About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of December 31, 2018

Monday 12/31 – Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band at Catalina

Multiple Grammy-winning Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band is at Catalina in Hollywood. Keyboardist Don Randi & Quest at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pink Martini is at Walt Disney Hall in downtown L.A. Percussionist Paris Escovedo is at The Mixx in Pasadena. The Mudbug Brass Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Leslie Smith is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Saxophonist Vincent Ingala is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Trumpeter Bob DeSena is at the Hotel Zoso in Palm Springs, Pianist Eric Ekstrand is at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock.

Tuesday 1/1 – Brian Swartz at Perch

Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in downtown L.A. with a quartet including guitarist Will Brahm, bassist Edwin Livingston and drummer Kendall Kay. The Organ Donors are at The York in Highland Park. Pianist/vocalist Yve Evans and saxophonist John Bolivar are at Woody’s Palm House in Palm Springs. The Magnolia Street Jazz Band plays a noon show at Joe’s Great American in Burbank.

Wednesday 1/2 – Max Kraus at Sam First

Bassist Max Kraus is at Sam First in West L.A. with Will Brahm on guitar and Brian Carmody on drums. Strangers On A Saturday Night is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Debbie Joyce sings a tribute to Nancy Wilson at Catalina in Hollywood. Work In Progress is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trumpeter Bob DeSena is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Avant Garde Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West Hollywood. 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. Drummer Donald Dean has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. The Route 66 Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Vocalist Jimmy Spencer and pianist Karen Hernandez are at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. The Flight 584 Big Band is at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank. Vocalist Slim Man is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Vocalists Kate Campbell and Michael Holmes are at The Purple Room in Palm Springs. Saxophonist Shelley Yoelin is at Woody’s Palm House in Palm Springs.

Thursday 1/3 – Shai Golan at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Shai Golan is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Adam Hersh on piano, Alex Boneham on bass, and Christian Euman on drums.  Pianist Cathlene Pineda is at Sam First in West L.A.  Cuban guitarist/vocalist San Miguel is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at The Mixx in Pasadena. Trombonist/vocalist Aubrey Logan is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Chico Boro-Boro and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra are at Catalina in Hollywood.   Pianist Hank Mehren is at Blue Guitar in South Pasadena. The Ken Bauer Big Band is at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank.  Guitarist Shea Welsh is at Pips On La Brea in West Hollywood.  The Holy Crow Jazz Band is at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. Saxophonist Michael Lington is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.  Saxophonist Mark Lewis is at The Merc in Temecula. The White Blinds are at the Mayfair Hotel 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.  Guitarist David Marcus is at Il Piccolo Verde in Brentwood. Guitarist Steve Oliver is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Vocalist Cassia DeMayo is at Barcito in downtown L.A. Trombonist Steve Johnson plays a happy hour set at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank. The Jazz Holiday Band plays a noon show at Joe’s Great American in Burbank.

Friday 1/4 – Wesley Ritenour at The Baked Potato

Drummer Wesley Ritenour is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Colin Cook on guitar, Otmaro Ruiz on keys, and Dave Robaire on bass. Drummer Lorca Hart is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Ralph Moore on sax, Josh Nelson on piano, and Edwin Livingston on bass. Drummer Kevin Kanner is at Sam First in West L.A. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Percussionist/vocalist Poncho Sanchez is at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. 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. The Vignes Rooftop Revival plays a happy hour show at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. The Woody James Big Band plays an early afternoon show at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank.

