About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of December 7, 2015

Monday 12/7 – East Meets West at Bacchus’ Kitchen

Bacchus’ Kitchen in Pasadena features an “East Meets West” evening with Jeff Hamilton on drums and Graham Dechter on guitar, joined by trumpeter Joe Magnarelli and bassist David Wong.  Evil Genius is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Max Kutner on guitar, Stefan Kac on tuba, and Mike Lockwood on drums. The Peter Myers Orchestra is at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. Sax/flutist Katisse Buckingham is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. with Will Brahm on guitar, Ben Shepherd on bass, and Gene Coye on drums. The Pepperdine Jazz Ensemble is at the Lindhurst Theater in Malibu. Vocalist Michel Lvoff is at SoHo in Santa Barbara. Pianist Trini Garza headlines a holiday cabaret benefit at Vicky’s of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. 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 12/8 – Tal Wilkenfeld at the Troubadour

Former Jeff Beck bassist Tal Wilkenfeld is at the Troubadour in West Hollywood with Phillip Krohnengold on keys, Tamir Barzilay on drums, and Owen Barry on guitar. Drummer Javo Barrera and guitarist Gabi Martinez lead a quartet at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Matt Rohde on keys and Andrew Gouche on bass. Percussionist Ronnie Gutierrez is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Saxophonist Steve Coleman And The Five Elements continue their residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Vocalists Spencer Day and Jake Simpson are with the Budman/Levy Orchestra at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Susan Anton is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Margo Rey is at SoHo in Santa Barbara. Percussionist Joey DeLeon is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A.. Keyboardist Gregg Karukas does a holiday show at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A..

Wednesday 12/9 – Daniel Rosenboom Quartet at Squashed Grapes

Trumpeter Daniel Rosenboom’s quartet is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura with Jake Vossler on guitar, Richard Giddens on bass, and Aaron McLendon and Gene Coye on drums. Third Root Consort is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Steve Coleman And The Five Elements continue their residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Chris Wabich is at Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A.. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Billy Vera is at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist/vocalist Frank Stallone is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Mike Lis is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Combo Llamativo is at Jax in Glendale. Drummer Roy McCurdy has the happy hopur gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 12/10 – Kamasi Washington at Club Nokia

Saxophonist Kamasi Washington returns after a tour of Europe for a show at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. Keyboardist David Garfield is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village with a group including drummer Gregg Bissonette.  Bassist Rufus Philpot’s Trio B.A.D. Is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. The Vibrometers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Trumpeter Ron Stout is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Phillip DeLeon is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Saxophonist Steve Coleman And The Five Elements continue their residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Pianist Connie Han is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. The Ipanema Lounge Project is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Trombonist Ryan Dragonn is at Barley Forge in Costa Mesa. Pianist David Arnay is at The Hotel Langham Tap Room in Pasadena. Cosmosquad is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Marsha Bartinetti does a holiday show at Catalina in Hollywood. Percussionist Joey DeLeon is at the Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A.. The Jazz Butchers are at Jax in Glendale. Vocalist Dave Damiani and the No Vacancy Band are at Spaghettini in Beverly Hills. Pasadena City College presents an evening of jazz at the Arcadia Blues Club.

Friday 12/11 – Mike Stern at Catalina

Guitarist Mike Stern begins a three-night (Fri-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood with Randy Brecker on trumpet, Tom Kennedy on bass, and Dennis Chambers on drums. Saxophonist Doug Webb is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer Walfredo Reyes, Jr. is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Arranger Mark Masters presents The Sinatra Project at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert. Saxophonist Steve Coleman And The Five Elements continue their residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Steve Lukather’s Nerve Bundle is at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the first of three (Fri-Sun) nights (most shows sold out except for standing room night of show). Pianist Boy Katinidig is at Mario’s Place in Riverside. Pianist David Arnay is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena. The Encore Saxophone Quartet is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Saxophonist Darryl Walker is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.

