About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of February 5, 2018

Monday 2/5 – Simon Phillips & Protocol IV at Catalina

Drummer Simon Phillips is at Catalina in Hollywood for the first of two nights with Otmaro Ruiz on keys, Ernest Tibbs on bass, and Greg Howe on guitar. Pianist Danny Fox is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Kairos is at Vitello’s in Studio City. Guitarist Joe Bonomassa’s Rock Candy Funk Party is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Harry Selvin Orchestra is at the Palm Garden Hotel in Newbury Park. 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 trumpeter Jeff Elliott at SOhO in Santa Barbara. 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 2/6 – Jerry Vivino at Bogie’s

Saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village with Andy Langham on piano, John Leftwich on bass, Bernie Dresel on drums, and guest vocalists The Vivino Sisters. Work In Progress is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with vocalist Andrea Miller, Howard Scott Stein on guitar, Scott Kinsey on keys, Brandon Fields on sax, Chris Tedesco on trumpet, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Andy Sanesi on drums. Vocalist Shoshana Bush is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer Simon Phillips & Protocol are at Catalina in Hollywood. John Pisano’s Guitar Night is at The Mixx in Pasadena. Saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree is at TRiP in Santa Monica, followed by Blanco Diablo. The Thelonious Monk Institute hosts a jam session at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. 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 Orange County School for the Arts hosts a fundraiser at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.

Wednesday 2/7 – Isamu McGregor at The Baked Potato

Keyboardist Isamu McGregor is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Aaron Mclendon on drums, Dean Anbar on guitar, and Anthony Crawford on bass. Keyboardist Michael Ragonese is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Luca Alemanno on bass, Bob Reynolds and Shai Golan on sax, Anthony Fung on drums, and Erin Bentlage on vocals. Vocalist Crissy Collins is at Catalina in Hollywood. Oui’ 3 is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at AJ’s On The Green in Cathedral City. Guitarist Elyadeen Anbar is at Blue Table in Agoura Hills. Saxophonist Benn Clatworthy has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Bassist Bruce Lett is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura.

Thursday 2/8 – Bill Charlap Trio with Cecile McLorin Salvant at The Broad Stage

Pianist Bill Charlap brings a trio to The Broad Stage in Santa Monica with vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant plus Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums, performing music of Leonard Bernstein. Saxophonist Bob Reynolds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Orkestar Meze is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Keyboardist David Garfield is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. Pianist/vocalist Betty Bryant is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer Roy McCurdy is at The Merc in Temecula. Pianist Larry Goldings is at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Catalina in Hollywood. Percussionist Joey De Leon is at Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A. Tres Divas is at Vitello’s in Studio City. The Silverlake Trio is at Blue Guitar in South Pasadena. 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. Oui’ 3 is Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Donna Deussen and guitarist Paul Weitz are at the Thai Fusion Bistro in Woodland Hills.

Friday 2/9 – Kenny Barron Quintet at Soka Performing Arts Center

NEA Jazz Master pianist Kenny Barron brings a quintet to the Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo featuring Johnathan Blake on drums, Kiyoshi Kitagawa on bass, Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, and Marcus Strickland on saxophone. Saxophonist Bennie Maupin opens a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at The World Stage in South L.A. Bassist Hadrien Feraud is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Bassist David Friesen and saxophonist Joe Manis duet at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Saxophonist Ralph Moore is at the Athenaeum Library in La Jolla. Drummer Rayford Griffin is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Pink Martini begins a week of shows at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Springs. Along For The Ride plays a house concert at Cafe Arjona in Long Beach. Vocalist Jennifer Keith is at Vibrato in Bel Air.  Vocalist Maysa is at Catalina in Hollywood for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat). 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. Vocalist Gretje Angell is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Jazz Express is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Pianist Lenny Stack is at Henri’s Back Room in Canoga Park. Bassist Pat Movran is at the Portfolio Coffee House in Long Beach.

Saturday 2/10 – Larry Goldings & Larry Koonse at the Moss Theater

Pianist Larry Goldings and guitarist Larry Koonse play an evening of duets at the Moss Theater in Santa Monica. Saxophonist Bennie Maupin is at The World Stage in South L.A. Guitarist Allen Hinds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. An all-star group of frequent musicians at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo hold a benefit for the club with a rotating cast throughout the evening. Vocalist Dolores Scozzesi celebrates a CD release at Vitello’s in Studio City. Violinist Karen Briggs is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Nobresil is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A.  Keyboardist Jeff Lorber, saxophonist Everette Harp and guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr. are at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage. Guitarist Rob Garland is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Trumpeter Jamelle Adisa has the happy hour gig at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Guitarist Vincent Reyes is at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Vocalist Maysa is at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist/vocalist Bill Cantos is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Thelma Jones is at Barone’s in Valley Glen. The Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra plays an afternoon set at the Mission Playhouse in San Gabriel. 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. Vocalist Andy Cowan and pianist Nina Beck are at the Tompkins Square Bar & Grill in Westchester. Saturday brunch choices include bassist Ryan Roberts at Perch in downtown L.A. and the James Smith Quintet at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Sunday 2/11 – Joshua White at Sam First

Pianist Joshua White is at Sam First in West L.A. with Mark Dresser on bass and Guillermo Brown on drums. Drummer Martin Diller is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. 3-ish is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Keyboardist Dan Siegel celebrates a CD release at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Dee Dee McNeil is at Baci in Huntington Beach. Vocalist Teira Church is at Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. Keyboardist Freddie Ravel is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Agent 22 with special guest Emmett Chapman is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Vocalist Janice Anderson plays a late afternoon set at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica. Sunday brunch choices include 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 2/12 – James Morrison at Catalina Jazz Club

Australian multi-instrumentalist James Morrison is at Catalina in Hollywood with a group including vocalist Becky Martin. Saxophonist Matt Otto is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Bassist Will Lyle plays an opening set at The Mint in West L.A. before drummer Kevin Kanner’s jam session. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A. The Hot Club Of Los Angeles is at the Cinema Bar in Culver City. Other Monday jam sessions include 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 Santa Barbara City College Big Band is at SOhO in Santa Barbara.

Tuesday 2/13 – Sabine Pothier at The Baked Potato

Keyboardist Sabine Pothier is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Wendel Blake-White on bass and Jon Stuart on drums. Vocalist Kenton Chen is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. The Mudbug Brass Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Percussionist Joey De Leon is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. 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 2/14 – Cyrus Chestnut at the Moss Theater

Pianist Cyrus Chestnut makes a rare L.A. appearance, joined by Eric Wheeler on bass and Chris Beck on drums. Organist Carey Frank is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with vocalist Jane Monheit, Will Brahm on guitar, and Jamey Tate on drums. Pianist Bill Cunliffe is at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach.  Vocalist Janis Mann is at the San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center in Tarzana with a trio led by pianist George Colligan.  Saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Steve Tyrell opens a five-night (Wed-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Billy Valentine is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Amber Navran is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra are at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. Vocalist Nancy Sanchez is at The Edison 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. Saxophonist Joseph Santa Maria has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.