About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of May 24, 2021

SoCal jazz highlights this week include Peter Erskine, Michael Landau, Kevin Kanner, Thom Rotella, Carol Welsman, Jamie Kime, Eric Marienthal, Josh Nelson, Aubrey Logan, Curtis Taylor, and Bianca Love.

During the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, LAjazz.com will continue to do its best to update you as to the status of live jazz events across Southern California.

Governor Gavin Newsom lifted the ban on outdoor dining throughout the state in late January. Some venues that have previously offered outdoor dining and music have begun doing so again, and more can be expected to come online shortly. Indoor dining restrictions are also being partially lifted with capacity restrictions in place. Bars in Los Angeles have been given permission to reopen with specific limits on seating capacities and times as of April 5, 2021. The LA Phil has announced they will begin offering concerts at the Hollywood Bowl beginning in July 2021. Most larger entertainment and concert venues have canceled their performance schedules for the first half of 2021. California is scheduled to reopen without restrictions on June 15, 2021, and it can be expected most entertainment venues will reopen shortly thereafter.

Most restaurants have also implemented an advance reservations policy to help comply with seating and social distancing needs. Please check with any venue listed below for exact times and information regarding music and reservations before heading out. Some venues and musicians are also offering livestream events – please visit your favorite club and artist websites for more information about livestream events – LAjazz.com has a limited schedule of livestream events available with showtimes and event weblinks when available.

LAjazz.com highly recommends wearing a mask whenever possible in music venues (and generally in public) out of respect for musicians, staff, and your fellow patrons. If you’re not feeling well, please stay home.

Be smart and help your local musicians, venues, and neighbors during this period – LAjazz.com will do its part to keep you up to date and informed throughout the week. Stay safe out there, and remember what a gift live music is to all of us.

Please see the Quick Calendar at LAjazz.com and the online version of About & Out for the latest updates – both are updated on a regular basis throughout the week.

NOTE: The LAjazz.com Quick Calendar contains showtimes and links (whenever possible) to livestream events.

Monday 5/24 – Bianca Love Jam Session at Sugar Bank

Trumpeter/vocalist Bianca Love hosts a new Monday jam session at Sugar Bank in West L.A. with Mike Gurrola on bass, Adam Hersh on piano, and Gene Coye on drums. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach with trumpeter Rick Braun. Vocalist Rose Mallett hosts a Facebook livestream from Palm Springs. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon Facebook Hang features pianist Mahesh Balasooriya.

Tuesday 5/25 – Carol Welsman at Bayside Restaurant

Pianist/vocalist Carol Welsman is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Pianist Josh Nelson is at Second Home Hollywood in an outdoor + livestream performance with bassist Karl McComas Reichl and drummer Dan Schnelle. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Saxophonist Pianist Sam Hirsh hosts a livestream solo event via Instagram. Saxophonist Charlie Arbelaez hosts a weekly jam session at Queen Bee in San Diego. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon Facebook Hang features guitarist Brad Rabuchin.

Wednesday 5/26 – Doug MacDonald at AJ’s On The Green

Guitarist Doug MacDonald fronts a trio at AJ’s On The Green in Cathedral City. Colorstorm is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Tubist John Noreyko’s TUBOP plays a livestream from Laguna Beach. The Avant Garde Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. The Merc in Temecula features an afternoon livestream performance from pianist Mikan Zlatkovich. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon Facebook Hang features vocalist Anita Robles.

Thursday 5/27 – Kevin Kanner at Sam First

Sam First near LAX reopens for two sets of nightly indoor live shows with drummer Kevin Kanner’s quartet including Ralph Moore on sax, Josh Nelson on piano, and Luca Alemanno on bass. Guitarist Jame Kime is at The Baked Potato City with Doug Webb on sax, Matt Rohde on keys, Chris Roy on bass, and Danny Carey on drums. Vocalist Chris Williams is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at The Muck in Fullerton.  Triage plays a livestream show for Live At Zero BPM.  Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Pianist Ron Kobayashi plays an outdoor show at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Saxophonist David Patterson is at Pips On la Brea in West L.A. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon Facebook Hang features vocalist Alexia Vassilio.

