About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of May 16, 2016

Monday 5/16 – Peter Brötzmann Quartet at the Echoplex

Free jazz saxophonist Peter Brötzmann plays his first SoCal show in more than forty years with John Edwards on double bass, Steve Noble on drums, and Jason Adasiewicz on vibes at the Echoplex in Hollywood. Saxophonist Charles Owens leads his big band at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. Vocalist Jackie Gage and the group Joomanji split a bill at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. 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., Jeff Elliott at SOhO in Santa Barbara, and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 5/17 – Alfredo Rodriguez at Blue Whale

Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez celebrates a CD release at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Ganavya on vocals, Peter Slavov on bass, and Henry Cole on drums. Vibraphonist Emil Richards leads his big band at Typhoon in Santa Monica. Vocalist Frenchie Davis is at Catalina in Hollywood. Excursion is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The White Blinds are at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. 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 Guitar Night at Viva Cantina in Burbank features Bruce Forman. Oui’ 3 is at Riviera 31 at the Beverly Hills Sofitel Hotel.

Wednesday 5/18 – Gerald Clayton and Saschal Vasandani at Blue Whale

Pianist Gerald Clayton begins a two-night (Tue-Wed) run at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with vocalist Sachal Vasandani. “Conan” saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Joe Bagg on organ, Ray Brinker on drums, and Thom Rotella on guitar. Percussionist/vocalist Bobby Matos is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Delta Wright is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Mark Hix Big Band is at Typhoon in Santa Monica. Bassist Jeff Littleton has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 5/19 – Time Check – A Buddy Rich Alumni Reunion at Sheraton Gateway LAX

The Los Angeles Jazz Institute begins its annual four-day jazz weekend, which this year features the music of drummer Buddy Rich, presented over four days at the Sheraton Gateway LAX. Guitarist Jeff Richman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Deron Johnson on keys, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Gergo Borlai on drums. Pianist Gerald Clayton is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with vocalist Sachal Vasandani. Keyboardist David Garfield is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Saxophonist Doug Webb is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Bassist Byron Miller celebrates a CD release at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Percussionist Ronnie Gutierrez is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Violinist Diego Mondragon is at The Merc in Temecula.  Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia is with Dave Ross & Friends at the LA Athletic Club in downtown Los Angeles.  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. The Baldy Mountain Jazz Band is at the Press Restaurant in Claremont.

Friday 5/20 – Poncho Sanchez at Catalina

Latin percussionist/vocalist Poncho Sanchez begins a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Catalina in Hollywood.  Pianist Carlos Rodgarman leads a Latin jazz group at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Holophonor is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Saxophonist Rob Lockhart is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist David Arnay is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena. Blues guitarist Ray Goren is at the Seabird Jazz Lounge in Long Beach. Vocalist/pianist Kiki Ebsen is at Aldabella Winery in Westlake Village. Pianist Tamir Hendelman has the free Friday jazz show at LACMA in West L.A..

Saturday 5/21 – Arturo Sandoval at Carpenter Performing Arts Center

The Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach hosts trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. Saxophonist Logan Richardson’s SHIFT is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Latin percussionist/vocalist Poncho Sanchez is at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Scott Martin’s Latin Soul Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Trumpeter Elliott Caine is at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Bassist Jennifer Leitham is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Saxophonist Michael Session is at the Seabird Jazz Lounge in Long Beach. Cypriot vocalist Alexia Vassiliou is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Jamila Ford is at Market Broiler in Simi Valley. Along For The Ride is at Alvas Showroom in Long Beach. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens’ trio is at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. Incendio is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. The Jimmy McConnell Big Band is at Maverick’s Flat in South L.A.. OHM is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Slide FX trombone band has the Saturday brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, keyboardist Todd Hunter is at Perch in downtown L.A..

Sunday 5/22 – Anthony Wilson Trio at Bacchus’ Kitchen

Guitarist Anthony Wilson plays at Bacchus’ Kitchen in Pasadena, backed by Larry Goldings on organ and Matt Chamberlain on drums. Jones Jones with bassist Mark Dresser is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Percussionist Poncho Sanchez is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. The Buddy Rich All Star Alumni Big Band is at Typhoon in Santa Monica. Cecilia Noel & The Wild Clams perform a benefit for youth art education at Catalina in Hollywood. Tritone Asylum is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Cheryl Barnes is at Maverick’s Flat in South L.A.. Guitarist Carlos Fischer plays a late afternoon show at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Paris Chansons is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Soul Sauce Latin Jazz Band is at Seabird Jazz Lounge in Long Beach. Pianist Richard Glaser is at The Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Saxophonist Mindi Abair has an afternoon show at the Grand Theater in Long Beach. Sunday brunch choices include pianist Jon Mayer at Post & Beam in South L.A., flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny 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., and saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood.

Monday 5/23 – Satoko Fujii + Kappa Maki + Alex Cline at Blue Whale

Pianist Satoko Fujii, trumpeter Kappa Maki, and drummer Alex Cline are at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Buddy Rich Big Band with Gregg Potter and Cathy Rich is at Catalina in Hollywood. The Peter Myers Orchestra is at Typhoon in Santa Monica. 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 5/24 – Allen Hinds at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Allen Hinds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Matt Rohde on keys, JV Collier on bass, and Donald Barrett on drums. Pianist Mitchel Forman is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Kevin Axt on bass and Steve Hass on drums. Drummer Bernie Dresel’s BBB Big Band is at Typhoon in Santa Monica. Vocalist Cat Conner and saxophonist Gene Cipriano are at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Vocalist Annie Trousseau is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Brazilian vocalist Natalia Spadini is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. 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.. The Young Artists Jazz Series presents bands from LACHSA (Los Angeles County High School For The Arts) at Catalina in Hollywood. John Pisano’s Guitar Night at Viva Cantina in Burbank features Jamie Rosenn.

Wednesday 5/25 – Gavin Templeton at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Gavin Templeton celebrates a CD release at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Joshua White on piano, Richard Giddens on bass, and Gene Coye on drums. Guitarist Adrian Galysh celebrates a CD release at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Melanie Taylor is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Saxophonist Gary Herbig and drummer Bill Spoke lead a quintet for the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.