About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of December 11, 2017

Monday 12/11 – Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band at Catalina

Composer/arranger/saxophonist and pianist Gorgon Goodwin leads his Big Phat Band at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Steve Coleman & Five Elements continue their December residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Hot Club Of Los Angeles is at the Cinema Bar in Culver City. Monday jam sessions include guitarist Matthew Yeakley at The Falls Lounge in downtown L.A., pianist Eric Ekstrand at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock, Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31, and the monthly pro blues jam with Chuck Kavooras at The Baked Potato in Studio City.

Tuesday 12/12 – Brenna Whitaker at Vibrato

Vocalist Brenna Whitaker and her Little Big Band are at Vibrato in Bel Air. Violinist Nora Germain celebrates a CD release at Pour Vous in Hollywood. Thelonious Monkey is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Percussionist Joey De Leon is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Steve Coleman & Five Elements continue their December residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Drummer Sash Aghamyan is at Tavern On Brand in Glendale. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at The Parker Room in Hollywood. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Guitarist David Marcus is at Il Piccolo Verde in Brentwood. The Route 66 Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Guitarist Elyadeen Anbar’s trio is at The San Fernando in Glendale, followed by a jazz jam session. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Pianist/vocalist Yve Evans and saxophonist John Bolivar are at Woody’s Palm House in Palm Springs.

Wednesday 12/13 – Brad Rabuchin at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Brad Rabuchin is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Ian Roller, Jesse McGinty & Alex Budman on saxes, Steve Billman on bass, and Chris Blondal on drums. Vocalist Margo Rey is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Saxophonist Steve Coleman & Five Elements continue their December residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley is at the Continental Club in downtown L.A. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at AJ’s On The Green in Cathedral City. Guitarist Elyadeen Anbar is at Blue Table in Agoura Hills. Vocalist Amber Navran is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Saxophonist Benn Clatworthy has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 12/14 – Mike Stern Band at Catalina

Guitarist Mike Stern opens a four-night (Thu-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood with Randy Brecker on trumpet and flugelhorn, Tom Kennedy on bass, and Dave Weckl on drums. Saxophonist Katja Rieckermann is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Theo Katzman is at the Bootleg Theater in downtown L.A. Bassist Jennifer Leitham is at The Merc in Temecula. Guitarist Mark Goldenberg is at Blue Guitar in South Pasadena. Cellist Matthew Keating is at The Press Restaurant in Claremont. The Meridian Trio with guitarist Julian Coryell is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Saxophonist Steve Coleman & Five Elements continue their December residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocal group The Summit is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Percussionist Joey De Leon is at Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A. Vocalist/guitarist Curtis Parry is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Bassist David Ross is at the LA Athletic Club in downtown Los Angeles. Vibraphonist Nick Mancini is at the Brack Shop Tavern in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Javier Vergara is at Senor Fish in downtown L.A. Drummer Ben Rose is at Perch in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Reginald Paul is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Guitarist David Marcus is at Il Piccolo Verde in Brentwood. Angie Walitt hosts an open jam session at the Industry Cafe in Culver City. Tuba Player Stefan Kac’s quartet is at Barley Forge in Costa Mesa.

Friday 12/15 – The Cranktones at The Baked Potato

The Cranktones are at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Carl Verheyen and Craig Copeland on guitars, Jim Cox on organ, Tom Child on bass, and Chad Wackerman and John Ferraro on drums. Saxophonist Steve Coleman & Five Elements play the final night of their December residency at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Melissa Morgan is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Mike Stern is at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist Thom Rotella is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Pianist Joshua White is at Dizzy’s in San Diego. Vocalist Liela Avila is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Drummer Joel Taylor is at the 1881 Club in Pasadena. Bassist Paul Gormley is at Whale & Ale Pub in San Pedro. Guitarist/vocalist James Cornelison is at Perch in downtown L.A. Vocalist Jeff Robinson is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Pianist Todd Hunter is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena.

