About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of January 15, 2018

Monday 1/15 – The Jazz Marlonious Quartet at Blue Whale

Bassist Marlon Martinez is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Jacob Scesney on sax, Isaac Wilson on piano, and Cam Johnson on drums. Pianist Joshua White has the early set at The Mint in West L.A.  Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A. Vocalist Dyan Kane is at TRiP in Santa Monica. 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, Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31, and the monthly blues jam at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Howie Levine and Cool Blue are at Las Hadas in Northridge.

Tuesday 1/16 – Armen Nalbandian 3 at Blue Whale

Pianist Armen Nalbandian is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Steve Lehman on reeds and Guillermo E. Brown on drums. Drummer Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Sabine Pothier is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Guitarist Erik Findling is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Strange Jazz Universe is at the Basement Tavern in Santa Monica. Blanco Diablo is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in downtown L.A. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at The Parker Room in Hollywood. 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 1/17 – Ruslan Sirota at Blue Whale

Pianist Ruslan Sirota celebrates the release of a new CD at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Gary Novak on drums, Brian Ward on bass, Michell Long on guitar, and Pete Korpela on percussion. Drummer Bernie Dresel brings his 16-piece BBB big band at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. Pianist Vijay Iyer gives a solo performance at the Memorial Chapel at the University of Redlands in Redlands. Guitarist Mark Towns is at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach with vocalist Diana Purim. The Vivino Brothers Band is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Vocalist Jennifer Keith is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Native Vibe is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Teryn Re is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Guitarist Adam Levy is at ETA in Highland Park. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at AJ’s On The Green in Cathedral City. Guitarist Elyadeen Anbar is at Blue Table in Agoura Hills. Pianist Sam Hirsh has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Pianist Adam Michaelson is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale.

Thursday 1/18 – Jane Monheit & Lucy Woodward at Vitello’s

Vocalists Jane Monheit and Lucy Woodward front the Dave Richards Big Band at Vitello’s in Studio City.   Saxophonist Doug Webb is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Joshua White is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Keyboardist David Garfield is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Latin drummer Calixto Oviedo is at Catalina in Hollywood. Organist Carey Frank and guitarist Bruce Forman celebrate a CD release at Blue Guitar in South Pasadena. Pianist Bradley Young is at The Merc in Temecula. Vocalist Billy Valentine is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Trumpeter Frank Cano is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. The Sax Offenders are at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. Coda is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Gina Saputo and trumpeter Ron Stout are at Cooks Chapel in Anaheim.  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.  Pianist Adam Bravo is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Saxophonist Edmund Velasco is at Barley Forge in Costa Mesa. The Baldy Mountain Jazz Band is at The Press Restaurant in Claremont. Vocalist Andy Cowan and pianist Nina Beck are at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel.

Friday 1/19 – Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin at Catalina

Guitarist Lee Ritenour and pianist Dave Grusin open a three-night (Fri-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood with Melvin Lee Davis on bass and Wesley Ritenour on drums. Juan DeMarcos & The Afro-Cuban All-Stars are at the Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge. Keyboardist Mark de Clive-Lowe is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat) with music of Pharoah Sanders. Trombonist Phil Ranelin is at The World Stage in South L.A. El Trio is at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat). Vocalist Janis Mann is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Vocalist Lauren White is at the Artisan Cheese Gallery in Studio City. 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 David Arnay is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena. Pianist Zach Provost is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Vocalist Lynn Cardona is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Blues vocalist Reverend Shawn Amos is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Saxophonist Ken Weiner is at the Industry Cafe in Culver City.

Saturday 1/20 – Diane Schuur with Ernie Watts at the Moss Theater

Pianist/vocalist Diane Schuur is at the Moss Theater in Santa Monica with a band including saxophonist Ernie Watts, bassist Bruce Lett, and drummer Kendall Kay. Saxophonist Dale Fielder hosts a CD release concert at the Hotel Normandie in Koreatown. Keyboardist Mark de Clive-Lowe is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Lee Ritenour and pianist Dave Grusin are at Catalina in Hollywood. Keyboardist Mitchel Forman is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Saxophonist Kim Richmond and vocalist Kimberly Ford are at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Robert Kyle is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The LA Jazz Quartet is at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert. Trumpeter/vocalist Chris Norton is at Sam First in West L.A. Pianist Jon Jang is at the UCLA Fowler Museum in Westwood. The Heath/Sellers Quartet is at the Rhythm Room in downtown L.A. El Trio is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Keyboardist Lao Tizer is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Sarah Spiegel is at the Pico Playhouse in West L.A. Accidental Tourists play a house concert in Long Beach at Casa Arjona. Vocalist Maria Schafer is at The Mixx in Pasadena. 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. Guitarist Bruce Forman has the happy hour show at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Pianist Stuart Elster is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Vocalist Andy Cowan and pianist Nina Beck are at the Tompkins Square Bar & Grill in Westchester. Vocalist Janet Orsi is at the Parks Bistro in Fullerton. Saturday brunch choices include drummer Alex Snydman at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach and bassist Ryan Roberts at Perch in downtown L.A.

Sunday 1/21 – Kalia Vandever at Blue Whale

Trombonist Kalia Vandever is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Paul Cornish on piano, Nick Dunston on bass, and Connor Parks on drums. Bassist Armand Sabal-Lecco is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Alex Snydman is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Lee Ritenour and pianist Dave Grusin are at Catalina in Hollywood. Clarinetist Ken Peplowski plays an afternoon house concert at A Frame Jazz in Hollywood. Keyboardist Sam Barsh is at Sam First in West L.A. Vocalist/trombonist Aubrey Logan is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Drummer Efa Etoroma, Jr. is at Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. Los 440’s are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.  Saxophonist Bob Sheppard is at the Oyster House in Studio City.  Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Sunday brunch choices include trombonist Paul Young at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, drummer Jason Lee Bruns at Vitello’s in Studio City, 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 1/22 – Scott Kinsey at The Baked Potato

Keyboardist Scott Kinsey is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Katisse Buckingham on sax/flute, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Gary Novak on drums. Vocalist Erin Bentlage is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A. 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, and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31. The Jazz Martyrs are at the Marine Room Tavern in Laguna Beach.

Tuesday 1/23 – Stuart Hamm at The Baked Potato

Bassist Stuart Hamm is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Indian guest bassist Mohini Dey, Tony MacAlpine on guitar, and Gergo Borlai on drums. Vibraphonist Jason Marsalis is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Debbie Gravitte is at Catalina in Hollywood. John Pisano’s Guitar Night at The Mixx in Pasadena features guest Anthony Wilson. Saxophonist Flavia Bullet is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Blanco Diablo is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in downtown L.A. The Makers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at The Parker Room in Hollywood. 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. Vocalist Jennifer Keith is at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. Drummer Angelo Velasquez is at Vitello’s in Studio City. The Amsterdan Connection is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Pianist Akane Tada is at the Basement Tavern in Santa Monica.

Wednesday 1/24 – Band Of Other Brothers at Blue Whale

The Band Of Other Brothers is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Jeff Babko on keys, Jeff Coffin on sax, Nir Felder on guitar, Will Lee on bass, and Keith Carlock on drums. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley is at the Continental Club in downtown L.A. Keyboardist Michael Whittaker is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer Angelo Velasquez is at Vitello’s in Studio City. Vocalists Donny Most and Linda Purl are at Catalina in Hollywood. OHM is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Adam Levy is at ETA in Highland Park. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at AJ’s On The Green in Cathedral City. Guitarist Elyadeen Anbar is at Blue Table in Agoura Hills. Saxophonist Joe Santa Maria has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Pianist Carey Frank is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Vocalist Gretje Angell is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.