Friday 5/28 – Peter Erskine’s Lounge Ensemble at Sam First

Drummer Peter Erksine’s Lounge Ensemble is at Sam First in West L.A. for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat) with Bob Sheppard on sax and Darek Oles on bass. Guitarist Thom Rotella is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. Guitarist Michael Landau is at The Baked Potato is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trumpeter Curtis Taylor is featured in a livestream performance from LACMA in West L.A. Vocalist Logan Johnson does a livestream from The World Stage in South L.A. Pianist Ron Kobayashi plays an outdoor show at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Trumpeter Michael Bolger plays an outdoor show at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Sunny Blue is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon Facebook Hang features drummer Joe La Barbera.

Saturday 5/29 – Michael Landau Liquid Quartet at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Michael Landau is at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the second of two nights (Fri-Sat) with David Frazee on vocals/guitar, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Alan Hertz on drums. Keyboardist David Garfield does an afternoon livestream Zoom concert with Grant Geissman on guitar, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Gary Novak on drums. Saxophonist Hugh Von Kleist leads a trio at Pietris Bakery in Long Beach. Guitarist Nils is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach (also livestream). Trumpeter Michael Bolger plays an outdoor show at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon Facebook Hang features guitarist Bruce Forman.

Sunday 5/30 – Aubrey Logan at Campus Jax

Trombonist/vocalist Aubrey Logan is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Guitarist Brad Rabuchin leads a quartet in an outdoor patio show at Michael’s On Riverside in Toluca Lake. Guitarist Josh Mellicker leads a group at Strada in downtown Los Angeles. Soul Sauce is at Roscoe’s Jazz Lounge in Long Beach. Vocalist Crystal Lewis is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Drummer Mark San Filippo leads an outdoor show at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Pianist Tamir Hendelman plays a livestream solo concert dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald.  Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Bassist Del Atkins leads an afternoon brunch trio at Urban Press Winery in Burbank. Bassist Dene Davidson leads a late afternoon jazz Vespers from St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Carlsbad. Hazey Jane is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon Facebook Hang features pianist Shelley Berg.

Monday 5/31 – Bianca Love Jam Session at Sugar Bank

Trumpeter/vocalist Bianca Love hosts a jam session at Sugar Bank in West L.A. with Mike Gurrola on bass, Luca Mendoza on keys, and Anthony Fung on drums. Vocalist Rose Mallett hosts her weekly Monday Serenade Facebook livestream from Palm Springs. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon Facebook Hang features vocalist Bogna Kicinska & pianist Jacob Cichocki.

Tuesday 6/1 – Yay Yennings at Second Home Hollywood

Snarky Puppy trumpeter Yay Yennings is outdoors at Second Home in Hollywood, sponsored by Sam First (livestream also) with Bob Reynolds on sax, Ross Schoedek on bass, and Anthony Fung on drums. Bassist Bunny Brunel’s CAB is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Charlie Arbelaez hosts a weekly jam session at Queen Bee in San Diego. Pianist Tamir Hendelman and guitarist Larry Koonse play a livestream show. Pianist Sam Hirsh hosts a livestream solo event via Instagram. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon Facebook Hang features pianist Haakon Graf.

Wednesday 6/2 – Bunny Brunel’s CAB at The Baked Potato

Bassist Bunny Brunel’s CAB is at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the second of two nights (Tue-Wed) with Toshi Yanagi on guitar, Mitchel Forman on keys, Virgil Donati on drums, and Kaylene Peoples on flute/vocals. Guitarist John Storie is at Sam First in West L.A. with vocalist Spencer Day. Guitarist Doug MacDonald leads a trio at AJ’s On The Green in Cathedral City. Colorstorm is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. The Avant Garde Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Saxophonist Jason Fabus plays a livestream from Laguna Beach. The latest livestream concert for The Innocence Project features vocalists including Tierney Sutton and Teka Penteriche and pianist Mike Lang. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon Facebook Hang features vocalist Gabrielle Stravelli.