About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of February 13, 2017

Monday 2/13 – Theo Bleckmann at The Broad Stage

Vocalist Theo Bleckmann is at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, backed by Shai Maestro on piano, Ben Monder on guitar, Jorge Roeder on bass, and John Hollenbeck on drums. The VDE Big Band is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Mary Bogue is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City.  Guitarist Jeff Parker is at ETA in Highland Park.  Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia is at 118 Degrees in Tarzana. Organist Carey Frank is at the Sassafras Saloon in Hollywood. Monday jam sessions include the Kevin Kanner jazz jam at The Mint in West L.A., 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 2/14 – Jerry Vivino at The Baked Potato

“Conan” saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Mitchel Forman on keys, Andy Sanesi on drums, and John Leftwich on bass. Vocalist Dave Damiani & The No Vacancy Orchestra are at Spaghettini in Seal Beach with guest vocalist Melissa Morgan. Calamari is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Icelandic vocalist Anna Mjöll is backed by the Ladd McIntosh Big Band at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Postmodern Jukebox is at UCSB Campbell Hall in Santa Monica. The Thelonious Monk Institute holds its monthly jam session at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Steve Tyrell is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Billy Valentine is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Julie Newsome is at Bistro 101 in Agoura Hills. 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. The Route 66 Jazz Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. John Pisano’s Guitar Night is at Viva Cantina in Burbank with guest Ron Eschete. Pianist Joe Bagg is at The Tap Room at the Langham Hotel Pasadena. Vocalist Rachel Sorsa is at Cafe Del Rey in Marina Del Rey.

Wednesday 2/15 – Azar Lawrence at La Sierra University

Saxophonist Azar Lawrence is at the Troesh Conference Center at La Sierra University in Riverside with Theo Saunders on piano, Henry Franklin on bass, and Ramon Banda on drums. Work in Progress with guest vocalist Andrea Miller is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Glitch Quintet is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage with guest vocalist Maiya Sykes. Pianist Andy Langham is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Coda is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Margo Rey is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Spider Saloff is at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. Pianist Yuko Mabuchi is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Pianist Karen Hernandez and vocalist Jimmy Spencer are at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Percussionist Ronnie Gutierrez hosts a Wednesday night jam session at Monty’s in Woodland Hills. Vocalist Daryl Strodes the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 2/16 – John Scofield at Theatre Raymond Kabbaz

Guitarist John Scofield is at Theatre Raymond Kabbaz in West Los Angeles with Larry Goldings on keys, Vicente Archer on bass, and Bill Stewart on drums. Guitarist Jeff Richman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Kamasi Washington is at Campbell Hall at UC Santa Barbara. Drummer Dylan Ryan is at Blue Whale. Vocalist Steve Tyrell is at Catalina in Hollywood for the first of four nights (Thu-Sun).  Elvis Schoenberg’s Orchestre Surreal is at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.  Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull is at The Merc in Temecula. The Skip Spiro Little Big Band is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Keyboardist David Garfield is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Trumpeter Pete Olstad is at Blue Guitar in South Pasadena. Pianist Connie Han is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. The White Blinds are at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Pianist Joe Bagg is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Vocalist Susan Krebs is at Canyon Bistro in Topanga. The Ben Rose Band with vocalist Laura Mace is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Saxophonist Dave Paterson is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Bassist David Ross is at the LA Athletic Club in downtown Los Angeles. Guitarist David Marcus is at Il Piccolo Verde in Brentwood. Vocalist Carolyn Martinez is at Vicky’s of Santa Fe in Palm Desert. The Baldy Mountain Jazz Band is at The Press Restaurant in Claremont. Pianist Jordan Siegel is at The Tap Room at the Langham Hotel Pasadena.

