About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of December 30, 2019

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.    The DE Quartet is at the Oyster House Bar in Studio City.

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.

Thursday 1/2 – Bob Reynolds at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Ruslan Sirota on keys, Janek Gwizdala on bass, and Gene Coye on drums. Vocalist Kate McGarry is at Sam First in West L.A. for the first of three nights (Thu-Sat).  Pianist Alec Schulman is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  Pianist Dan Siegel is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Bradley Young is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Mark Lewis is at The Merc in Temecula. Trumpeter Nate Birkey is at SOhO in Santa Barbara. The Organ Donors are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. 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.

Friday 1/3 – Tierney Sutton at Catalina Jazz Club

Vocalist Tierney Sutton begins a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Catalina in Hollywood with pianist Christian Jacob, bassists Kevin Axt and Trey Henry, and drummer Ray Brinker. Vocalist Jane Monheit is at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s in Studio City for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat).  Pianist Miro Sprague is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  Guitarist Allen Hinds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Kate McGarry is at Sam First in West L.A. Vocalist Janis Mann is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Lanie Kazan is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Guitarist Mitchell Long is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Bassist Paul Gormley is at Whale & Ale Pub in San Pedro. 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. The Vignes Rooftop Revival has the happy hour show at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.

Saturday 1/4 – Mitchel Forman at The Baked Potato

Keyboardist Mitchel Forman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Eric Marienthal on sax, Janek Gwizdala on bass, Lenny Castro on percussion, and Chad Wackerman on drums.  Drummer Joe La Barbera is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  Vocalist Jane Monheit is at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s in Studio City. Trumpeter Carl Saunders leads a big band at Pete Carlson’s in Palm Desert. Vocalist Tierney Sutton is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Kate McGarry is at Sam First in West L.A. Vocalist Natalie Mendoza and the Fabus Four is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Trumpeter Tony Guerrero is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Liela Avila is at Baltaire in Brentwood. 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. Pacific Standard Time is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach.

Sunday 1/5 – Maria Puga Lareo & Bob Sheppard at Alvas Showroom

Vocalist Maria Puga Lareo is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro for a late afternoon show with saxophonist Bob Sheppard, pianist Mitchel Forman, bassist Chris Colangelo, and drummer Steve Hass. Drummer Jason Harnell is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.  Vibraphonist Nick Mancini is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  Entertainer Dick Van Dyke is at Catalina in Hollywood. Trumpeter/vocalist Matt Von Roderick is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Pianist Chase Morrin plays a late afternoon show at the Handlery Hotel in San Diego. Keyboardist Jeff Lorber is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Drummer/vocalist Bryan Cabrera is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. 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 clarinetist John Tegmeyer 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 1/6 – Jamie Kime at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Jamie Kime is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Toshi Yanagi on guitar, Matt Rohde on keys, Chris Roy on bass, and Danny Carey on drums. Gordon Grdina’s Nomad Trio is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  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., guitarist Kimberly Ford at SOhO in Santa Barbara, 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 Mike McKenna is at The Drake in Laguna Beach.

Tuesday 1/7 – Tom Luer & Adam Schroeder at Sam First

Saxophonists Tom Luer and Adam Schroeder lead a quintet at Sam First in West L.A. featuring Andy Langham on piano, Dave Robaire on bass, and Charles Ruggerio on drums. John Pisano’s Guitar Night is at at The Baked Potato in Studio City with guests Pat Kelley and Jim Fox. Pianist Yuko Mabuchi is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Mike Garson is at Bogie’s in Westlake Village.  The Herbie Hancock Institute Ensemble leads its monthly jam session at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo.  Saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Vocalist Mindy Austin is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Perch in downtown L.A. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips On La Brea in West 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 is at Woody’s Palm House in Palm Springs. 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. The Magnolia Street Jazz Band plays a noon show at Joe’s Great American in Burbank. Drummer Johnny Vana’s Big Band Alumni play a morning show at Las Hadas in Northridge.

Wednesday 1/8 – Edwin Livingston at Mr. Musichead Gallery

Bassist Edwin Livingston is at Mr. Musichead Gallery in West Hollywood with Tom Luer on sax, Nick Mancini on vibes, Ivan Malespin on trombone, and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. Guitarist Thom Rotella is at Sam First in West L.A. Saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at The Baked Potato in Studio City.  Drummer Corey Coverstone is at Blue Whale in Little Tokyo. Bassist Kevin O’Neal and vocalist Bobbi Wilsyn are at Catalina in Hollywood. Nutty is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Maria Schafer is at Wang’s in the Desert in Palm Springs. 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 Flight 584 Big Band is at Viva Rancho Cantina in Burbank. The Avant Garde Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. The Top Hat Big Band is at Las Hadas in Northridge. Vocalist Slim Man is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Pianist Eric Dries is at The Drake in Laguna Beach.