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

Monday 7/18 – Keelan Dimick Trio at Blue Whale

Pianist Keelan Dimick leads a trio at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Jonathan Richards on bass and Alex Snydman on drums. Pianist Chris Fishman is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Vibraphonist Nick Mancini is at the Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Howie Levine & Cool Blue are at Las Hadas in Northridge. 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 7/19 – Michael Ragonese at Blue Whale

Pianist Michael Ragonese is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Andrés Salazar on drums, Andy McCauley on bass, Shai Golan on sax, Michael Mayo on vocals, and Walter Smith III on saxophone. Drummer Jimmy Branly and pianist Otmaro Ruiz are at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Vocalist Julia Vari is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Drummer Alex Snydman is at SOhO in Santa Barbara. Pianist Stephan Oberhoff’s Heartbeat Brazil is at the Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Rick Abernathy is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Maria Conchita Alonso is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Swing band Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers are at the Hollywood & Highland Center. Vocalist Dyan Kane is at Danny’s in Venice. 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 Sid Jacobs. Oui’ 3 is at the Sofitel in Beverly Hills.

Wednesday 7/20 – James Morrison at Marriott Newport Center

Australian trumpeter James Morrison will headline at the Sunset Jazz at Newport Wednesday series at the Marriott Hotel & Spa in Newport Center. Bassist Martin Nevin is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Sharon Marie Cline is at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist Graham Dechter is at the Hotel Laguna in Laguna Beach. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Vocalist Victoria Noyes is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Karen Hernandez and vocalist Jimmy Spencer are at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Drummer Sam Webster has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 7/21 – Jean-Philippe Viret Trio at Blue Whale

French bassist Jean-Philippe Viret is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Vardan Ovsepian on piano and Gavin Salmon on drums. Guitarists Leni Stern and Adam Levy are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Doug Webb is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at The Merc in Temecula. Latin vocalist Candi Sosa is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Mark Christian Miller is at Descanso Gardens in La Canada-Flintridge. Pianist Richard Sears is at the Hotel Langham Tap Room in Pasadena. Vocalist Phillip DeLeon is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Guitarist Terry Wollman is at the Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Mike Mays is at Barley Forge in Costa Mesa. Saxophonist Dayna Stephens is at the Athenaeum in La Jolla. Trombonist Joey Sellers is at Cooks Chapel in Anaheim. The Ipanema Lounge Project is at Genghis Cohen in West Hollywood. Drummer Chester Thompson and bassist Alphonso Johnson are at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga.  The Ben Rose Band with vocalist Laura Mace is at Perch in downtown L.A.. The Supa Lowery Brothers are at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Bassist David Ross is at the LA Athletic Club in downtown Los Angeles.

Friday 7/22 – Chester Thompson/Alphonso Johnson at The Baked Potato

Drummer Chester Thompson makes a rare L.A. appearance with former fellow Weather Report bandmate Alphonso Johnson on bass, Gary Fukushima on piano, and Federico Ramos on guitar. Saxophonist Dayna Stephens begins a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Latin pianist Oscar Hernandez & Alma Libre are at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. Trombonist Andy Martin is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Jack Jones begins a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Catalina in Hollywood. Tritone Asylum is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Flutist Tim Weisberg is at the Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Mindi Abair is at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach. Pianist Sabine Pothier’s Hard Bop Chicks are at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Vocalist Jay Jackson is at Aldabella Winery in Westlake Village. Pianist Lenny Stack is at Henri’s Back Room in Canoga Park.   Pianist Ruben Estrada & percussionist Hamid Cooper are at Petra in Thousand Oaks. Pianist David Arnay is at The Parkway Grill in Pasadena. Sasha’s Bloc has the free Friday jazz evening at LACMA in West L.A..

Saturday 7/23 – Dayna Stephens at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Dayna Stephens finishes a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Philip Dizack on trumpet, Billy Childs on piano, Dave Robaire on bass, and Jonathan Pinson on drums. Saxophonist Azar Lawrence is at the Seabird Jazz Lounge in Long Beach with Eric Reed on piano, Edwin Livingston on bass, and Roy McCurdy on drums. Vocalist Madeleine Peyroux is at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica.  Vibraphonist Emil Richards is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer Al Williams is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Jack Jones is at Catalina in Hollywood. Bassist Armando Compean is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A..   Drummer Mark Z. Stevens’ trio is at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Cosmosquad is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. BWB is at Thornton Winery in Temecula. Heartbeat Brazil is at the Charles White Park in Altadena. Trumpeter Greg Adams has an early afternoon show at the Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach. Percussionist/vocalist Louie Cruz Beltran has the free Saturday evening Latin Sounds show at LACMA in West L.A.. Saturday brunch choices include saxophonist Kim Richmond at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach and keyboardist Todd Hunter is at Perch in downtown L.A..

Sunday 7/24 – Hatamiya/Athayde Big Band at Blue Whale

Trombonist Jon Hatamiya and vibraphonist Kyle Athayde lead their big band at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Django Festival All-Stars are at Vibrato in Bel Air with special guest pianist Roger Kellaway. Tellmesomethinggood is at The Baked Potato with a lineup including vocalist Tata Vega.  Pianists Betty Bryant, Sonji Kimmons and Yuko Mabuchi are at Maverick’s Flat in South L.A..  Saxophonist Mark Allen Felton is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Pianist Richard Glaser is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Percussionist/vocalist Louie Cruz Beltran is at Levitt Pavilions Pasadena. Vocalist Dwight Trible is at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo. Sunday brunch choices include pianist Jon Mayer at Post & Beam in South L.A., Lenny Stack’s Big Band 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., bassist Rufus Philpot at The Springs in downtown L.A., the Jazz Angels at Seabird Jazz Lounge in Long Beach, and saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood.

Monday 7/25 – Jessica Vautor at Blue Whale

Vocalist Jessica Vautor celebrates a birthday at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo, backed by Vardan Ovsepian on piano, Artyom Manukyan on cello, Mike Shapiro on drums, and Ian Martin on bass. Guitarist Peter Sprague is at the Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach. 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., trumpeter Jeff Elliott at SOhO in Santa Barbara, and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 7/26 – Euman/Boneham/Smith III at Blue Whale

Drummer Christian Euman leads a trio at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Alex Boneham on bass and Walter Smith III on sax. Guitarist Bernie Mora & Tangent are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Bryan McCann plays a tribute to Stan Getz at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Vocalist Abraham McDonald is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The New Breed Brass Band has the final free 2016 Tuesday outdoor jazz show at the Hollywood & Highland Center. Vocalists Gina Saputo and Aubrey Logan are at the Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach with trumpeter Tony Guerrero. Vocalist Sandra Booker and guitarist John Goux are at Delmonico’s in Encino. 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 Carl Verheyen.

Wednesday 7/27 – The Four Freshmen at Marriott Newport Center

The Four Freshmen are at the Marriott Hotel & Spa in Newport Center. Trumpeter Curtis Taylor is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Colin Bailey is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Drummer Evan Stone is at the Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach. Trumpeter Nate Birkey is at SOhO in Santa Barbara. Guitarist/vocalist Frank Stallone celebrates a birthday at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Karen Hernandez and vocalist Jimmy Spencer are at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Saxophonist Louis Van Taylor has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Blues harmonica player Chef Dave Rozier is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.