About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of May 29, 2017

Monday 5/29 – Levon Henry at Blue Whale

Saxophonist/vocalist Levon Henry is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with David Plitch on bass, Jay Bellerose on drums, and Chris Bruce on guitar. 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. Strangers On A Saturday Night plays a Memorial Day brunch at Perch in downtown L.A..

Tuesday 5/30 – Groove Legacy at The Baked Potato

Groove Legacy is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Kirk Fletcher and Sam Meek on guitars, Travis Carlton on bass, Paulie Cerra on sax/vocals, Andrew Lippmann on trombone, and Lemar Carter on drums. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Trumpeter Jens Lindeman and pianist Senator Tommy Banks lead the Thelonious Monk Institute Ensemble in a tribute to Oscar Peterson at Catalina in Hollywood. Blanco Diablo is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A.. The Boyd Cannon Big Band is Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Area in West Hollywood. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Guitarist David Marcus is at Il Piccolo Verde in Brent wood. The Route 66 Jazz Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. John Pisano’s Guitar Night is at Viva Cantina in Burbank with guest Jim Fox.

Wednesday 5/31 – Mark Winkler at Catalina

Vocalist Mark Winkler celebrates a CD release at Catalina in Hollywood with a band including vocalist Sara Gazarek, saxophonist Bob Sheppard, pianist Jamieson Trotter, guitarist Pat Kelley, and trombonist Bob McChesney. Vocalist Dave Damiani’s No Vacancy Orchestra is at Vibrato in Be Air with guest vocalist Renee Olstead. Chain Reaction is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley is at The Continental Club in downtown L.A.. Bossa Zusu is at Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A.. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Guitarist/vocalist Jesse Harris is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Arohi Ensemble with guest vocalist Dwight Trible is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. 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. Saxophonist Dave Paterson is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Pianist Stuart Elster is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Saxophonist Gary Herbig and drummer Bill Spoke lead a group for the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. The Fixtures Duo is at Le Petit Paris in downtown L.A.. Dogfish is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura.

Thursday 6/1 – Roy Hargrove at Catalina

Trumpeter Roy Hargrove begins a four-night (Thu-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood. Drummer Trevor Anderies celebrates a CD release at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Melissa Morgan is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Blue Guitar in South Pasadena. Pianist Tateng Katindig is at The Merc in Temecula. Drummer Chad Smith & The Bombastic Meatbats are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. 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. Vocalist Chris Pierce is at the Boardroom in downtown L.A. The Jazz Express is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura.

Friday 6/2 – Armen Nalbandian at Blue Whale

Pianist Armen Nalbandian is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Jeff Parker on guitar, Chris Speed on reeds, Eric Revis on bass, and Alex Cline on drums. Saxophonist Scott Martin’s Latin Soul Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Saxophonist Charles Owens is at The World Stage in South L.A. Vocalist Judy Wexler is at The Wine Cave in Montrose. The Rodgarband is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trumpeter Roy Hargrove is at Catalina in Hollywood. Drummer Troy Dexter celebrates a CD release at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. The three-day (Fri-Sun) Newport Beach Jazz Festival kicks off with saxophonist Euge Groove at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. Pianist Lenny Stack is at Henri’s Back Room in Canoga Park. Pianist/vocalist Joey Dosik is at Perch in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Jeff Robinson is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Pianist David Arnay is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena. Vocalist Laura Mace is at the Boardroom in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Janice Anderson is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Guitarist Jacques Lesure has the free Friday jazz show at LACMA in West L.A.

Saturday 6/3 – Jean-Luc Ponty at the Saban Theatre

Violinist Jean-Luc Ponty is at the Saban Theatre in West Hollywood with Wally Minko on keys, Jamie Glaser on guitar, and Rayford Griffin on drums. Guitarist Jeff Richman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Mitchel Forman on keys, Jimmy Haslip on bass, and Chad Wackerman on drums. Bassist Joshua Crumbly is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Kirk Fletcher and saxophonist/vocalist Paulie Cerra play an evening of blues at Big Mama’s Rib Shack in Pasadena. Pianist Todd Hunter is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. Guitarist Yu Ooka is at the Happa Restaurant in Gardena with vocalist Yvette Nii. Trumpeter Roy Hargrove is at Catalina in Hollywood. Along For The Ride is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Guitarist Paul Weitz and vocalist Donna Deussen are at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens’ leads a trio at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. Vocalist Jesse Palter is at the Boardroom in downtown L.A.. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Urbanity is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Nils is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vibraphonist Nick Mancini has the happy hour gig at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Janet Orsi is at Ziing’s Bistro & Bar in Fullerton. Trumpeter Dr. Bobby Rodriguez has the free Latin Sounds series at LACMA in West L.A.  Vocalist Denise Donatelli plays the Jazz & Olive Festival in Los Olivos Saturday afternoon.  Saturday brunch choices include drummer Dick Weller at the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach and keyboardist Todd Hunter at Perch in downtown L.A..

Sunday 6/4 – Christian Scott at The Roxy

Trumpeter Christian Scott is at The Roxy in West Hollywood.  Guitarist Carl Verheyen is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village with Dave Marotta on bass, John Ferraro on drums, and Jim Cox on organ. Vocalist Teryn Re’ fronts a big band at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Michael Ragonese and saxophonist Shai Golan lead a quartet at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocal group The Black Market Trust is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Trumpeter Roy Hargrove 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. The Mudbug Brass Band is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Pianist/vocalist Peggy Dusquenel is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Trio Eclectic is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Bassist Teddy Bang is at the Alley Lounge in Culver City. Sunday brunch choices include drummer Matt Gordy 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 6/5 – John Kaizan Neptune at Blue Whale

Flutist John Kaizan Neptune is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Harry Selvin Orchestra is at the Palm Garden Hotel in Newbury 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 drummer Kevin Kanner’s 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. The Polytechnic High School Jazz Band is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.

Tuesday 6/6 – Chris Potter at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Chris Potter is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with David Virelles on piano, Ben Street on bass, and Dan Weiss on drums. Vocalist Daniela Spagnolo 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.. Guitarist David Marcus is at Il Piccolo Verde in Brentwood. The Route 66 Jazz Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. The Flight 584 Big Band is at Viva Cantina in Burbank. John Pisano’s Guitar Night is at Viva Cantina in Burbank.

Wednesday 6/7 – Billy Childs Prophecy at Hotel Cafe

Pianist Billy Childs plays a late evening show at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood with poet Paul Calderon, bassist Jimmy Johnson, and drummer Donald Barrett. Vocalist Sylvia Brooks celebrates a CD release at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Chris Potter is at the Athenaeum Library in La Jolla. Saxophonist Donald Hayes is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Thelonious Monk Institute holds its monthly jam session at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Meridian Trio is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Violinist Jean-Luc Ponty is at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. 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. Bassist Pat Senatore has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.