May ends and June opens with a SoCal jazz week featuring Artemis, Dave Weckl & Tom Kennedy, Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, Gerry Gibbs, Karizma, Thana Alexa, Tom Ranier, Todd Cochran, Matt Gordy, Danny Janklow, Hadrien Feraud, Billy Stritch, and Beverly Church Hogan.
Please see the online version of About & Out for updated information throughout the week at lajazzpicks.com. It’s a good idea to check with venues directly for any last minute changes and/or cancellations before heading out.
Monday 5/30 – Hadrien Feraud at The Baked Potato
Bassist Hadrien Feraud is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Lee Mo on trumpet and vocals, Chaun Horton on drums, Horace Bray on guitar, and Eric Wortham II on keys. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Pianist Christopher Linman is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Guitarist Jacques Lesure hosts a straight-ahead set and jazz jam session at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach including Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A. 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. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features vocalist Katia Moraes.
Tuesday 5/31 – Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Quartet at Sam First
Drummer Gerry Gibbs is at Sam First near LAX with Dave Binney on sax, Larry Goldings on piano, and Mike Gurrola on bass. Pianist Sunnie Paxson is at La Puglia Restaurant in Santa Monica. Guitarist Nick Kellie is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Violinist Nora Germain is at Bar Lubitsch in Hollywood. Organist Cary Frank is at The Stowaway in downtown L.A. Latin jazz group Gabrielito Y La Verdadis at Vibrato in Bel Air. Saxophonist Nick Gomez is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Drummer Donald Dean is at the Petroleum Club in Bakersfield. Guitarist Dean Grech is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Vocalist Slim Man is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. The Jazztown Band is at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features guitarist Greg Poree.
Wednesday 6/1 – Danny Janklow at Mr. Musichead Gallery
Saxophonist Danny Janklow is at Mr. Musichead Gallery in West Hollywood with Javier Santiago on piano, Luca Alemanno on bass, and Andrew Renfroe on guitar, and Anthony Fung on drums. Pianist Robert Rodriguez is at Sam First near LAX. Groove Legacy is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trombonist Paul Nelson’s Big Ol’ Band is at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s in Studio City. Pianist Jesus Molina is at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist Harlan Hodges is at Oeno Wine Bar in Atwater Village. Trumpeter Mike Rocha is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at Panama 66 at the San Diego Museum Of Art. The Avant Garde Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Saxophonist Jerry Mandel is at Bistango in Irvine. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at T’s On The Green at the Date Palm Country Club in Cathedral City. Saxophonist Justin Chart is at the Arth Bar in Culver City. The Eternity Jazz Trio is at the Chess Park Lounge in Glendale. Drummer Tom Dante is at Skyloft in Laguna Beach. Bassist Jake Leckie is at Three Clubs in Hollywood. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features drummer Ralph Humphrey.
Thursday 6/2 – Dave Weckl/Tom Kennedy Project at Catalina Jazz Club
Drummer Dave Weckl and bassist Tom Kennedy lead a group for the first of three nights (Thu-Sat) at Catalina in Hollywood with Bob Franeschini on sax and Stu Mindemann on keyboards. Trumpeter Herb Alpert & vocalist Lani Hall are at Humphrey’s By The Bay in San Diego. Drummer Charles Goold is at Sam First near LAX. Vibraphonist Lolly Allen is at The Muck in Fullerton. Saxophonist Katja Rieckermann is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist/keyboardist Tim Hockenberry is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Meloney Collins is at Casino San Clemente in San Clemente. Guitarists Howard Paul and Wayne Wilkinson are at The Merc in Temecula. The Jazz Cartel is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Lizzy & The Triggermen are at the Cascade Lounge in Palm Springs. The LA Jazz Connection is at Strada in downtown L.A. Vocalist Matt Falker begins a two-night (Thu-Fri) live recording project at the Jazz Lounge in San Diego. Saxophonist Justin Chart is at 208 Rodeo in Beverly Hills. The Aristocats are 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. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Drummer Davey Miller is at A Twist On Main in Ventura. Drummer Tyler Hammond is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. Four And More is at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. The World Stage in South L.A. hosts an evening outdoor patio jam session for instrumentalists. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features bassist Jennifer Leitham.
