About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of June 6, 2016

Monday 6/6 – Dennis Dreith Big Band at Typhoon

Composer/arranger Dennis Dreith leads his big band at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport.  Trombonist Alex Rodriguez is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Organist Carey Frank is at the Sassafras Saloon in 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 6/7 – Connie Han at Catalina

Barbara Brighton’s Young Artists Jazz Series features pianist Connie Han with Bob Sheppard on saxes, Chris Colangelo on bass, and Bill Wysaske on drums. Drummer Joe Farnsworth and pianist Harold Mabern are at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Thelonious Monk Institute holds its monthly jam session at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Jazz Butchers are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Lorraina Marro 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 Guitar Night is at Viva Cantina in Burbank with violinist Charlie Bisherat.

Wednesday 6/8 – Harold Mabern Trio at Blue Whale

Veteran pianist Harold Mabern leads a trio at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Mike Gurrola on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums. Keyboardist Scott Kinsey is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with with Doug Webb on sax, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Kirk Covington on drums. Vocalist Tamara Gabriel is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Karen Hernandez and vocalist Jimmy Spencer are at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Organist Carey Frank is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. Bassist Bruce Lett has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 6/9 – Pharoah Sanders at Catalina

Saxophonist Pharoah Sanders is at Catalina in Hollywood for the first of three nights (Thu-Sat), backed by a trio including pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Mike Gurrola, and drummer Joe Farnsworth. Pianist Billy Mitchell kicks off the summer outdoor Thursday jazz series at Descanso Gardens in La Canada-Flintridge. Pianist Fred Hersch and clarinetist Anat Cohen are the Athenaeum in La Jolla. Vocalist Cyrille Aimee is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Saxophonist Rob Lockhart is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Cougar Estrada is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. G5 is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Guitarist Nili Brosh is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Steve Torok is at The Merc in Temecula. 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. Pianist Max Haymer is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Vocalist Johnny Boyd is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City.

Friday 6/10 – Sanesi / Feraud / Baker at Alvas Showroom

Drummer Andy Sansesi leads a trio at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro including bassist Hadrien Feraud and guitarist Bryan Baker. Trumpeter Daniel Rosenboom’s Dr. MiNT is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Patty Peterson and Groove Legacy are at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Saxophonist Pharoah Sanders is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Janis Mann is at Aldabella Winery in Westlake Village. Katalyst and GENR8R share a bill at the Center For The Arts in Eagle Rock. Bassist/vocalist Marco Mendoza’s El Trio with Renato Neto on keys and Joey Heredia on drums is at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat). Vocalist Jonathan Karrant is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Vibraphonist Steven McGill is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Grex is at Battery Books in South Pasadena. Vocalist Tony Galla is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist David Arnay is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena. Guitarist Peter Sprague has the free Friday jazz show at LACMA in West L.A..

Saturday 6/11 – Josh Nelson Quartet with Kenny Washington at Blue Whale

Pianist Josh Nelson leads a quartet at Blue Whale plus vocalist Kenny Washington including Anton Schwartz on sax, Ben Shepherd on bass, and Dan Schnelle on drums. The Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl’s Saturday lineup features the Joey Alexander Trio, John Beasley’s MONK’estra, and Cecile McLorin Salvant, among others. Icelandic vocalist Anna Mjöll is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Saxophonist Doug Webb is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Saxophonist Pharoah Sanders is at Catalina in Hollywood. Trumpeter Elliott Caine is at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Vocalist Janis Mann joins the Mark Z. Stevens Trio at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. Pianist Connie Han is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Drummer Gerry Brown is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Sidney Jacobs celebrates a CD release at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. El Trio is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vegas ’69 is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. The Palmer Jazz Project is at Seabird Jazz Lounge in Long Beach. The Flying Pisanos are at Galleto in Westlake Village. Saxophonist Boney James is at Thornton Winery in Temecula. SambaDa has the free Saturday Latin Sounds show at LACMA in West L.A.. The Uptown Jazz Festival is at Houghton Park in Long Beach. Guitarist Doug MacDonald has the Saturday brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, keyboardist Todd Hunter is at Perch in downtown L.A..

Sunday 6/12 – Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl

The Playboy Jazz Festival Sunday lineup includes Fourplay, Pete Escovedo, and Javon Jackson among numerous other bands. Joe-Less Shoe is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trombonist Ryan Dragonn is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Walfredo Reyes, Jr. is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village.  Saxophonist Michael Session is at Maverick’s Flat in South L.A.  Vocalist Johnny Britt is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Spencer Day is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Saxophonist Edmund Velasco is at Seabird Jazz Lounge in Long Beach. Pianist Richard Glaser is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Apres un Reve with pianist Josh Nelson and vocalists Kathleen Grace and Lillian Sengpiehl play a late afternoon show at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Drummer Hyung Kyu Lee leads a quartet at Northridge United Methodist Church. Sunday brunch choices include pianist guitarist Frank Potenza at Malarkey’s Grill in Long Beach, pianist Connie Han at Post & Beam in South L.A., vibraphonist Lolly Allen 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., vocal.ist Mari Nobre at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock, and saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood.

Monday 6/13 – Gonzalo Bergara Quartet at Blue Whale

Guitarist Gonzalo Bergara celebrates a CD release at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Jeffrey Radaich on rhythm guitar, Leah Zeger on violin, and Brian Netzley on upright bass. Guitarist Kenny Burrell and the LA Jazz Unlimited Orchestra are at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Ernie Andrews and the Charles Owens Big Band are at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellaneos leads the Latin Trumpet Summit at Bacchus’ Kitchen in Pasadena. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Organist Carey Frank is at the Sassafras Saloon in 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 6/14 – Raya Yarbrough at The Baked Potato

Vocalist Raya Yarbrough is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Joe Travers on drums, Pete Griffin on bass, Steve Gregory on guitar, Fred Kron on keys, and Felice Hernandez on backing vocals. Drummer Jimmy Branly fronts a trio at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Elvis Schoenberg’s Orchestre Surreal is at Typhoon in Santa Monica. Vocalist Arianna Neikrug is at Catalina in Hollywood. Knower and Hildegard split a bill 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 Guitar Night is at Viva Cantina in Burbank with guest Mike Anthony.

Wednesday 6/15 – Nan Schwartz at Vibrato

Vibrato in Bel Air hosts composer Nan Schwartz leading an orchestra with guest appearances including trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and vocalists Tierney Sutton and Michael Dees. “Conan” saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Cecilia Noel and the Wild Clams are at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Chuck Manning is at La Sierra University in Riverside. The West Coast Get Down performs a benefit concert for Haiti at New Life LA Christian Church in South L.A..  Vocalist Chantae Cann is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Pianist Jon Mayer has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. The Top Hat Big Band is at Las Hadas Restarant in Northridge.