About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of March 28, 2016

Monday 3/28 – Josh Nelson & Carmen Staaf at Blue Whale

Pianists Josh Nelson and Carmen Staaf each offer a set at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Bill Cunliffe Big Band is at Typhoon in Santa Monica with vocalist Denise Donatelli. Saxophonist Bruce Babad plays the music of Paul Desmond at The Tee Room in Newport Beach. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Guitarist Brent Canter is at Harlowe in West Hollywood. Monday jam sessions include the Celebrity Jazz Jam at Desert Willow Resort in Palm Desert, 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 3/29 – Doug Webb at Catalina

Saxophonist Doug Webb is at Catalina in Hollywood with Mitchel Forman on keys, Danny Carey on drums, Jimmy Earl on bass, and John Ziegler on guitar. Guitarist Allen Hinds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Mario Castro is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Pianist Sabine Pothier is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Paris Chansons are at Vibrato in Bel Air. Incendio 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.. John Pisano’s guest for Guitar Night at Viva Cantina in Burbank is Pat Kelley.

Wednesday 3/30 – Sinne Eeg at Blue Whale

Danish vocalist Sinne Eeg is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Larry Koonse on guitar and Darek Oles on bass. Vocalist Freda Payne guests with the Bill Cunliffe Big Band at Vibrato in Bel Air. Trumpeter Bijon Watson and saxophonist Rickey Woodard play the music of Freddie Hubbard at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. Guitarist Toshi Yanagi’s Buzz Wizards are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Kirk Andres Wilson is at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist Austin Byrd has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 3/31 – Sara Gazarek at Catalina

Vocalist Sara Gazarek is at Catalina in Hollywood with Josh Nelson on piano, Dave Robaire on bass, and Dan Schnelle on drums. Trumpeter Josiel Perez leads his Latin Jazz Orchestra at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Sinne Eeg is at The Merc in Temecula. Pianist Sabine Pothier’s Hard Bop Chicks are at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. 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. Guitarist Gregory Lawrence is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Conganas is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Chef Big Dave leads an evening of blues at The Baked Potato in Studio City.

Friday 4/1 – Michael Landau Group at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Michael Landau is at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat) with Travis Carlton on bass, Gary Novak on drums and guest vocalist David Frazee. Christian Sands, Jose James and the Mack Avenue Superband are at Walt Disney Hall in downtown L.A.. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Guitarist Kenny Burrell leads a quintet at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Doug Webb is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Bassist John B. Williams leads a trio at Aldabella Winery in Westlake Village. Pianist Jacob Mann is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The GO Organic Orchestra is at the Electric Lodge in Venice for the first of three shows (Fri-Sun). Pianist David Arnay is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena.

Saturday 4/2 – Scott Kinsey Group at Blue Whale

Keyboardist Scott Kinsey is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Arto Tunçboyaciyan on percussion and vocals, Gergo Borlai on drums, and Rufus Philpot on bass. Guitarist Michael Landau is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Kenny Burrell leads a quintet at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Will Donato is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens leads a trio at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Jazz harpist Motoshi Kosako is at Pacific Harps in Pasadena. Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia hosts a showcase for eight vocalists at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A. Keyboardist Todd Hunter is at the Perch Saturday brunch in downtown L.A..

Sunday 4/3 – Kenny Burrell at Catalina

Guitarist Kenny Burrell leads a quintet at Catalina in Hollywood for the last of three nights (Fri-Sun). Pianist Llew Matthews plays a pre-moving goodbye show at McCormick & Schmick’s in Irvine. Vocalist Kim Horn is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The LA Jazz Collective leads its monthly jam session at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Hazey Jane is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Joe La Barbera leads an afternoon trio in tribute to the late Bill Evans at the UCLA Fowler Museum in Westwood. Vocalist Phyllis Causey performs an early evening show at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park. Blues Alive plays a late afternoon show at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Trombonist Phil Ranelin leads an early afternoon show at the Mayme Clayton Library in Culver City. The Coyote Hills Jazz Band plays an afternoon show at the Elks Lodge in Canoga Park. Sunday brunch choices include Jesse Palter at Perch in downtown L.A., pianist Connie Han at Post & Beam in South 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 4/4 – Paul McDonald Big Band at Typhoon

The Paul McDonald Big Band with vocalist Ned Rifken is at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. Vocalist Makiko Sakurai is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. 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 4/5 – Oz Noy Trio at Catalina

Guitarist Oz Noy is at Catalina in Hollywood for the first of two nights (Tue-Wed) with Jimmy Haslip on bass and Dave Weckl on drums. Keyboardist Ed Roth 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. The Boyd Cannon Big Band is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Vocalist Dyan Kane is at TriP in Santa Monica. 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 4/6 – Groove Legacy at The Baked Potato

Groove Legacy is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Paulie Cerra on sax, Andrew Lippman on trombone, Billy Steinway on keys, Sam Meek on guitar, Travis Carlton on bass, and Lemar Carter on drums. Nolatet is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Oz Noy is at Catalina in Hollywood. Trumpeter Farnell Newton is at Iguana Kelley’s in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Jarez is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City.