Friday 6/3 – Artemis at The Alexandria
Female jazz supergroup Artemis is at the The Alexandria in Torrey Pines San Diego with Renee Rosnes on piano, Ingrid Jensen on trumpet, Anat Cohen on clarinet, Nicole Glover on sax, Noriko Ueda on bass, and Alison Miller on drums. Pianist Todd Cochran is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro with John Leftwich on bass and Michael Carvin on drums. Drummer Matt Gordy is at LACMA in West L.A. for the free Friday jazz show. Pianist Josh Nelson leads a trio at Libretto in Paso Robles. Pianist Billy Stritch is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat). Pianist Milen Kirov celebrates an album release with a solo piano show at Sam First near LAX. Drummer Dave Weckl and bassist Tom Kennedy are at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Ty Taylor is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist/vocalist John Proulx is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Vocalist Greg Rose is at the Conference Room in Playa Vista. Saxophonist Greg Vail is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Matt Falker is at the Jazz Lounge in San Diego. Cosmosquad is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Mitchel Forman interviews vocalist Tierney Sutton and composer/songwriter Alan Bergman at at the LACM Garage in Pasadena. Guitarist Darryl Darden plays a livestream tribute to George Benson for The World Stage in South L.A. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. The Aristocats are at the Olive & Fig Restaurant & Jazz Bar in Canoga Park. Pianist Ron Kobayashi plays an outdoor show at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. The SoCal Jazz Academy is at the OC Fish Grill in Irvine. Drummer Mark San Filippo is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features vocalist Andrea Wolper.
Saturday 6/4 – Thana Alexa at The Alexandria
Vocalist Thana Alexa is at The Alexandria in San Diego for the second day of the San Diego Women In Jazz Mini-Fest. Pianist Tom Ranier is at Sam First near LAX. Artemis is at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Trumpeter Tony Guerrero is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer Dave Weckl and bassist Tom Kennedy are at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Christopher Hollyday and vibraphonist Matt DiBiase play the music of Jackie McLean and Bobby Hutcherson at Dizzy’s in San Diego. Drummer Anthony Fung is at Libretto in Paso Robles. Violinist Karen Briggs is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Pianist Billy Stritch is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Guitarist Carl Verheyen is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Liela Avila is at Sorriso in Pasadena. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego with pianist Mikan Zlatkovich. Pianist Joe Bagg is at The Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Vocalist Mando Cordova is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Keyboardist Brian Culbertson and vocalist Lindsey Webster are at the Thornton Winery in Temecula. Vocalist Natalie Hanna Mendoza is at the Cicada Club in downtown L.A. The Black Diamonds are at Azo Vino in Covina. Pianist Joshua White plays a late afternoon show at the Encinitas Library in Encinitas. Bassist/vocalist Casey Abrams is at The Grape in Ventura. Flutist Holly Hofmann is at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. The Aristocats are at the Olive & Fig Restaurant & Jazz Bar in Canoga Park. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features drummer Les DeMerle.
Sunday 6/5 – Karizma at The Baked Potato
Karizma is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Matt Rohde on keys, Toshi Yanagi on guitar, Woody Mankowski on sax, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Jimmy Branly on drums. Vocalist Beverly Church Hogan celebrates a CD release at Catalina in Hollywood. Organist Jim Cox and guitarist Dean Parks are at The Stowaway in downtown L.A. Vocalist Niki Harris is at Vibrato in Bel Air with a band led by pianist Mitchel Forman. Bassist Max Gerl leads a sextet opening for pianist Sam Hirsh’s trio and jam session at The Mint in West L.A. Vocalist Andrea Miller is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Crystal Lewis is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Saxophonist Justin Chart is at 1212 Santa Monica in Santa Monica. Guitarist Brad Rabuchin leads a group at Michael’s On Riverside in Toluca Lake. Bassist Zephyr Avalon is at The San Fernando in Glendale. The Aristocats are at the Olive & Fig Restaurant & Jazz Bar in Canoga Park. Pianist Richard Glaser is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Vocalist Jacqui Hylton is at Nonna in Westlake Village. Charged Particles play an afternoon show at Glendale Community College. Vocalist Ed Romero does the afternoon brunch at Urban Press Winery in Burbank. Bassist Rob Thorsen does a brunch session at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. Vocalist Lia Booth does the early jazz brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Vocalist Erin Stevenson does a jazz brunch at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Kalinka does a noon show 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 herself.
Monday 6/6 – The Lineage Trio + Larry Goldings at The Baked Potato
The Lineage Trio is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with special guest organist Larry Goldings featuring Graham Dechter on guitar, Alex Frank on bass, and Ryan Shaw on drums. The Dave Weckl/Tom Kennedy Project is at The Grape in Ventura. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego with Mahesh Balasooriya on piano, Luca Alemanno on bass, and Kevin Kanner on drums. Guitarist Steve Oliver is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Pianist Brian Clemens is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. The Harry Selvin Orchestra is at the Palm Garden Hotel in Newbury Park. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego with Mahesh Balasooriya on piano, Luca Alemanno on bass, and Kevin Kanner on drums. Guitarist Jacques Lesure hosts a straight-ahead set and jazz jam session at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach including Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch in downtown L.A. 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. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features vocalist and violinist Calabria Foti.
Tuesday 6/7 – Michael Feinstein & Freda Payne at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s
Vocalists Michael Feinstein and Freda Payne pay tribute to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald for the first of two nights at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s in Studio City. Vocalists Mark Christian Miller and Gina Saputo are at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Michelle Coltrane is at La Puglia Restaurant in Santa Monica. Saxophonist Andrew Conrad is at Sam First near LAX. Violinist Nora Germain is at Bar Lubitsch in Hollywood. Guitarist Thom Rotella and drummer Matthew Mallinger split a bill at TRiP in Santa Monica. Saxophonist Ian Roller is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Organist Carey Frank is at The Stowaway in downtown L.A. Trumpeter Matt Von Roderick is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Vocalist Slim Man is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. The Jazztown Band is at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. Leanna & The Jazz Collective are at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features drummer Jack Mouse.
Wednesday 6/8 – Sara Gazarek at Mr. Musichead Gallery
Vocalist Sara Gazarek is at Mr. Musichead Gallery in West Hollywood. Keyboardist Scott Kinsey is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vibraphonist Simon Moullier is at Sam First near LAX. Vocalist Mon David and pianist Josh Nelson team at Catalina in Hollywood. Keyboardist Larry Goldings is at The Stowaway in downtown L.A. Vocalist Sarah McKenzie is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Bassist/vocalist Casey Abrams does an early show at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Vocalists Michael Feinstein and Freda Payne pay tribute to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s in Studio City. Pianist Rabbi Blue is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Guitarist Molly Miller is at The Grape in Ventura. Vocalist Lola Kristine is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Bryan McCann is at Cafe Fiore in Ventura. Guitarist Shea Welsh is at the Aqua Caliente Casino in Palm Springs. Trumpeter Mike Rocha is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at Panama 66 at the San Diego Museum Of Art. The Avant Garde Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Saxophonist Jerry Mandel is at Bistango in Irvine. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at T’s On The Green at the Date Palm Country Club in Cathedral City. Saxophonist Justin Chart is at the Arth Bar in Culver City. The Eternity Jazz Trio is at the Chess Park Lounge in Glendale. Drummer Tom Dante is at Skyloft in Laguna Beach. Bassist Jake Leckie is at Three Clubs in Hollywood. Producer Debra Graff’s latest livestream for The Innocence Project includes Cathy Segal-Garcia’s Noon YouTube Hang features trumpeter John Daversa.
About & Out - Tom Meek's Weekly Best Bets For Live Jazz In Los Angeles And Across Southern California 