About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of January 22, 2018

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 Amsterdam Connection is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Pianist Akane Tada is at the Basement Tavern in Santa Monica.  The Flight 584 Jazz Band is at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank.

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.

Thursday 1/25 – Bob Reynolds at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Nir Felder on Mark Lettieri on guitars, Kaveh Rastegar on bass, and Robert “Sput” Searight on drums. Drummer Virgil Donati is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Carl Verheyen is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village.  Guitarist Peter Sprague is at Blue Guitar in South Pasadena. Bassist Bruce Lett is at The Merc in Temecula. Percussionist Joey De Leon is at Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A. Vocalist Susan Krebs is at Canyon Bistro in Topanga.  Pianist Bevan Manson is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Mark Arthur Miller is at Catalina in Hollywood.  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 Benn Clatworthy is at Barley Forge in Costa Mesa. The Lounge Trio is at The Press Restaurant in Claremont.

Friday 1/26 – Scott Henderson at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Scott Henderson leads a trio at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Clayton Cameron is at The World Stage in South L.A. Trumpeter Chris Botti is at The Wiltern in West L.A. Trombonist Jonah Levine is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Keyboardist David Garfield hosts the first of two (Fri-Sat) jam nights at Vibrato in Bel Air in conjunction with the NAMM music show. Pianist Max Haymer leads a trio at The Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills. The Metta Quintet plays the music of Duke Ellington at the Barclay Theatre in Irvine. Vocalist Greta Matassa is at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert. Saxophonist Benn Clatworthy is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Keyboardist Scott Wilkie is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.  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 Gary Matsumoto is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Vocalist Leslie Smith is at Canyon Bistro in Topanga.

Saturday 1/27 – Herbie Hancock at Walt Disney Hall

Pianist Herbie Hancock is at Walt Disney Hall in downtown L.A. with Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, James Genus on bass, Terrace Martin on keyboards & sax, and Elena Pinderhughes on flute & vocals.  Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval is at The Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills. Vocalist Jane Monheit is at Sam First in West L.A. Edit Bunker and group led by keyboardist Jeff Babko split a bill at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Saxophonist Charles Owens is at The World Stage in South L.A.  Guitarist Michael Landau is at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the first of two nights (Sat-Sun).  Guitarist Plini is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Keyboardist David Garfield hosts a jam night at Vibrato in Bel Air in conjunction with the NAMM music show. Vocalist Greta Matassa is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A. with guitarist Bruce Forman. Vocalist Amanda Castro is at the Public House in Fullerton. Brazilian drummer Kiko Freitas offers a clinic and performance at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Dave Damiani is at The Mixx in Pasadena. Drummer Mark Z. Stevens is at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. 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. Saxophonist Wes Smith 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. Saturday brunch choices include pianist Sam Hirsh at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach and bassist Ryan Roberts at Perch in downtown L.A.

Sunday 1/28 – Steve Smith & Vital Information at Catalina

Drummer Steve Smith and Vital Information finish a three-night (Fri-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood with Mark Soskin on keys, Vinny Valentino on guitar, and Baron Browne on bass. Guitarist/vocalist George Benson and saxophonist Kenny G are at the Microsoft Theater in downtown L.A. Pianist Daniel Szabo is at Sam First in West L.A. Drummer Ferenc Nemeth is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Mann Sextet is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Michael Landau is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Plini is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Pianist Connie Han is at The Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills with vocalists Aubrey Logan and Cyrille Aimee. The Four Freshmen are at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center For The Arts at Pepperdine University in Malibu for an afternoon show. Vocalist Mandy Kemp is at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Drummer Joey Heredia leads a NAMM Jam session at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. The Innervision NAMM Jam is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. The Vignes Rooftop Revival is at Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. California Feet Warmers are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Sunday brunch choices include saxophonist Doug Webb 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 1/29 – Gerald Clayton + Marcel Camargo Group at Blue Whale

Pianist Gerald Clayton plays an opening solo set at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo, then joins guitarist Marcel Camargo with a group also featuring Jessica Vautor on vocals, Luis Mascaro on violin, Artyom Manukyan on cello, and Leonardo Costa on percussion. The Buddy Rich Big Band with drummer Gregg Potter is at Catalina in Hollywood. Ghost-Note is at the Zebulon Cafe in downtown L.A. Organist Akiko Tsuruga is at Bacchus’ Kitchen in Pasadena. The Saddleback College Jazz Faculty plays a concert at the McKinney Theater in Mission Viejo. 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 drummer Kevin Kanner at The Mint in West L.A., guitarist Jamie Kime at The Baked Potato in Studio City, 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 Orange County School for the Arts holds a fundraiser at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.

Tuesday 1/30 – Danny Janklow at Vibrato

Saxophonist Danny Janklow is at Vibrato in Bel Air with Josh Nelson on piano, Alex Boneham on bass, and Anthony Fung on drums.  Guitarist Mordy Ferber is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Will Brahm is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Trombonist Francisco Torres is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. John Pisano’s Guitar Night features guest Ron Eschete at The Mixx in Pasadena, Vocalist Mandy Harvey is at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center For The Arts at Pepperdine University in Malibu. 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. The Boyd Cannon Big Band is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Saxophonist Eric Hirschorn is at the Basement Tavern in Santa Monica.

Wednesday 1/31 – Brian Charette at The Baked Potato

Organist Brian Charette is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Doug Webb on sax, David Sampson on guitar, and Danny Carey and Andy Sanesi on drums. Bassist/vocalist Katie Thiroux is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Saxophonist Rickey Woodard is at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Rachel Kaplan is at Vibrato in Bel Air. 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. Bassist Igor Kogan has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Pianist Adam Michaelson is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Keyboardist/vocalist Robby Fontana is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.