Friday 2/17 – The Cookers at Nate Holden Performing Arts Center

The Jazz Bakery presents The Cookers at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in South L.A. with Billy Harper on tenor sax, Eddie Henderson and David Weiss on trumpets, Donald Harrison on alto sax, George Cables on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. Keyboardist Mark De Clive-Lowe is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo for the first of two nights for a CD release celebration. Keyboardist Lao Tizer is at Boston Court in Pasadena with Karen Briggs on violin, Munyungo Jackson on percussion, and Anthony Crawford on bass.  Keyboardist Carlos Rodgarman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Todd Hunter is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. Pianist Jeff Colella is at the Wine Cave in Montrose. Vocalist Steve Tyrell is at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist George Shelby is at Vibrato in Bel Air.  Pianist/vocalist Peter Smith is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Pianist/vocalist Joey Dosik is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Jeff Robinson is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Jack’s Cats are at the Sky Room in Long Beach. Oui’ 3 is at the Tavern 1 Grill in Malibu. Saxophonist Ken Weiner is at the Industry Cafe in Culver City.

Saturday 2/18 – Thom Rotella at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Thom Rotella is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Ernie Watts on sax, Mitchel Forman on keys, Trey Henry on bass, and Steve Hass on drums. Keyboardist Mark De Clive-Lowe is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Al Williams is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Pianist Lisa Hilton plays a solo show at the Edye Second Space in Santa Monica. Pianist Joshua White is at Dizzy’s in San Diego. The Idiomatiques are at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Guitarist Bruce Forman is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Guitarist/vocalist Paulinho Garcia is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull and vocalist Rebecca Kilgore are at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert.  Vocalist Judy Wexler is at the Wine Cave in Montrose.  Pianist Gary Matsumoto is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Trumpeter Greg Adams is at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage. Vocalist Steve Tyrell is at Catalina in Hollywood.  Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Pianist Yuko Mabuchi is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Saturday brunch choices include pianist Sam Hirsh at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach and keyboardist Todd Hunter at Perch in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Tina Phillips is at Mr. C in Beverly Hills.  Pianist Anne Farnsworth is at the Paradise Bar in Long Beach.

Sunday 2/19 – Herbie Hancock/Wayne Shorter/Terence Blanchard at Walt Disney Hall

Pianist Herbie Hancock, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and trumpeter Terence Blanchard team with bassist James Genus and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and the LA Philharmonic Orchestra at Walt Disney Hall in downtown L.A. – Snarky Puppy opens. Guitarist Brandon Bae is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Latin percussionist/vocalist Poncho Sanchez is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Trumpeter Greg Adams is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Keyboardist Sabine Pothier is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Cody Dear is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Vocalist Steve Tyrell is at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Pianist Richard Glaser is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Radish is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Rob Garland is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Fat Brando plays a late afternoon concert at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro.  Sunday brunch choices include 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., bassist Rufus Philpot at The Springs in downtown L.A., saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood, vocalist Bri Sarikcioglu at the Luxe Hotel Sunset in Bel Air, and guitarist Mark Fitchett at Chez Melange in Redondo Beach.

Monday 2/20 – Axiom at The E Spot Lounge

Axiom is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City with guitarist Pete Templer on guitar, Jared Stewart on keyboards, Bill Owen on bass, Frank Villafranca on sax/flute and Phil Templer on drums. The Maria Schneider Orchestra is at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. The Orange County School for the Arts hosts a fundraiser at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia is at 118 Degrees in Tarzana. 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., Jeff Elliott at SOhO in Santa Barbara, and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 2/21 – Maria Schneider Orchestra at Soka Performing Arts Center

Multiple Grammy-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra is at Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo. Guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Stratos Ensemble is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. 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. The Route 66 Jazz Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. John Pisano’s Guitar Night is at Viva Cantina in Burbank with guest Steve Cotter.

Wednesday 2/22 – Sara Gazarek at Catalina Jazz Club

Vocalist Sara Gazarek is at Catalina in Hollywood, backed by Josh Nelson on piano, Alex Boneham on bass, and Dan Schnelle on drums. Vocalist Ron Boustead celebrates a CD release at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. The Maria Schneider Orchestra is at the Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge. Huntertones is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Meridian Trio is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Pianist Yuko Mabuchi is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Pianist Karen Hernandez and vocalist Jimmy Spencer are at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Percussionist Ronnie Gutierrez hosts a Wednesday night jam session at Monty’s in Woodland Hills. Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Blues harmonica player Dave Rozier is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist/vocalist Frank Stallone is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist/vocalist Peter Smith is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale.