About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of April 18, 2016

Monday 4/18 – Sunnie Paxson All-Stars at The E Spot Lounge

Pianist Sunnie Paxson leads an all-female group at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City with Suzanne Morissette Cruz on drums, Robin Bramlett on bass, Sarah Bauza on trumpet, Clarice Cast on percussion, and Cynthia Calhoun on vocals. The Pepperdine Jazz Ensemble led by saxophonist Brian Scanlon is at Lindhurst Theatre in Malibu. Trumpeter William Artope is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. The Mark Hix Big Band is at Typhoon in Santa Monica. Guitarist/vocalist Richard Stekol and pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz are are 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 the Celebrity Jazz Jam featuring Jeff Goldblum at the Desert Willow Golf 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., and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 4/19 – Connie Han Quartet at Blue Whale

Pianist Connie Han is at Blue Whale with Walter Smith II on sax, Chris Colangelo on bass, and Bill Wysaske on drums. Drummer Bernie Dresel’s BBB Big Band does a live recording at Joe’s Great American Bar & Grill in Burbank. Violist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson is at the Del Monte Speakeasy in Venice. The Urban Renewal Project is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Vocalist Donna Butler is at the West Lounge at the Hotel Angeleno in Brentwood. The Young Artists Jazz Series presents bands from the Colburn School of Music at Catalina in Hollywood. John Pisano’s guest for Guitar Night at Viva Cantina in Burbank is Tim May, backed by bassist Abraham Laboriel, Sr. and drummer Tim Pleasant.

Wednesday 4/20 – Translucent Ham Sandwich Band at Blue Whale

Drummer Evan Stone’s Translucent Ham Sandwich Band including bassist Steve Billman, keyboardist Haakon Graf, and guitarist Andy Waddell is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. “Conan” saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Max Haymer is at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist Connie Han is at Osso in downtown L.A. The Gypsy Sound Revolution is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Saxophonist/vocalist Paulie Cerra is at Joe’s Great American Bar & Grill in Burbank.  Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.  Vocalist Dyan Kane is at Danny’s in Venice. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra is at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Vocalist Donna Butler is at Cafe Fiore in Ventura. Pianist Sabine Pothier’s Hard Bop Chicks have the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 4/21 – Bernstein/Goldings/Stewart at REDCAT

Guitarist Peter Benstein, organist Larry Goldings, and drummer Bill Stewart are at REDCAT in downtown Los Angeles. Pianist Daniel Szabo is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Daniel Rosenboom on trumpet, Gavin Templeton on sax, Sezin Ahmet Turkmenoglu on bass, and Dan Schnelle on drums. Vocalist Judy Wexler celebrates a birthday at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Pianist Josh Nelson is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Bassist/vocalist Kristin Korb is at The Merc in Temecula. Keyboardist David Garfield is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Vocalist Susan Krebs is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Guitarist Kiko Louiero is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Billy Valentine is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Baldy Mountain Jazz Band is at The Press Restaurant in Claremont. The Ben Rose Band with vocalist Laura Mace is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Guitarist Gregory Lawrence is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood.

Friday 4/22 – Mitchel Forman at The Baked Potato

Keyboardist Mitchel Forman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with John Leftwich on bass, Gary Novak on drums, and Munyungo Jackson on percussion. Drummer Jamire Williams is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Maysa Leak begins a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Catalina in Hollywood. Keyboardist Greg Manning is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Dolores Scozzesi is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Vocalist Jay Jackson is at Aldabella Winery in Westlake Village. Pianist David Arnay is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena. The Occidental College Jazz Ensemble performs at Bird Studio in Eagle Rock. Pianist Nina Beck and vocalist Andy Cowan are at the Renaissance Hotel LAX.

Saturday 4/23 – Jonathan Kreisberg Group at Blue Whale

Guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Dave Kikoski on piano, Dave Robaire on bass, and Jonathan Pinson on drums. Percussionist/vocalist Pedrito Martinez is at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica with a group including pianist/vocalist Ariacne Trujillo. Bassist/vocalist Kristin Korb is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Vocalist Carol Bach-y-Rita is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A..The Mark Z. Stevens Trio with vocalist Janis Mann is at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. Vocalist Maysa Leak is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Sandra Booker is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Gregg Arthur is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Chris Standring celebrates a CD release at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. John & Jeannie Pisano and guitarist Jim Fox are at Galetto in Westlake Village. Pianist Connie Han is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Nutty is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. OHM is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonists Doug Webb and Greg Fishman have the Saturday brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, keyboardist Todd Hunter is at Perch in downtown L.A..

Sunday 4/24 – John Daversa Big Band at Los Angeles College Of Music Garage

Trumpeter John Daversa celebrates his new CD release dedicated to the music of The Beatles with two shows at the Los Angeles College Of Music in Pasadena (2PM and 6PM, plus Saturday 8PM).  Guitarist Thom Rotella is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Mitchel Forman on keys, Kevin Axt on bass, Ray Brinker on drums, and Jerry Vivino on sax. Pianist Julian Le celebrates a CD release at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Steve Oliver is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Blue Ivory is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Vocalist Juri Kamiyama has an afternoon show at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Sunday brunch choices include drummer Matt Gordy at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, vocalist 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., harmonica player Mark Bramlett at Catalina in Hollywood, and saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood.

Monday 4/25 – David Angel Big Band at Typhoon

The David Angel Big Band is at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. The Los Angeles Jazz Collective presents a show 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 4/26 – Richie Gajate Garcia at Mambo’s Cafe

Percussionist Richie Gajate Garcia is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Guitarist Rob Garland is at TriP in Santa Monica. Flamenco guitarist Juanito Pasqual leads a trio 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.. John Pisano’s guest for Guitar Night at Viva Cantina in Burbank is Laurence Juber. Blues harmonica player Chef Dave is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.

Wednesday 4/27 – Le Quintet at Blue Whale

Brazilian guitarist Marcel Camargo leads a group at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo including Jessica Vautor on vocals, Katisse Buckingham on sax/flutes, John Tegmeyer on clarinet, and Mike Shapiro on percussion. Keyboardist Lao Tizer and guitarist Jacques Lesure split a bill at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Saxophonist Doug Webb is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Mitchel Forman on keys, John Ziegler on guitar, Danny Carey on drums, and Jimmy Earl on bass. Brazilian vocalist Teka is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Guitarist/vocalist Frank Stallone is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Mike Scott has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.