About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of December 28, 2015

Monday 12/28 – Kirsten Edkins at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Kirsten Edkins is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Ryan Dragon on trombone, Bill Cunliffe on keyboards, Dave Robaire on bass, Mark Ferber on drums, and guest saxophonist Bob Sheppard. The Late Nite Jazz Orchestra is at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. Sax/flutist Katisse Buckingham is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Trombonist Mariel Bildstein is at SoHo in Santa Barbara. Saxophonist Austin Gatus is at Spaghettini Beverly Hills. Guitarist Joe Bonomassa leads his Rock Candy Funk Party band for the first of three nights (Mon-Wed) at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Monday jam sessions include Matthew Yeakley at The Falls Lounge in downtown L.A., and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 12/29 – Elvis Schoenberg’s Orchestre Surreal at Typhoon

Elvis Schoenberg’s Orchestre Surreal is at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. Drummer and percussionist Chris Wabich celebrates a birthday at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with a solo performance. Saxophonist Scott Martin’s Latin Soul Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Rachelle Ferrell begins a three-night (Tue-Thu) run at Catalina in Hollywood. Drummer Gerry Gibbs is at the Oyster House in Studio City. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Trombonist Steve Johnson is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Guitarist Joe Bonomassa’s Rock Candy Funk Party band is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.

Wed 12/30 – Billy Childs & Friends at Blue Whale

Pianist Billy Childs is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Moira Smily on vocals, Bob Sheppard on tenor sax and flute, Carol Robbins on harp, Peter Sprague on guitar, Maksim Velichkin on cello, Jimmy Johnson on bass, Christian Euman on drums, plus The Eclipse String Quartet. Vocalist Rachelle Ferrell is at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist Cougar Estrada is at Jax in Glendale. Vocalist Billy Valentine is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Lisa Casalino is at Spaghettini Seal Beach. Guitarist Joe Bonomassa’s Rock Candy Funk Party band is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Mark Lewis has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 12/31 – Rachelle Ferrell at Catalina

Vocalist Rachelle Ferrell ends her three-night run (Tue-Thu) at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Sherry Williams is at Vibrato in Bel Air for an early evening show, followed by Kenneth Crouch & Friends. Don Randi & Quest are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Urban Renewal Project is at Mrs. Fish in downtown Los Angeles. Vocalist Thelma Jones is at Barone’s in Valley Glen. Phat Cat Swinger is at Spaghettini Beverly Hills. Nutty is at The Boathouse Collective in Costa Mesa. Vaud & The Villians are at SoHo in Santa Barbara. Saxophonist Vincent Ingala is at Spaghettini Seal Beach.

Friday 1/1/16 – Baked Potato All-Stars at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Jeff Richman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with George Whitty on keys, Jimmy Haslip on bass, and Hungarian drummer Gergo Borlai.  Pianist David Arnay and bassist Jeff Steele are at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena.

Saturday 1/2 – Jeff Babko & Friends at Blue Whale

Keyboardist Jeff Babko is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Gabe Johnson on trumpet, Jeff Parker on guitar, Tim Lefebvre on bass, and Steve Hass on drums. Guitarist Allen Hinds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Strunz & Farah are at Catalina in Hollywood. Bassist Pat Senatore leads a trio at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Banda Brothers Latin Jazz Sextet is at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert. Pianist Sam Ross leads a sextet at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. The Jazz Legacy is at Jax in Glendale. Bassist Ryan Cross is at Spaghettini Beverly Hills. Guitarist Jason Oberman is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Guitarist Dean Grech is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.  Saxophonist Mark Lewis has the saturday brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Sunday 1/3 – Sara Gazarek at Catalina

Vocalist Sara Gazarek is at Catalina in Hollywood, backed by Josh Nelson on piano, Dave Robaire on bass, and Dan Schnelle on drums. GENR8R is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Shai Golan is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Pianist Lenny Stack is at Jax in Glendale. Bassist Sol Was is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The LA Jazz Collective holds its monthly jam session at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. The San Gabriel Seven does a set at The Viper Room in West Hollywood. Sunday brunch choices include vocalist Jesse Palter at Perch in downtown L.A., saxophonist Dave Sills at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, vocalist Sharon Marie Cline at The Little Easy in downtown L.A., and saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea.

Monday 1/4 – Levon Henry at Blue Whale

Woodwind multi-instrumentalist Levon Henry is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Tom Csatari on guitar, David Piltch on bass, and Jay Bellerose on drums. 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., trumpeter Jeff Elliott at SoHo in Santa Barbara, and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 1/5 – Thelonious Monk Institute Jam Session at Blue Whale

The Thelonious Monk Institute holds its monthly first Tuesday jam session at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A..  Blues harmonica specialist Big Dave Rozier is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with a band including guitarist Toshi Yanagi and drummer Joe Travers.

Wednesday 1/6 – Carlton, Coye & Coleman at The Baked Potato

Bassist Travis Carlton, drummer Gene Coye and keyboardist Brandon Coleman are at The Baked Potato in Studio City with guest guitarist Samir Moulay. Vocalist Kathleen Grace is at Vibrato in Bel Air with pianist Josh Nelson and bassist Pat Senatore. Organist Carey Frank leads a trio at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  Combo Llamativo is at Jax in Glendale.