About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of December 20, 2021

SoCal jazz highlights this holiday week include Arturo Sandoval, Bevan Manson with Tierney Sutton, Kevin Kanner, Andy James, Alan Ferber, Brian Swartz, Barbara Morrison, Jacques Lesure, Holly Hofmann, and Sacha Boutros.

Please see the online version of About & Out for updated information all week at lajazzpicks.com.  During this holiday week, it’s a good idea to check directly with the venue to confirm show schedules for events you’re planning to attend.

Monday 12/20 – Jacques Lesure at the Lighthouse

Guitarist Jacques Lesure hosts a straight-ahead set and jazz jam session at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach including Pete Kuzma on keys, Rene Camacho on bass, and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. 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. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Trio Renacimiento is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. Guitarist Dean Grech is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features vocalist Denise Thimes.

Tuesday 12/21 – Arturo Sandoval Big Band at Walt Disney Hall

Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval leads a big band in an evening of holiday music at Walt Disney Hall in downtown L.A. Trombonist Alan Ferber is at Sam First near LAX. Pianist Shelley Berg plays a holiday trio show at Catalina in Hollywood with Kevin Axt on bass and Gregg Field on drums. Vocalist Natalie Jacob and guitarist Sea Welsh split a bill at TRiP in Santa Monica. Vocalist Andrea Miller is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. The Angel Town Combo is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Vocalist Robert Davi is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Barbara Morrison is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Frankie’s in Palm Springs. Saxophonist Will Donato is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Vocalist Slim Man is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Palm Desert. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. Guitarist Hans Ottsen hosts a jazz jam at The Grape in Ventura. The Jazztown Band is at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features saxophonist Dayna Stephens.

Wednesday 12/22 – Tierney Sutton & Bevan Manson at The Grape

Vocalist Tierney Sutton is at The Grape in Ventura with pianist Bevan Manson, backed by Luca Alemanno on bass and Bernie Dresel on drums. Vocalist Steve Tyrell begins an eight-night engagement at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s in Studio City. Trumpeter Brian Swartz is at Mr. Musichead Gallery in West Hollywood. Guitarist Jacques Lesure leads a trio at Sam First near LAX. Flutist Holly Hofmann is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Vocalist Brenda Lee Eager is at Catalina in Hollywood. Keyboardist/vocalist Freddie Ravel is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Marguaret Love is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Keyboardist Chris Fishman is at ETA in Highland Park. Saxophonist Greg Vail is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Trumpeter Mike Rocha is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at Panama 66 at the San Diego Museum Of Art. Saxophonist Justin Chart is at Salt’s Cure in Hollywood. The Avant Garde Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Saxophonist Jerry Mandel is at Bistango in Irvine. The Innocence Project’s latest online show includes vocalist Don Most and pianist Bevan Manson. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features U.K. vocalist David Linx.

Thursday 12/23 – Kevin Kanner at Sam First

Drummer Kevin Kanner is at Sam First near LAX with Ralph Moore on sax, Gerald Clayton on piano, and Mike Gurrola on bass. Vocalist Steve Tyrell is at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s in Studio City. The Duck Soup Trio plays the music of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Vocalist Wayne Linsey does a holiday music show at Catalina in Hollywood. The Cookies are at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist/vocalist Christopher Linman is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at the Cascade Lounge in Palm Springs. Vocalist Bili Redd is at The Merc in Temecula. The Mezclado Quintet is at ETA in Highland Park.  Drummer Kevin Crabb is at the Olive & Fig Restaurant & Jazz Bar in Canoga Park. 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 The Twist On Main in Ventura with saxophonist Bob Sheppard. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Drummer Tyler Hammond is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. Four And More are at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. The Barrelhouse Wailers are at The Grape in Ventura. The World Stage in South L.A. hosts an evening outdoor patio jam session for instrumentalists. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features drummer Bob Moses.

Friday 12/24 – Barbara Morrison at Vibrato

Vocalist Barbara Morrison fronts a quartet at Vibrato in Bel Air led by pianist Stuart Elster with Danny Janklow on saxophone, Richard Simon on bass, and Lee Spath on drums.  Pianist Brian Clemens is at The Drake in Laguna Beach with vocalist Meloney Collins. Pianist Sunnie Paxson is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. Drummer Kevin Crabb is at the Olive & Fig Restaurant & Jazz Bar in Canoga Park. 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. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features pianist Bill Cunliffe.

Saturday 12/25 – Sacha Boutros at Il Sogno Italiano

Vocalist Sacha Boutros does an evening show on Christmas Day at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego including Mikan Zlatkovich on piano, Grant Clarkson on bass, and Tim McMahon on drums. Pianist Stuart Elster is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features vocalist Norma Winstone.

Sunday 12/26 – Andy James at Vibrato

Vocalist Andy James is at Vibrato in Bel Air with Alex Acuna on percussion, Bill Cunliffe and John Cowherd on piano, Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums, Christopher Thomas on bass, Mike Moreno on guitar, and Michael Dease on trombone.  The Corbin Jones Holiday Big Band opens for pianist Sam Hirsh’s trio and jam session at The Mint in West L.A. Keyboardist/vocalist Kirk Covington is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego.  Guitarist Brad Rabuchin leads a group and jam session at Michael’s On Riverside in Toluca Lake.  Saxophonist Justin Chart is at The Wayfarer in downtown L.A. Bassist Zephyr Avalon is at The San Fernando in Glendale. Drummer Kevin Crabb is at the Olive & Fig Restaurant & Jazz Bar in Canoga Park. 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 Jacqui Hylton is at Nonna in Westlake Village. Guitarist Mark Fitchett plays an early jazz brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. The Jazz Cartel plays a jazz brunch at Sorriso in Pasadena. Vocalist Sandy Cummings does a jazz brunch at SoHo in Santa Barbara. 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 Greg Abate.

Monday 12/27 – Jacques Lesure Jam Session at the Lighthouse

Guitarist Jacques Lesure hosts a straight-ahead set and jazz jam session at the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach including Pete Kuzma on keys, Rene Camacho on bass, and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. 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. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Trio Renacimiento is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features vocalist Paul Jost.

Tuesday 12/28 – Karl McComas-Reichl at Sam First

Bassist Karl McComas-Reichl is at Sam First near LAX with Larry Goldings on piano and Christian Euman on drums. Pianist Billy Mitchell is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Vocalist Natalie Mendoza is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Percussionist Joey De Leon is at Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A. Pianist Mark LeBrun is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. The Lil Jazz Quintet is at SoHo in Santa Barbara. Vocalist Phylliss Bailey Brooks is at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Will Donato is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. Guitarist Hans Ottsen hosts a jazz jam at The Grape in Ventura. The Jazztown Band is at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features drummer J.R. Robinson.

Wednesday 12/29 – Logan Richardson at Sam First

Saxophonist Logan Richardson is at Sam First near LAX for the first of two nights (Wed-Thu) with Solomon Dorsey on bass and Justin Brown on drums.  JazzZone is at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in South L.A. Vocalist Angela O’Neill & The Outrageous 8 are at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist Allen Hinds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Billy Valentine is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist Brian Clemens is at The Drake in Laguna Beach with vocalist Luke Carlsen. Pianist Sue Palmer is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Trumpeter Mike Rocha is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at Panama 66 at the San Diego Museum Of Art. Saxophonist Justin Chart is at Salt’s Cure in Hollywood. Saxophonist Jerry Mandel is at Bistango in Irvine.