About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of December 23, 2019

Monday 12/23 – Teryn Re’ at Blue Whale

Vocalist Teryn Re does a holiday show at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with a first set duet with guitarist Zach Capinger, followed by a second set fronting a big band. Blues guitarist Kirk Fletcher is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Seth MacFarlane is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Rolling Figs Orchestra is at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. Guitarist Jeff Parker is at ETA in Highland Park. The Hot Club Of Los Angeles is at the Cinema Bar in Culver City. Vocalist Gretje Angell is at The Famous in Glendale. Monday jam sessions include the Falls Lounge in downtown L.A., pianist Eric Ekstrand at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock, and Jazz Eclectic at the Riviera 31 in Beverly Hills. The Vignes Rooftop Revival is at Eat Drink Americano in downtown L.A. Trumpeter Richie Freedman’s Cool Blue is at Las Hadas in Northridge. Pianist Hal Ratliff is at The Drake in Laguna Beach.

Tuesday 12/24 – Billy Mitchell at Vibrato

Pianist Billy Mitchell is at Vibrato in Bel Air with David Cowan on drums, Del Atkins on bass, Yu Ooka on guitar, Jock Ellis on trombone, Anne King on trumpet, Robert Kyle on sax and Bili Redd on vocals. Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval kicks off the 60th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown L.A. Pianist Mike McKenna is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist Derrik Lewis is at The Tropicale in Palm Springs. The DE Quartet is at the Oyster Bar in Studio City. Marigold is at Mama Lion in downtown L.A. Drummer Johnny Vana’s Big Band Alumni play a morning show at Las Hadas in Northridge.

Wednesday 12/25 – Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps at The Write-Off Room

Blues vocalist and keyboardist Teresa James is at The Write-Off Room in Woodland Hills with Terry Wilson on bass, Billy Watts on guitar, Herman Matthews on drums, Darrell Leonard on trumpet, and Joe Sublett on saxophone.

Thursday 12/26 – Paul Peress at The Baked Potato

Drummer Paul Peress is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Otmaro Ruiz on keys, Brandon Fields on sax, and Tim Landers on bass. Saxophonist David Binney is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Vocalist Janis Mann is at The Write-Off Room in Woodland Hills. The Lineage Trio is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Vocalist Sherry Williams is at The Merc in Temecula. Saxophonist Greg Vail is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Drummer Ben Rose is at Perch in downtown L.A. Drummer Tyler Hammond is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. Pianist/vocalist Yve Evans is at Woody’s Palm House in Palm Springs. Saxophonist David Patterson is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Pianist Derrik Lewis is at The Tropicale in Palm Springs. The Jazz Holiday Band plays a noon show at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. The 8-Bit Jazz Heroes are at The Press Restaurant in Claremont.

Friday 12/27 – Walter Smith III at Blue Whale

Saxophonist Walter Smith III is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Gerald Clayton on piano. Jeff Parker on guitar, Joshua Crumbly on bass, and Justin Brown on drums. The Cranktones are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Vardan Ovsepian is at Sam First in West L.A. Trumpeter Frank Vardaros leads a big band at Catalina in Hollywood. Black Nile is at the Sofitel Beverly Hills. Vocalist Susan Krebs is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Vocalist Devyn Rush is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Riner Scivally is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Guitarist Mitchell Long is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Bassist Paul Gormley is at Whale & Ale Pub in San Pedro. Vocalist Liela Avila is at Baltaire in Brentwood. Vocalist Jeff Robinson is at Pips on La Brea in West L.A. Pianist David Arnay is at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena. Vocalist Cynthia Thomas is at Woody’s Palm House in Palm Springs. The Woody James Big Band plays an early afternoon show at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank.

Saturday 12/28 – Larry Goldings at Blue Whale

Keyboardist Larry Goldings is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with Joshua Ray Gootch on guitar, David Plitch on bass, and Jake Reed on drums. Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and his LA All-Stars begin a four-night (Sat-Tue) run at Catalina in Hollywood. The LA Six are at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert. Trumpeter Tony Guerrero is at Vibrato in Bel Air with vocalist Lia Booth. Vocalist Arnold McCuller is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Dave Victorino is at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock. Vocalist Devyn Rush is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Guitarist Dean Grech is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Jack’s Cats are at the Cicada Club in downtown L.A. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Saturday brunch choices include trombonist Steve Johnson at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank and drummer Alex Smith at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. CSUN Jazz Bands host a fundraiser at Sam First in West L.A.

Sunday 12/29 – Doug Webb at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Doug Webb is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Jimmy Earl on bass, Scott Kinsey on keys, Jamie Kime on guitar, and Danny Carey on drums. Guitarist Jeff Parker is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval is at Catalina in Hollywood. Trumpeter Greg Adams & East Bay Soul are at Vibrato in Bel Air. Bassist Darryl Williams is at Harvelle’s in Long Beach. Bassist Mary Ann McSweeney plays a late afternoon show at the Handlery Hotel in San Diego. 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. The Jazzaholics are at the Tabula Rasa Bar in Hollywood. Guitarist Angelo Metz is at the Industry Cafe in Culver City. Drummer Dean Rohan is at Fellow in Westwood. Sunday brunch choices include saxophonist David Sills at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, vocalist Jesse Palter at Perch in downtown L.A., vocalist Sandy Cummings at SOhO in Santa Barbara, vocalist Bri Sarikcioglu at the Luxe Hotel Sunset in Bel Air, and guitarist Mark Fitchett at Chez Melange in Redondo Beach. The Vignes Rooftop Revival is at the Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. Pianist Ben Camp is at The Drake in Laguna Beach.

Monday 12/30 – Billy Childs at Blue Whale

Pianist Billy Childs is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo with a chamber and more group with Judith Hill and Michael Mayo on vocals, Peter Sprague on guitar, Carol Robbins on harp, Lenard Simpson on sax, Alex Boneham on bass, Christian Euman on drums, Pamela Vliek Marchev on flute, plus a string quartet.  Vocalist Debbie Joyce sings a tribute to Nancy Wilson at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. The Dean Mora Orchestra is at the Cicada Club in downtown L.A.  Drummer Justin Brown is at ETA in Highland Park. The Hot Club Of Los Angeles is at the Cinema Bar in Culver City. Vocalist Gretje Angell is at The Famous in Glendale. Monday jam sessions include the Falls Lounge in downtown L.A.,  pianist Eric Ekstrand at Colombo’s in Eagle Rock, and Jazz Eclectic at the Riviera 31 in Beverly Hills. The Vignes Rooftop Revival is at Eat Drink Americano in downtown L.A. Trumpeter Richie Freedman’s Cool Blue at Las Hadas in Northridge. Blues guitarist Josh Smith celebrates a CD release at The Baked Potato in Studio City.

Tuesday 12/31 – Arturo Sandoval at Catalina

Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval is at Catalina in Hollywood for the last of  three nights (Sat-Sun-Tue) with his L.A. All Stars band. Keyboardist Don Randi is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalists Amanda Castro and Amy Keys are at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Stephanie Spruill is at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s in Studio City. Drummer Calixto Oviedo is at Wang’s in the Desert in Palm Springs. Blues vocalist Sugaray Rayford is at The Mint in West L.A. Saxophonist Vincent Ingala is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Drummer Ben Rose is at Perch in downtown L.A. The Harry Selvin Orchestra is at the Palm Garden Hotel in Newbury Park.

Wednesday 1/1 – Jeff Goldblum at Rockwell Table & Stage

Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Schnitzer Orchestra are at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz with John Storie on guitar, Alex Frank on bass, Kenny Elliott on drums, Joe Bagg on keys, and James King on sax. Vocalist Jesse Palter sings for a New Years Day brunch at Perch in downtown L.A.  Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at AJ’s On The Green in Cathedral City.  Organist Carey Frank is at Three Clubs in Hollywood. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley is at the Continental Club in downtown L.A. The Route 66 Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. The Avant Garde Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A.