About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of September 12, 2016

Monday 9/12 – BBB Big Band at Typhoon

Drummer Bernie Dresel’s BBB Big Band celebrates a new CD with a show at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. The Bridge Trio 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 9/13 – Richard Bona & Mandekan Cubano at Catalina

Bassist/vocalist Richard Bona begins a two-night (Tue-Wed) run at Catalina in Hollywood with Ludwig Afonso on drums, Osmany Paredes on piano, Luisito and Roberto Quintero on percussion, Rey Alejandro on trombone, and Dennis Hernandez on trumpet. Pianist Kevin Hays and harmonica player Gregoire Maret duet at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Percussionist Ronnie Gutierrez is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Pianist Gail Jhonson is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley leads a quartet at The Offbeat Bar in Highland Park. Vocalist Joshua Ledet is at Vibrato in Bel Air. 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.. Guitarist David Marcus and bassist Chris Conner are at Il Piccolo Verde in Brentwood. John Pisano’s Guitar Night is at Viva Cantina in Burbank. Blues harmonica player Dave Rozier is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.

Wednesday 9/14 – Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band at Marriott Newport Center

Multiple Grammy-winner pianist/saxophonist/composer Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band closes the summer’s Sunset Jazz Series at the Marriott Hotel & Spa in Newport Center – other members include saxophonist Eric Marienthal, Wayne Bergeron on trumpet, Andy Martin on trombone, Andrew Synowiec on guitar, Rick Shaw on bass, and Ray Brinker on drums. Vocalists DeeDee Bridgewater, Judith Hill, Patti Austin and more offer a tribute to the music of Lena Horne, Dinah Washington, Eartha Kitt And Natalie Cole at the Hollywood Bowl. Guitarist Mike Viola teams with bassist Kaveh Rastegar and organist Larry Goldings at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Bassist/vocalist Richard Bona is at Catalina in Hollywood. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Pianist Karen Hernandez and vocalist Jimmy Spencer are at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Pianist Daniel Ross is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Bassist Paul Gormley has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 9/15 – Pat Metheny at CAP UCLA Royce Hall

Guitarist Pat Metheny is at CAP UCLA Royce Hall in Westwood with drummer Antonio Sanchez, bassist Linda Oh, and pianist Gwilym Simcock. Drummer Alex Acuna is at Catalina in Hollywood.  Guitarist Jeff Richman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Mitchel Forman on keys, Ian Martin on bass, and Oscar Seaton on drums. Pianist Tommy Gannon leads a trio in tribute to Bill Evans at The Merc in Temecula. Pianist Cameron Graves is at The Townhouse Venice. Banda Magda is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Natalia Spadini is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Guitarist Tony Palkovic is at The Press Restaurant in Claremont. Bassist Bruce Lett is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. 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. Vocalist Danny Freyer’s big band is at McCormick & Schick’s in Irvine. Guitarist David Marcus is at Il Piccolo Verde in Brentwood. Jeff Randolph & The Jazz Executives are at Barley Forge in Costa Mesa.

Friday 9/16 – Donny McCaslin Quartet at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Donny McCaslin begins a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Jason Lindner on keys, Nate Wood on bass, and Mark Guiliana on drums. Organist Joey DeFrancesco begins a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Catalina in Hollywood. Vibraphonist Justin Thomas is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Dave Stryker and saxophonist Eric Alexander lead a quartet at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in South L.A.. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra are at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach. Duo Violao Brasil is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. Pianist David Arnay is at The Parkway Grill in Pasadena. Pianist/vocalist John Proulx is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Guitarist Albert Lee is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Theo Saunders has the free Friday evening jazz show at LACMA in West L.A..

Saturday 9/17 – Joey DeFrancesco & The People at Catalina

Organist Joey DeFrancesco is at Catalina in Hollywood for the second of two nights (Fri-Sat) with Jason Brown on drums, Troy Roberts on sax, and Dan Wilson on guitar. Pianist Daniel Szabo leads a quartet at a Casa Arjona house concert in Long Beach including drummer Peter Erskine. Guitarist Pat Metheny is at the Thornton Winery in Temecula. Saxophonist Donny McCaslin is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Jeff Hamilton is at Hoson House in Tustin. Guitarist Michael Thompson is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Stratos Ensemble is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Trumpeter Bria Skonberg is at the Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Vocalist Mon David is at bar Fedora in downtown L.A. Trumpeter Howie Shear is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens’ trio is at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Guitarist Blake Aaron is Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Nutty is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Volto! is at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach. Bassist Ralph Guzman’s Latin jazz band is at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Saturday brunch choices include keyboardist Todd Hunter is at Perch in downtown L.A..

Sunday 9/18 – Joey Alexander at the Irvine Barclay Theatre

Youthful pianist Joey Alexander leads a trio at the Barclay Theatre in Irvine. Pianist Eric Reed plays a “Tribute to West Coast Jazz” with Ralph Moore on sax, Mike Gurrola on bass, and Kevin Yokota on drums at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel leads has Bandit 65 trio at the Moss Theatre in Santa Monica. Guitarist Anthony Wilson & The Curators are at Largo at the Coronet in West Hollywood. Vocalist Andrea Miller is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Duo Violao Brasil and Marcel Camargo’s Le Trio split a bill at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Andy Sanesi’s Raggedy Andy is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Spencer Day is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Fiesta Cubana with drummer Walfredo Reyes, Jr. is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Sarah Reich’s Tap Music Project is at Typhoon in Santa Monica. Pianist Richard Glaser is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Guitarist/vocalist Laithj Al-Saadi and guitarist Jimmy Vivino are at the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena. Sunday brunch choices include 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., vocalist Mari Nobre at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock, saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood, and guitarist Mark Fitchett at Chez Melange in Redondo Beach.

Monday 9/19 – University of Miami Frost Concert Jazz Band and Dafnis Prieto Ensemble at Blue Whale

The University of Miami’s Frost Concert Jazz Band led by trumpeter John Daversa and the Dafnis Prieto Artist Ensemble split a bill at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Peter Myers Orchestra is at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. The Glen Miller Orchestra is at West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch. 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 9/20 – The Webb All-Stars at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Doug Webb is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Mitchel Forman on keys, Jimmy Earl on bass, John Ziegler on guitar, and Danny Carey on drums. Bassist Pat Senatore is at Vibrato in Bel Air with Josh Nelson on piano and Christian Euman on drums. Guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento and Guello on pandeiro are at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Jimmy Branly is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Drummer Peter Buck is at Hoson House in Tustin. Jack’s Cats are at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena. 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.. Guitarist David Marcus is at Il Piccolo Verde in Brentwood. John Pisano’s Guitar Night is at Viva Cantina in Burbank with guest Cary Dinigris.

Wednesday 9/21 – Zhenya Strigalev Trio at Blue Whale

Alto saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Tim Lefebvre on bass and Gene Coye on drums. “Conan” saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Creative Arts Ensemble offers a tribute to John Coltrane at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra are at SOhO in Santa Barbara. Pianist Karen Hernandez and vocalist Jimmy Spencer are at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Jazz Express is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura.