About & Out – What’s Hot – The Week Of February 27, 2017

Monday 2/27 – Tigran Hamasyan at Blue Whale

Pianist Tigran Hamasyan plays the final night of a three-night (Sat-Mon) set of solo shows at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Trumpeter Stephanie Richards + Phantom Station are at The Loft at UCSD La Jolla. Organist Akiko Tsuruga is at Bacchus’ Kitchen in Pasadena. 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 2/28 – Mike Gurrola Trio at Blue Whale

Bassist Mike Gurrola leads a trio at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with drummer Jeff Hamilton and pianist Larry Fuller. Bassist Travis Carlton is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Welsh vocalist Iris Williams is at Catalina in Hollywood. Drummer Peter Buck’s Buck’s Vibe is at Hoson House in Tustin.  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 Grant Geissman. The Mudberg Brass Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Boyd Cannon Big Band is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village.

Wednesday 3/1 – Thalma de Freitas & Marcel Camargo at Blue Whale

Brazilian vocalist Thalma de Freitas and guitarist Marcel Camargo lead a tribute to composer Laércio de Freitas at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with guest pianist/vocalist Catina DeLuna, guitarists Roberto Monteiro and Nando Duarte, violinist Ted Falcon, and percussionist Clarisse Cast. Organist Akiko Tsuruga leads a trio at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach with drummer Jeff Hamilton and guitarist Graham Dechter. Vocalist Brenna Whitaker is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Excursion is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Kay-Ta Matsuno’s Quattrosound is at Catalina in Hollywood. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Jazz Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. 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 Donny Most is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Pianist/vocalist Peter Smith is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale.

Thursday 3/2 – Bob Reynolds at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Ruslan Sirota on keyboards, Janek Gwizdala on bass, and Chaun Horton on drums. Saxophonist Ben Van Gelder celebrates a CD release at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  Trombonist Francisco Torres leads a Latin sextet at Cooks Chapel in Anaheim.  Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Mrs. Fish in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Richard Shelton is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Vocalist Jane Monheit begins a three-night (Thu-Sat) run at Catalina in Hollywood. Teen drummer Vinnie Aguas is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Vocalist Dewey Erney is at The Merc in Temecula. Organist Akiko Tsuruga is at The Loft at UCSD in La Jolla. Guitarist Ralph Towner is at The Athaeneum Library in La Jolla. Pianist Joe Bagg is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. 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. Pianist Sabine Pothier is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. The Baldy Mountain Jazz Band is at The Press Restaurant in Claremont. Oui’ 3 is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Debi Raven is at the Patriot Hall in Brea. Pianist Stuart Elster is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale.

Friday 3/3 – Ralph Towner at Blue Whale

Long-time Oregon and Paul Winter Consort guitarist Ralph Towner plays a solo show at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Prophecy is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Jane Monheit is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist VR Smith is at The Wine Cave in Montrose. Jazz Express is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Pianist/vocalist Joey Dosik is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Jeff Robinson is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Saxophonist Ken Weiner is at the Industry Cafe in Culver City. Pianist Gary Matsumoto is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale.

Saturday 3/4 – Jane Monheit at Catalina

Vocalist Jane Monheit finishes a three-night (Thu-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood, backed by Bill Cunliffe on piano, Dave Robaire on bass, and Rick Montalbano on drums. Vibraphonist Nick Mancini is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Kenny Washington is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. The Yellowjackets are at the San Diego Repertory Theatre. Vocalist Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton are at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Vocalist Kevin Ahart is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vibraphonist Charlie Shoemake is at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert. Vocalist Mari Nobre leads a tribute to the late drummer Enzo Tedesco at Casa Arjona in Long Beach. Cosmosquad is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Mindi Abair is at the Mission Hills Westin in Rancho Mirage. Dummer Gregg Bissonette is at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens’ trio is at Desert Rose in Los Feliz with guest saxophonist Chuck Manning. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Pianist Yuko Mabuchi is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Pianist Zach Provost is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Saturday brunch choices include keyboardist Todd Hunter at Perch in downtown L.A..

Sunday 3/5 – George Benson at the Barclay Theatre

Guitarist/vocalist George Benson is at the Barclay Theatre in Irvine. Tritone Asylum is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Necks are at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Trumpeter Dr. Bobby Rodriguez and his UCLA Latin Big Band are at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Lorraina Marro is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. The DD Horns celebrate an album release at The York in Highland Park.   Saxophonist Daniel Rotem is at the Grand Central Market in downtown L.A.. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Pianist Richard Glaser is at the Barkley Restaurant in South 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., saxophonist Cal Bennett at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood, vocalist Bri Sarikcioglu at the Luxe Hotel Sunset in Bel Air, vocalist Leslie Lembo at SOhO in Santa Barbara, and guitarist Mark Fitchett at Chez Melange in Redondo Beach.

Monday 3/6 – Hiromi at Catalina

Pianist Hiromi Uehara begins a three-night (Mon-Wed) run at Catalina in Hollywood with Hadrien Feraud on bass and Simon Phillips on drums. Bassist Ben Finley is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Clarinetist Terry Myers leads a big band salute to Benny Goodman at the McCallum Theater in Palm Springs. Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia is at 118 Degrees in Tarzana. Organist Carey Frank is at the Sassafras Saloon in Hollywood. The SBCC Jazz Band is at SOhO in Santa Barbara. 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 3/7 – Katja Rieckermann at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Katja Rieckermann is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Randy Cooke on drums, Andreas Geck on bass, Hans Zermuehlen on keys, Ron DeJesus on guitar, Humberto Ruiz on trombone, and Luis Eric Gonzales on trumpet. Pianist Hiromi is at Catalina in Hollywood. The Thelonious Monk Institute holds its monthly jam session at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Carol Bach-y-Rita 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.. 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. PhunkYard is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Bassist Tony Saunders is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Jazz Express is at Cafe Fiore in Ventura.

Wednesday 3/8 – Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble at Blue Whale

Pianist Vardan Ovsepian leads his chamber ensemble at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Jungmin Seo on kayagum, Yu-Ting Wu and Luis Mascaro on violins, Lauren Baba and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on violas, Artyom Manukyan and April Guthrie on cellos, Eric Sittner on bass, Gavin Salmon on drums, and Diego Alvarez on percussion.  Pianist Hiromi is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Lindsay Solonycze is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Yuko Mabuchi is at redwhite+bluezz in Pasadena. Pianist Carey Frank is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale.  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. Blues guitarist Chuck Kavooras is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.