Saturday 1/5 – Oscar Hernandez & Alma Libre at Blue Whale

Pianist Oscar Hernandez is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Just Almario on sax, Jimmy Branly on drums, Ross Schodek on bass, and Christian Moraga on percussion. Pianist Josh Nelson is at at Vibrato in Bel Air.  Trumpeter Theo Croker is at Sam First in West L.A.  Saxophonist Donald Hayes is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.  Trumpeter Carl Saunders leads a big band at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert.  Pianist Lisa Hilton performs a solo concert at Zipper Hall in downtown L.A.  Drummer Martin Diller plays a happy hour show at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Vocalist Kevin Ahart begins a weekly Saturday January residency at Mr. C in Beverly Hills. Saxophonist Will Donato is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Andrea Miller is at The Black Marlin in Tustin.  Drummer Ben Rose is at Perch in downtown L.A.  Vocalist Rose Mallett has the happy hour show at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Saxophonist Hugh Von Kleist is at the Whale & Ale Pub in San Pedro for an early afternoon show.   Saturday brunch choices include vocalist Marina Pacowski and guitarist Steve Cotter at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach and trombonist Steve Johnson at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank. Jack’s Cats are at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.

Sunday 1/6 – Curtis Taylor at Sam First

Trumpeter Curtis Taylor is at Sam First in West L.A. with Hugo Suarez on piano, Ben Shepherd on bass, and Gene Coye on drums. Drummer Joe La Barbera is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Guitarist Brad Rabuchin is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trumpeter Elliott Caine is at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist Yu Ooka is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Vocalist Arnold McCuller is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Percussionist/vocalist Louie Cruz Beltran is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Harmonica player Ross Garren is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Bryan Thompson is at Harvelle’s in Long Beach. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Pianist Richard Glaser is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Drummer Ben Rose is at Perch in downtown L.A. Sunday brunch choices include vocalist Janis Mann at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, vocalist Jesse Palter at Perch in downtown L.A., vocalist Bri Sarikcioglu at the Luxe Hotel Sunset in Bel Air, and guitarist Mark Fitchett at Chez Melange in Redondo Beach.

Monday 1/7 – Jamie Kime at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Jamie Kime is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Toshi Yanagi on guitar, Chris Roy on bass, Matt Rohde on keys, and Danny Carey on drums. The Ocoast Ensemble celebrates a CD release at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Big Band is at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A. Monday jam sessions include guitarist Kimberly Ford at SOhO in Santa Barbara, The Falls Lounge in downtown L.A., pianist Eric Ekstrand at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock, and Jazz Eclectic at the Sofitel Riviera 31 in Beverly Hills.

Tuesday 1/8 – Joe La Barbera Quintet at The Write-Off Room

Drummer Joe La Barbera is at The Write-Off Room in Woodland Hills with Clay Jenkins on trumpet, Bob Sheppard on sax, Bill Cunliffe on keys, and Jonathan Richards on bass. Bassist Hadrien Feraud is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Denny Seiwell is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. The Thelonoius Monk Institute holds a jam session at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  John Pisano’s Guitar Night at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank features guest Andy Brown.  Guitarist Mark Leggett 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. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at The Parker Room in Hollywood. Guitarist Elyadeen Anbar’s trio is at The San Fernando in Glendale, followed by a jazz jam session. Pianist/vocalist Yve Evans and saxophonist John Bolivar are at Woody’s Palm House in Palm Springs. Trombonist Steve Johnson plays a happy hour set at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank. The Magnolia Street Jazz Band plays a noon show at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. Vocalist Ed Romero is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.

Wednesday 1/9 – Brenna Whitaker at Vibrato

Vocalist Brenna Whitaker is at Vibrato in Bel Air with her little big band. Vocalist Somi is at Mr. Musichead Gallery in West Hollywood. Vocalist Carolyn Martinez is at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Jeff Pifher is at Pips On La Brea in West Hollywood. Drummer Calixto Oviedo is at the Hotel Zoso in Palm Springs with vocalist Lily Hernandez. Saxophonist Nick Gomez is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Guitarist Molly Miller is at The Love Song Bar in downtown L.A. Pianist Lenore Raphael is at the Rancho Mirage Library. Bassist Bruce Lett has the happy hour gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. 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. The Route 66 Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Vocalist Jimmy Spencer and pianist Karen Hernandez are at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. The Flight 584 Big Band is at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank. Vocalist Slim Man is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Vocalists Kate Campbell and Michael Holmes are at The Purple Room in Palm Springs. Saxophonist Shelley Yoelin is at Woody’s Palm House in Palm Springs.