin is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer Al Williams is at The Merc in Temecula. Drummer Vinnie Aguas plays an early show at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Ben Rose Band with vocalist Laura Mace is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Pianist Max Haymer is at the Hotel Langham Tap Room in Pasadena. Bassist David Ross is at the LA Athletic Club in downtown L.A.. Guitarist Fabrice Vignati is at Jax in Glendale. Vocalist Dave Damiani is at Spaghettini Beverly Hills. Guitarist Hans Ottsen is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura.

Friday 10/30 – Baked Potato All-Stars at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Jeff Richman leads the Baked Potato All-Stars at The Baked Potato in Studio City with David Binney on sax, George Whitty on keys, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Tom Brechtlein on drums. Guitarist Oz Noy is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  Saxophonist Doug Webb is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Polly Gibbons and pianist Tamir Hendleman’s Quartet are at Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis in Palm Desert. Bassist Bruce Lett is with vibraphonist Nick Mancini and percussionist Brad Dutz at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. The Urban Renewal Project is at The Edison in downtown L.A..Pianist David Arnay is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena. Saxophonist Rocco Ventrella is at Spaghettini Seal Beach. Guitarist Bob Schuster is at Aldabella Winery in Westlake Village. Vocalist Angie Wells has the free Friday show at LACMA in West L.A..

Saturday 10/31 – Gary Smuylan & Bob Mintzer at Blue Whale

Saxophonists Gary Smuylan and Bob Mintzer are at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with bassist Darek Oles and drummer Joe La Barbera. Trumpet and EVI master John Daversa’s Big Band is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Molly Ringwald is at SoHo in Santa Barbara. Percussionist Bobby Matos is at Seabird Jazz Lounge in Long Beach. Guitarist Caleb Quaye is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Trumpeter Howie Shear is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Bassist Ryan Cross is at Spaghettini Beverly Hills. Latin trumpeter Bob DeSena is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Vocalist Thelma Jones is at Barone’s in Valley Glen. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens leads a trio at Desert Rose in Los Feliz with saxophonist Kim Richmond.

Sunday 11/1 – Tribute to Stephanie Haynes at Catalina

Numerous prominent members of the L.A. jazz community gather to honor recently passed vocalist Stephanie Haynes at Catalina in Hollywood for a Sunday brunch event. Vocalist Teryn Re is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Max Haymer is at The Nice Guy in West Hollywood. Critical Brass is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. The L.A. Jazz Collective Jam Session is at Spaghettini Seal Beach. The Actual Trio is at SoHo in Santa Barbara. Pianist Richard Sherman has a late afternoon gig at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Vocalist Sherry Williams fronts a big band in an afternoon show at The Merc in Temecula. Regular Sunday brunch choices include vocalist Jesse Palter at Perch in downtown L.A., vocalist Sharon Marie Cline at The Little Easy in downtown L.A., saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood, and guitarist Mark Fitchett at Chez Melange in Redondo Beach.

Monday 11/2 – Maksim Velichkin at Blue Whale

Pianist Maksim Velichkin plays an evening of solo improvisations at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Trumpeter Brian Swartz’s Gnu Sextet is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. with Keith Fiddmont on tenor sax, Ryan Dragon on trombone, Andy Langham on piano, and Ben Sheppard on bass. 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 11/3 – John Pisano’s Guitar Night with Frank Potenza at Viva Cantina

John Pisano’s guest for Guitar Night at Viva Cantina in Burbank is Frank Potenza. The Thelonious Monk Institute hosts their monthly jam session at Blue Whale. Pianist Paul Cornish is featured in the Young Artists Jazz Series at Catalina in Hollywood. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. The Boyd Cannon Big Band is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Blues guitarist Josh Smith is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Latin percussionist Bobby Matos is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. The Lowery Brothers are at H.O.M.E. in Beverly Hills. 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..

Wednesday 11/4 – Steven Lugerner’s JACKNIFE at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Steven Lugerner is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with an evening of music dedicated to the late saxophonist Jackie McLean with JJ Kirkpatrick on trumpet, Adam Shulman on piano, Josh Thurston-Milgrom on bass, and Michael Mitchell on drums. Latin percussionist Bobby Matos is at the Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A.. Flamenco guitarist Kai Narezo is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz.