About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week of July 26, 2021

Note: About & Out has a new online home – lajazzpicks.com !

July closes with a SoCal jazz week including Kurt Elling, Judy Wexler, Jeff Babko, Nick Mancini, Jerry Vivino, Greg Mathieson, Paul Peress, Tierney Sutton, Benny Benack III, The Marlonious Jazz Orchestra, Lee Ritenour, Ron Eschete, and the Los Angeles Jazz Quartet.

Tuesday, June 15th marked the end of most California restrictions on live music venues including bars, restaurants, and indoor/outdoor performance venues. Some venues will immediately begin offering full seating for live music, and numerous others are expected to re-open in the coming weeks.

Please check with venues in regards to policies on advance reservations, masks and social distancing. Some venues and musicians are continuing to offer livestream events – please visit your favorite club and artist websites for more information about livestream events – the LAjazz.com Quick Calendar has a limited schedule of livestream events available with showtimes and event weblinks when available.

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

Monday 7/26 – Benny Benack III at Bistango

Trumpeter/vocalist Benny Benack III is at Bistango in Irvine with pianist Bill Cunliffe’s trio and guitarist Grant Geissman. Corcovado with vocalist Natalie Jacob and vibraphonist Nick Mancini split a bil at TRiP in Santa Monica. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal and guitarist Lee Ritenour are at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Guitarist Jacques Lesure hosts a straight-ahead jazz jam session at the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley hosts a Monday night jam session at The Falls Lounge in downtown L.A. Bassist Ryan Cross’ Jazz Eclectic is at Riviera 31 at the Beverly Hills Sofitel Hotel. Trio Renacimiento is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at Oscar’s in Palm Springs. Blues guitarists Josh Smith and Jamey Arent are at the Maui Sugar Mill Saloon in Tarzana. Blues vocalists Elizabeth Hangan and Barbara Morrison are at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center (BMPAC) in South L.A. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang guest is Brazilian Nights curator Patricia Leao.

 

Tuesday 7/27 – Jerry Vivino at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Jerry Vivino is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Mitchel Forman on keys, John Leftwich on bass, and Bernie Dresel on drums. Trumpeter/vocalist Benny Benack III is at Second Home Hollywood sponsored by Sam First. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Vocalist Lynn Cardona fronts a duo at 10e Restaurant in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Charlie Arbelaez hosts a jam session at Queen Bee’s in San Diego. Holy Crow is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Pianist Sam Hirsh hosts a livestream solo event via Instagram. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features film composer Rickey Kej.

 

Wednesday 7/28 – Nick Mancini at Sam First

Vibraphonist Nick Mancini is at Sam First near LAX with Sezin Ahmet Turkmenoglu on bass and Steve Hass on drums. Santana bassist/vocalist Benny Rietveld is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Joey Navarro on keys, Makani Eliot on drums, Kenny Echzien on guitar and Andy Vargas on vocals. Bassist/vocalist Casey Abrams is at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Vocalist Taryn Donath is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Trumpeter Mike Rocha is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. Colorstorm is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. The Avant Garde Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Pianist Irving Flores is at il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features vocalist Jennifer Barnes.

 

Thursday 7/29 – Paul Peress at The Baked Potato

Drummer Paul Peress is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Brandon Fields on sax, Otmaro Ruiz on keys, Tim Lefebvre on bass, and Meredith Salimbeni on vocals. The Marlonious Jazz Orchestra with vocalist Josie James is at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s in Studio City. Guitarist Ron Eschete is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. The New Experience is at Chevy Chase Country Club in Glendale with Kevin “Brandino” Brandon on bass, Ed Roth on keys, Franklin Vanderbilt on drums, and Robby Krieger on guitar. Pianist/vocalist Ellis Hall is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist/vocalist Bill Cantos is at the Festival Of Arts in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Luke Carlsen’s Big Band plays the Cascade Lounge in Palm Springs. Bassist Bruce Lett is at The Merc in Temecula. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley is at the Continental Club in downtown L.A. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Drummer Davey Miller is at Grapes & Hops in Ventura. 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. Drummer Tyler Hammond is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. The World Stage in South L.A. hosts an evening outdoor patio jam session for instrumentalists. Guitarist Jeff Miley plays a livestream show for Live At Zero BPM. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features vocalist Judy Rafat.

 

Friday 7/30 – Kurt Elling at Catalina

Vocalist Kurt Elling begins a three-night (Fri-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood with pianist John Beasley’s MONK’estra Trio with Joshua Crumbly on bass and Terreon Gully on drums. Keyboardist Jeff Babko’s “Clam City” project is at Sam First near LAX for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat) with Tim Lefebvre on bass and Mark Guiliana on drums. Organist Greg Mathieson is at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat). Vocalist Tierney Sutton does a livestream from The World Stage in South L.A. The Fabus Four with vocalist Natalie Mendoza is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalists Cheryl Bentyne & Mark Winkler do a livestream performance for LACMA in West L.A. Vibraphonist Nick Mancini is at the Festival Of Arts in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Meloney Collins is at the Casino San Clemente in San Clemente. Vocalist Luke Carlsen is at The Drake in Laguna Beach.  Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. Pianist Ron Kobayashi plays an outdoor show at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Drummer Joel Taylor is at 1881 in Pasadena. Trumpeter Michael Bolger plays an outdoor show at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Pianist/vocalist Adam Michaelson is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Sunny Blue is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Tino Productions’ Big Band Dance Party is at the Cicada Club in downtown L.A. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features vocalist Randy Crenshaw.

