About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of February 29, 2016

Monday 2/29 – Matt Politano & Nick Mancini at Blue Whale

Pianist Matt Politano and vibraphonist Nick Mancini split a bill at Blue Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Pianist Lenny Stack leads a big band at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. Trumpeter Will Artope is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. The Santa Barbara City College Jazz Band is at SOhO in Santa Barbara. Vocalist Leslie Nesbitt is at Jax in Glendale. Vocalist Howie Levine is at Las Hadas in Northridge. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Guitarist Brent Canter is at Harlowe in West Hollywood. 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 3/1 – Les Hooper Big Band at Typhoon

Pianist/composer/arranger Les Hooper leads a big band at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. Bassist Hadrien Feraud is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Brenna Whitaker is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Thelonious Monk Institute hosts its monthly jam session at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Linda Purl is at Catalina in Hollywood. The Boyd Cannon Big Band is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. 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..

Wednesday 3/2 – Julian Shore at Blue Whale

Pianist Julian Shore celebrates a CD release at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Gilad Hekselman on guitar, Dave Robaire on bass, and Jonathan Pinson on drums. Vocalist Kathleen Grace is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Teka is at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. Guitarist Steve Fister is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Drummer Adam Clark is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Pianist Cougar Estrada is at Jax in Glendale. Pianist Sabine Pothier is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Blues guitarist Chuck Kavooras is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.

Thursday 3/3 – Bob Reynolds at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Jeff Babko on keys, Sean Hurley on bass, and Gary Novak on drums.  Drummer Denny Seiwell is at Th E Spot Lounge in Studio City.  Pianist Max Haymer is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  Pianist Markus Burger is at The Merc in Temecula. Saxophonist Benn Clatworthy is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Sabine Pothier’s Hard Bop Chicks are at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Vocalist Dave Damiani is at Spaghettini in Beverly Hills. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood.  Bassist David Ross and vocalist Luca Ellis are at the downtown L.A. Athletic Club.

Friday 3/4 – Ellis & Delfeayo Marsalis at Soka Performing Arts Center

The father/son pair of pianist Ellis Marsalis and trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis lead a quartet at Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo with Glen Fisher on bass and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums.  Trumpeter Marquis Hill is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Pianist Lisa Hilton is at the Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Saxophonist Brandon Fields is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vibraphonist Nick Mancini is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Bobby Caldwell begins a three-night (Fri-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Liz Lomax fronts a big band at H.O.M.E. In Beverly Hills. Vocalist Joyce Marie Partise is at Spaghettini in Beverly Hills. Trumpeter Greg Adams is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat). Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert. Pianist David Arnay is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena.

Saturday 3/5 – Helen Sung Quartet at Blue Whale

Pianist Helen Sung fronts a quartet at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with John Ellis on saxophone, Boris Kozlov on bass, and McClenty Hunter on drums. Pianist Laurence Hobgood leads a group including saxophonist Ernie Watts at the Haugh Performing Arts Center in Glendora. Guitarist Jeff Richman leads The Baked Potato All-Stars in Studio City. Trumpeter Kye Palmer is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer Donald Dean is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. Saxophonist Lanny Morgan is at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert.   Vocalist Bobby Caldwell is at Catalina in Hollywood. Trumpeter Greg Adams is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Thrillhaus is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Bassist Ryan Cross is at Spaghettini in Beverly Hills. Vocalist Thisbe Vos is at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills. Trombonist Paul Nowell is at Molly Malone’s in West Hollywood. Vocalist Jay Jackson is at the Market Broiler in Simi Valley. Guitarist/vocalist Keb Mo is at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

Sunday 3/6 – Wesfest 11 at The Baked Potato

Bassist Abraham Laboriel heads the Wesfest 11 memorial and scholarship concert at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Bobby Caldwell is at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist Lenny Stack is at Jax in Glendale. The L.A. Collective hosts a jam session at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. The In The Mood big band performs an afternoon show at Cerritos Center For The Arts. Saxophonist Eric Patterson is at Art. Share L.A. in downtown Los Angeles. The Symphonic Jazz Orchestra hosts an afternoon brunch and fundraiser Sunday afternoon at a private home in Brentwood. Sunday brunch vocalist Jesse Palter at Perch in downtown L.A., vocalist Sharon Marie Cline at The Little Easy in downtown L.A., and saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood.

Monday 3/7 – Dennis Dreith Big Band at Typhoon

Composer/arranger Dennis Dreith leads his big band at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Jax in Glendale. Saxophonist Sal Lozano is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Ariana Savalas is at Vicky’s of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Guitarist Brent Canter is at Harlowe in West Hollywood. 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., Jeff Elliott at SOhO in Santa Barbara, and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 3/8 – Michael Blake at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Michael Blake is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Frank Kimbrough on piano, Ben Allison on bass, and Rudy Royston on drums. Pianist llana Rose is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Vocalist Melissa Morgan is at Imola in Huntington Beach. Vocalist Lola Haag is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. OHM is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.

Wednesday 3/9 – California Jazz Foundation “The A List Show” at Catalina

The California Jazz Foundation hosts a benefit concert at Catalina in Hollywood with entertainment from Isisas Elpes, Cheryl Barnes and Phil Upchurch. Pianist Michael Wolff and drummer Mike Clark are at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City with saxophonist Hailey Niswanger. Jose Gurria’s Gurrisonic Orchestra is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Pianist/vocalist John Proulx is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Combo Llamativo is at Jax in Glendale. Pianist Sabine Pothier is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Saxophonist Cal Bennett is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Blues guitarist Lance Lopez is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.