About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of June 5, 2017

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. Drummer Jimmy Branly is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. 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 with guest Brad Rabuchin.

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. Vocalist Zora Urbanyi is at Le Petit Paris in downtown L.A.

Thursday 6/8 – Bob Reynolds at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Ruslan Sirota on keys, Janek Gwizdala on bass, and Chaun Horton on drums. Pianist Bill Cunliffe’s BACHanaila Big Band is at Blue Whale with special guest saxophonist Harry Allen. Violinist Jean-Luc Ponty is at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. Pianist Vijay Iyer opens the Ojai Music Festival (Thu-Sun) at the Libby Bowl in Ojai. Pianist/vocalist John Proulx is at The Muck in Fullerton. Guitarist Mark Towns is at Blue Guitar in South Pasadena. Percussionist Ronnie Gutierrez is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Drummer Al Williams is at The Merc in Temecula. Vocalist Kathy Kosins is at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. Vocalist Sonny Moon & Nutty are at Vibrato in Bel Air. Bassist Bruce Lett is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Jesse Palter is at the Boardroom in downtown L.A. The Vibrometers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Guitarist Kay-Ta Matsuno is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Pianist/vocalist Eric Ekstrand has an early evening show at Beverly Canon Park in Beverly Hills. 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 with vocalist Barbara Morrison. Pianist Joe Bagg is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Guitarist David Marcus is at Il Piccolo Verde in Brentwood. Vocalist Carolyn Martinez is at Vicky’s of Santa Fe in Palm Desert. Percussionist Joey De Leon is at Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A..  Vocalist/trumpeter Tim Gill is at Barley Forge in Costa Mesa.

Friday 6/9 – Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band at the Kirk Douglas Theatre

Saxophonist/pianist/composer Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band is at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City with Andrew Synowiec on guitar, Kevin Axt on bass, Ray Brinker on drums, Joey De Leon on percussion, Brian Scanlon on saxophone, Mike Rocha on trumpet, and Francisco Torres on trombone. Pianist Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express is at Catalina in Hollywood for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat). Keyboardist/vocalist Mark de Clive-Lowe is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat). Jimmy Kimmel Show house band Cleto & The Cletones are at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Keyboardist Connie Han is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with guest trumpeter Brian Swartz. Father Amde of the Watts Prophets and Dwight Trible are at The Word Stage in south L.A.. Saxophonist Cody Dear is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Melanie Taylor is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. 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..  Pianist Zach Provost is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Saxophonist Bruce Babad has the free Friday jazz show at LACMA in West L.A.  Bassist Teddy Bang is at the Industry Cafe in Culver City.

Saturday 6/10 – Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl

The weekend’s Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl kicks off Saturday with headliners Marcus Miller, Hudson, Arturo Sandoval, and Jacob Collier. Pianist Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express is at Catalina in Hollywood. Keyboardist/vocalist Mark de Clive-Lowe is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Pianist Connie Han is at The World Stage in South L.A.. Vocalist Carol Bach-y-Rita is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Cuban vocalist Lily Hernandez is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.. Vocalist Ann Kelly is at The E Spot Lounge in Studio City. Saxophonist Michael Paulo is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Saxophonists Candy Dulfer and Grace Kelly are at the Thornton Winery in Temecula. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens’ leads a trio at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. Vocalist Chris Pierce is at the Boardroom in downtown L.A.. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Guitarist Albert Lee is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Bruce Forman’s Junkyard Duo has the happy hour gig at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Pianist Jacquelyn Schrieber is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. The Jazz Martyrs are at the Ladyface Ale Companie in Agoura Hills. Grupo Falso Baiano has the free Latin Sounds series at LACMA in West L.A. Saturday brunch choices include saxophonist Chuck Johnson at the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach and keyboardist Todd Hunter at Perch in downtown L.A..

Sunday 6/11 – Josh Nelson & Jeff Babko at Blue Whale

Pianists Jeff Babko and Josh Nelson team at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with bassist Jimmy Johnson and drummer Aaron Sterling. Sunday headliners at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl include Gregory Porter, Lalah Hathaway, and Kenny Garrett. The LA Jazz Quartet is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Billy Vera Orchestra is at Catalina in Hollywood. Icelandic vocalist Anna Mjöll is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Pianist Richard Glaser is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Critical Brass is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.. Pianist Amy Bormet and saxophonist Leigh Pilzer offer an early-evening workshop followed by a performance at the Venice Christian Science Church. Vocalist Andy Cowan and pianist Nina Beck play an afternoon show at Shoreline Village in Long Beach. Sunday brunch choices include pianist Jon Mayer at SOhO in Santa Barbara, the Mike Barone 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., 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 6/12 – Ai Kuwabara at Blue Whale

Pianist Ai Kuwabara is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Sam Wilkes on bass and Gene Coye on drums. 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., Jeff Elliott at SOhO in Santa Barbara, and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 6/13 – Ruslan Sirota at Vibrato

Pianist Ruslan Sirota is at Vibrato in Bel Air with Ben Shepherd on bass, Gene Coye on drums, and Pete Korpela on percussion. Work In Progress is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with vocalist Andrea Miller. Pianist Jarrett Cherner is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Aaron Serfaty is at Mambo’s Cafe in Glendale. Vocalist Julie Newsome 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 with guest Steve Cotter. Vocalist Randi Cee is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.

Wednesday 6/14 – Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton at Catalina

Vocalist Lisa Fischer and her band Grand Baton begin a four-night (Wed-Sat) run at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist Alex Minasian is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Bevan Manson is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalists Theo Katzman and Joey Dosik are at The Troubadour in West Hollywood. Excursion is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Issac Wilson is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Percussionist Joey De Leon is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A.. Pianist Stuart Elster 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. Guitarist Riner Scivally has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Fabus Four is at Le Petit Paris in downtown L.A.. Jack’s Cats are at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.