About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of February 12, 2018

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. Pink Martini continues their run (through Thursday) at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Springs. 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. Guitarist Terry Wollman and vocalist Melanie Taylor begin a new weekly residency at Nerano in Beverly Hills.  Marbin is at the Silverlake Lounge in Silverlake.  The Mudbug Brass Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air. John Pisano’s Guitar Night is at The Mixx in Pasadena with guest Thom Rotella. 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 at the Moss Theater in Santa Monica, 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. Pianist Sabine Pothier is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Nancy Sanchez is at The Edison in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Murray Middleman is at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock.  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. Saxophonist Joseph Santa Maria has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Thursday 2/15 – Newport Beach Jazz Party at Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa

The final four-day Newport Beach Jazz Party kicks off at the Marriott Hotel & Spa with a weekend lineup featuring dozens of jazz standouts including The Patrick Williams Big Band with drummer Peter Erskine, Houston Person, Bill Cunliffe, Larry Fuller, James Morrison and many more. Pianist Emmet Cohen is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Steve Tyrell is at Catalina in Hollywood. Drummer Dave King is at the Athenaeum Library in La Jolla. Vocalist Brenna Whitaker is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Percussionist/vocalist Louie Cruz Beltran is at Blue Guitar in South Pasadena. Pianist/vocalist Aaron Akins is at Vitello’s in Studio City. Pianist John Rodby and vocalist Talya Ferro are at The Merc in Temecula. Vocalist Jay Jackson 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. Coda is Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Vocalist Tim Gill is at Barley Forge in Costa Mesa. The Baldy Mountain Jazz Band is at The Press Restaurant in Claremont.

Friday 2/16 – Justo Almario at The World Stage

Saxophonist Justo Almario celebrates a birthday at The World Stage in South L.A. with Alan Phillips on piano, Nasheer Janmohamed on bass, and Jimmy Branly on drums. Guitarist Jeff Richman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Dave King is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Saxophonist Charles Owens is at the Ebell Club in downtown L.A. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra are at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. Vocalist Janis Mann is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Vocalist Steve Tyrell is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Jennifer Keith is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Lynn Cardona is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena, Vocalist Donna Deussen and guitarist Paul Weitz are at the Thai Fusion Bistro in West Hills. 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. Trombonist Larry Jones is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura.

Saturday 2/17 – Antonio Sanchez & Migration at Ace Hotel Theater

Drummer Antonio Sanchez and his band Migration are at the Ace Hotel Theater in downtown L.A. Vocalist Freddy Cole is at the Moss Theater in Santa Monica. Guitarist Dean Brown is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist George Colligan is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Saxophonist Steve Lehman is at Sam First in West L.A. Saxophonist Dale Fielder is at the Hotel Normandie in Koreatown with guest vocalist Rita Edmond. Pianist Bill Brendle is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra are at The Canyon in Santa Clarita. Vocalist Calabria Foti is at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert with trombonist Bob McChesney.  Nutty is at Vitello’s in Studio City. Vocalist Amanda Castro is at the Public House in Fullerton. Vocalist Natalie Jacob is at the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica. Pianists Tamir Hendelman and Morgan Jones play a late afternoon concert of duets at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Trumpeter Elliott Caine is at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Keyboardist Gregg Karukas is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Guitarist Peter Kavanaugh is at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium. Vocalist Steve Tyrell is at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Cody Dear is at Bar Fedora in downtown L.A. The Rumproller Trio has the happy hour gig at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Guitarist R.J. Root is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura with guest Jim Fox. 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 saxophonist David Sills at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Sunday 2/18 – Wesley Ritenour at Blue Whale

Drummer Wesley Ritenour is at Blue Whale with Otmaro Ruiz on piano, Hadrien Feraud on bass, and Dean Brown on guitar. The Alan Chan Orchestra is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Pan-Afrikan People’s Arkestra is at Zebulon in downtown L.A. Drummer Christian Euman is at Sam First in West L.A. Saxophonist Daniel Rotem is at Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. MAST leads a multi-group evening at the Bootleg Theater in downtown L.A. The Dennis Dreith Big Band is at Vitello’s in Studio City. Percussionist/vocalist Poncho Sanchez is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Steve Tyrell is at Catalina in Hollywood. Paris Chansons are at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Cougar Estrada is at The Press Restaurant in Claremont. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Guitarist Bruce Forman’s Junkyard Duo is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro for a late afternoon concert. Los 440’s are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Sunday brunch choices include drummer pianist Emmet Cohen at SOhO in Santa Barbara, Donald Dean 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 2/19 – Dave Tull/Rebecca Kilgore Quartet at Vitello’s

Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull and vocalist Rebecca Kilgore lead a quartet at Vitello’s in Studio City with Joe Bagg on piano and Tom Wakeling on bass. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Janet Klein & Her Parlor Boys are at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. 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, Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Beverly Hills Riviera 31, and the monthly blues jam at The Baked Potato in Studio City.

Tuesday 2/20 – Frank Vardaros Orchestra at Bogie’s

Trumpeter Frank Vardaros’ big band is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village.   Drummer Louis Cole is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with a 13-piece group including saxophonist Bob Sheppard, guitarist Adam Rather, and vocalist Genevieve Artadi. Trumpeter/vocalist Chris Norton is at Vitello’s in Studio City with a trio led by pianist Konrad Paszkudzki. John Pisano’s Guitar Night at The Mixx in Pasadena features guest guitarist Brad Rabuchin.  The Jazz Collective is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Blanco Diablo is at TRiP in Santa Monica. The Big Butter Jazz Band is at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in downtown L.A. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips on La Brea in West Hollywood. Guitarist Terry Wollman and vocalist Melanie Taylor are at Nerano in Beverly Hills. 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. The Holly Crow Jazz Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Long Beach Polytechnic High School Jazz Band holds a fundraiser at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.

Wednesday 2/21 – Ben Allison at Blue Whale

Bassist Ben Allison is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Kirk Knuffke on cornet, Steve Cardenas on guitar, and Allan Mednard on drums. Saxophonist Houston Person is at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert with pianist Larry Fuller. Guitarist Kay-Ta Matsuno is at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Katja Rieckermann is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Bassist Juini Booth is at Zebulon in downtown L.A. Pianist/vocalist Laila Biali celebrates a CD release at Vitello’s in Studio City. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at AJ’s On The Green in Cathedral City. Guitarist Elyadeen Anbar is at Blue Table in Agoura Hills. Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach with guest vocalist Rebecca Kilgore. Blues guitarist Josh Smith is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Dog Fish is at Squashed Grapes in Ventura. Keyboardist/vocalist Robby Fontana is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.