Saturday 12/12 – Lionel Loueke at Musicians Institute

Guitarist Lionel Loueke leads a trio at the Musicians Institute Concert Hall in Hollywood with Kendrick Scott on drums and Massimo Biolcati on bass, presented by the Jazz Bakery. Guitarist Steve Vai, drummer Mike Portnoy, keyboardist Derek Sherinian and others play a benefit for guitarist Tony MacAlpine at the Wiltern Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli is at the Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge. Keyboardist Lao Tizer and violinist Karen Briggs are at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Trumpeter Carl Saunders is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Trumpeter Elliott Caine is at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Pianist Sabine Pothier’s Hard Bop Chicks are at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Saxophonist Don Menza is at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens’ trio is at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. Vocalist Lorraina Marro is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Guitarist Mike Stern continues a three-night (Fri-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Steve Coleman And The Five Elements continue their residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Steve Lukather’s Nerve Bundle is at The Baked Potato in Studio City (sold out except for standing room night of show). Guitarist Frank Unzueta and vocalist Lauren Koval headline a Frank Sinatra tribute at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Latin trumpeter Bob DeSena is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Vocalist Sharon Marie Cline is at the Market Broiler in Simi Valley. Guitarist Terry Wollman is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Guitarist Graham Dechter has the Saturday Brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Saxophonist Dale Fielder plays an afternoon show at the Torrance Public Library. Oui 3 is at Rosenthal Winery in Malibu for an afternoon show.

Sunday 12/13 – Bob Mintzer Big Band at the Moss Theater

Saxophonist Bob Mintzer leads his big band in and afternoon performance at the Moss Theater in Santa Monica – the band features trumpeter Randy Brecker, pianist Russell Ferrante, bassist Will Lee, drummer Will Kennedy and many more. Pianist Masayuki Hirahara and flutist Nori Tani lead a late afternoon quartet at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Trumpeter Fabrice Martinez is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Pianist Lenny Stack is at Jax in Glendale. The Mark Hix Big Band is at Typhoon in Santa Monica. Guitarist Mike Stern finishes a three-night (Fri-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood.  Saxophonist Steve Coleman And The Five Elements continue their residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Steve Lukather’s Nerve Bundle is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Keyboardist Scott Wilkie is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Sunday brunch choices include pianist Jon Mayer at Post & Beam in South L.A., vocalist Janis Mann at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, vocalist Jesse Palter at Perch in downtown L.A., vocalist Sharon Marie Cline at The Little Easy in downtown L.A., vocalist Mari Nobre at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock, and saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood.

Monday 12/14 – Richard Giddens Group at Blue Whale

Bassist Richard Giddens leads a group at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Matt Otto on sax, Adam Benjamin on piano, Storm Nilson on guitar, and Tomas Fujiwara on drums. Gordon Goodwin leads his Big Phat Band in a CD release event for a new holiday album at Catalina in Hollywood.  “Family Guy” vocalist Seth MacFarlane is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Geoff Stradling’s StradBand is at Typhoon in Santa Monica with vocalist Janis Mann. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Jax in Glendale. Guitarist Laurence Juber is 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 12/15 – Groove Legacy at The Baked Potato

Groove Legacy celebrates a CD release at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Kirk Fletcher and Sam Meek on guitars, Billy Steinway on keys, Paulie Cerra on sax and vocals, Andrew Lippman on trombone, Travis Carlton on bass, and Donald Barrett on drums. Pianist Oscar Hernandez is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Vibraphonist Nick Mancini and saxophonist Danny Janklow are at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Saxophonist Steve Coleman And The Five Elements continue their residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Trumpeter Bijon Watson is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. The Gypsy Sound Revolution is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Vocalists Carly Robyn Green and Dave Damiani & The No Vacancy Orchestra are at Catalina in Hollywood. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A..

Wednesday 12/16 – Jerry Vivino at The Baked Potato

“Conan” saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Mitchel Forman on keys, plus fellow Basic Cable Band members Mike Merritt on bass and James Wormworth on drums. Drummer Sammy Miller is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Saxophonist Steve Coleman And The Five Elements continue their residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz.   Percussionist/vocalist Bobby Matos is at the Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A.. Pianist Cougar Estrada is at Jax in Glendale. Trombonist Steve Johnson is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Vocalist Debbie Joyce is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. The Blind Lemon Peel Blues All-Stars are at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Chaka Khan begins a two-night (Wed-Thu) run at Vibrato in Bel Air (sold out). Guitarist Jacques Lesure has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.