 

Saturday 7/31 – Judy Wexler at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s

Vocalist Judy Wexler celebrates a CD release at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s in Studio City with Jeff Colella on piano, Larry Koonse on guitar, Danny Janklow on woodwinds, Gary Nesteruk on keys, Gabe Davis on bass, and Steve Hass on drums. Keyboardist Jeff Babko’s “Clam City” project is at Sam First near LAX. Organist Greg Mathieson is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Kurt Elling is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vibraphonist Nick Mancini is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach for an afternoon show. Guitarist Lee Ritenour plays an afternoon show at the Festival Of Arts in Laguna Beach, followed by vocalist Kiki Ebsen’s Joni Mitchell Project. Trumpeter Jamelle Adysa is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Gerald Clayton plays a livestream show for Piano Spheres in Pasadena. Latin jazz guitarist Jamie Valle & Equinox play a livestream show from the Athenaeum Library in La Jolla. Angel & The Mambokats are at the Cicada Club in downtown L.A. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Post & Beam in South L.A. Saxophonist Hugh Von Kleist leads a trio at Pietris Bakery in Long Beach. Trumpeter Michael Bolger plays an outdoor show at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Pianist/vocalist John Proulx is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Alanna & These Fine Gentlemen are at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Lola Haag is at the Ojai Underground Exchange in Ojai. Trumpeter Elliott Caine plays an afternoon set at The Wrigley Tavern in Long Beach. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features trumpeter Bobby Shew.

 

Sunday 8/1 – Los Angeles Jazz Quartet at The Baked Potato

The Los Angeles Jazz Quartet is at The Baked Studio in Studio City with Chuck Manning on sax, Larry Koonse on guitar, Darek Oles on bass, and Jason Harnell on drums. Vocalist Kurt Elling is at Catalina in Hollywood. The Los Angeles Jazz Society presents its annual Vibe Summit via an afternoon streaming event. Pianist/vocalist Freddy Ravel is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Mitchell Long plays the Sunday brunch at Vibrato in Bel Air. Keyboardist Brian Simpson, guitarist Steve Oliver, and saxophonist Will Donato are at South Coast Winery in Temecula. Guitarist Brad Rabuchin leads a quartet followed by a jam session in an outdoor patio show at Michael’s On Riverside in Toluca Lake. Bassist Zephyr Avalon is at The San Fernando in Glendale. Drummer Mark San Filippo leads an outdoor show at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Saxophonist Anthony Ortega is at Mr. Peabody’s in Encinitas. Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia plays an afternoon show at the Urban Press Winery in Burbank. The World Stage in South L.A. hosts an evening outdoor patio jam session for vocalists. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features saxophonist Vinny Golia.

 

Monday 8/2 – Champian Fulton & Carl Saunders at Bistango

Pianist/vocalist Champian Fulton is joined by trumpet veteran Carl Saunders at Bistango in Irvine, backed by Mike Gurrola on bass and Rick Montalbano on drums. Drummer Kevin Kanner bids farewell to his long-running Monday Night Jam at West L.A’s The Mint – he’ll be moving shows to Sundays every week later in August – The Jazz Butchers open. Guitarist Jacques Lesure leads a straight-ahead Monday jazz jam session at the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley fronts a Monday night jam session at The Falls Lounge in downtown L.A.   Bassist Ryan Cross’ Jazz Eclectic is at Riviera 31 at the Beverly Hills Sofitel Hotel. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego.  Trio Renacimiento is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A.   Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features guitarist Stan Ayeroff.

 

Tuesday 8/3 – Javo Barrera at The Baked Potato

Drummer Javo Barrera is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Matt Rohde on keys and Anthony Crawford on bass. Vocalist Lynn Cardona fronts a duo at 10e Restaurant in downtown L.A. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. The Jazz Botanika Big Band is at Queen Bee’s in San Diego. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. Pianist Sam Hirsh hosts a livestream solo event via Instagram. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features writer Jonathan Widran.

 

Wednesday 8/4 – Pandemonium Big Band at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s

Composer Elliott Deutsch debuts his new Pandemonium Big Band including Scott Healy on piano, Mitch Cooper on trumpet, and Will Brahm on guitar. The Angel Town Combo with vocalist Liela Avila is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Trumpeter Mike Rocha is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood.   Keyboardist Christina Galisatus is at the Oeno Wine Bar in Atwater Village. Colorstorm is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. The Avant Garde Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Pianist Irving Flores is at il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Chef Dave Rozier plays an evening of blues at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features guitarist Henry Robinett.