Saturday 12/16 – Hadrien Feraud at The Baked Potato

Bassist Hadrien Feraud is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Eric Marienthal on sax, George Whitty on keys, and Gary Novak on drums. Saxophonist Dale Fielder is at the Hotel Normandie in Koreatown with vocalist Rita Edmond. Vocalist Sandra Booker and guitarist Jacques Lesure are at the Xen Lounge in Studio City. Pianist Bill Cunliffe leads a big band at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert. Pianist Romain Collin is at Sam First in West L.A. Vocalist Jen Shyu and flutist Nicole Mitchell spilt a bill at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Christine Guter is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Alex Hahn is at Bourbon Street in Fullerton. Guitarist Mike Stern is at Catalina in Hollywood. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens is at Desert Rose in Los Feliz with pianist Theo Saunders and saxophonist Chuck Manning.  Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Vocalist Rose Mallet is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Guitarist Elyadeen Anbar is at Bar Angeles in Hollywood. The Shoestring Trio has the happy hour show at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Vocalist Andy Cowan and pianist Nina Beck are at the Tompkins Square Bar & Grill in Westchester. Vocalist Loren Battley is at The Mixx in Pasadena. Guitarist Blake Aaron is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Saturday brunch choices include drummer/vocalist Dave Tull at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach and bassist Ryan Roberts at Perch in downtown L.A.

Sunday 12/17 – Christian Euman at Blue Whale

Drummer Christian Euman is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with vocalist Erin Bentlage, Gerald Clayton on piano, and Alex Boneham on bass. Bassist Paul Hefti and vocalist Devyn Rush lead Hefti Plays Hefti at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Teryn Ré fronts a big band at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Vardan Ovsepian is at Sam First in West L.A. Drummer Trevor Anderies is at the Bootleg Theater in downtown L.A. Vocalist Spencer Day is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.  Guitarist Mike Stern is at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist Keiko Matsui and saxophonist Euge Groove headline an afternoon holiday show at the Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts. Los 440’s is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Bassist Ryan Cross leads a jazz night at Delilah in West Hollywood. Pianist Richard Glaser is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Sunday brunch choices include trombone group Slide FX 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 12/18 – Scott Kinsey at The Baked Potato

Keyboardist Scott Kinsey is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Mike Miller on guitar, Cyril Atef on drums, and Jimmy Earl on bass. The Westlake High School Jazz Band features an evening including trumpeter John Daversa’s Small Band at Catalina in Hollywood. Drummer Matt Gordy’s Sextet is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Steve Cotter has the early set at The Mint in West L.A.  The Hot Club Of Los Angeles is at the Cinema Bar in Culver City. Monday jam sessions include drummer Kevin Kanner’s jazz session at The Mint in West L.A., guitarist Matthew Yeakley at The Falls Lounge in downtown L.A., pianist Eric Ekstrand at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock, and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31.

Tuesday 12/19 – John Tegmeyer at Blue Whale

Clarinetist John Tegmeyer is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Vardan Ovsepian on piano, Marcel Camargo on guitar, Edwin Livingston on bass, and Dan Schnelle on drums. Trombonist Francisco Torres is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. Trumpeter Frank Vardaros’ Big Band plays an evening of holiday music at Catalina in Hollywood. Bassist Jennifer Leitham plays a holiday show at Vibrato in Bel Air. John Pisano’s Guitar Night finds a new home at The Mixx in Pasadena with guest Bruce Forman. Saxophonist Dave Koz is at the McCallum Theater in Palm Springs. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at The Parker Room in Hollywood. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Guitarist David Marcus is at Il Piccolo Verde in Brentwood. The Route 66 Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Guitarist Elyadeen Anbar’s trio is at The San Fernando in Glendale, followed by a jazz jam session. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Pianist/vocalist Yve Evans and saxophonist John Bolivar are at Woody’s Palm House in Palm Springs. Saxophonist Javier Vergara is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.

Wednesday 12/20 – Dee Dee Bridgewater at Walt Disney Hall

Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater presents an evening of holiday music at Walt Disney Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Saxophonist Doug Webb has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Cellist Artyom Manukyan offers a night of solo cello at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist/trumpeter Johnny Britt is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Richard Shelton is at Vitello’s in Studio City. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley is at the Continental Club in downtown L.A. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at AJ’s On The Green in Cathedral City. Guitarist Elyadeen Anbar is at Blue Table in Agoura Hills. Vocalist Frank Stallone is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Robby Fontana is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.