About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of August 29, 2022

August ends and September opens with a SoCal jazz week including Lizz Wright, John Pizzarelli, Steve Lehman, Nubya Garcia, Nick Smith, Andrew Synowiec, Gary Novak, Jay Jennings, Michelle Coltrane, Tony Guerrero, Black Nile, Derek Sherinian & Simon Phillips, and Doug Webb.

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. The LAjazz.com Quick Calendar lists shows and times three days in advance on the LAjazz.com home page.

Monday 8/29 – John Pizzarelli at Bistango

Guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli is at Bistango in Irvine for the first of two nights (Mon-Tue) with Paul Keller on bass, Tadatak Unno on piano, and Kevin Kanner on drums. Trumpeter Tony Guerrero leads a quintet with vocalist Lia Booth at the Festival Of Arts in Laguna Beach. Keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drummer Simon Phillips lead a group at The Grape in Ventura. Guitarist Nick Kellie is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trombonist Joey Sellers leads a faculty ensemble at the Saddleback College McKinney Theatre in Mission Viejo. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Bassist Kaveh Rastegar is at ETA in Highland Park. 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.

Tuesday 8/30 – Steve Lehman/Gerald Clayton/Joel Ross at Sam First

Saxophonist Steve Lehman is at Sam First near LAX with pianist Gerald Clayton and vibraphonist Joel Ross for the first of three nights (Tue-Thu). Galactic Booty Company with keyboardist Deron Johnson is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli is at Bistango in Irvine. Vocalist Michelle Coltrane is at La Puglia in Santa Monica. Vocalist Crystal Lewis is at the Festival Of Arts in Laguna Beach. Bassist Kevin “Brandino” Brandon is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Vocalist Suzy Williams is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. 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.

Wednesday 8/31 – Andrew Synowiec at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Andrew Synowiec is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Carey Frank on organ, Gary Novak on drums, Pete Korpela on percussion, and Jorgen Carlsson on bass. Bassist Santino Tarafella is at The Grape in Ventura. Saxophonist Steve Lehman is at Sam First near LAX with pianist Gerald Clayton and vibraphonist Joel Ross. Flutist Holly Hofmann and pianist Mike Wofford are Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Drummer Greg Miles Lewis is at the Oeno Wine Bar in Atwater Village. Vocalist Andrea Miller is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Natalie Hanna Mendoza is at Garcons De Cafe in downtown L.A. The Route 66 Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Trumpeter Mike Rocha is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at Panama 66 at the San Diego Museum Of Art. Bassist/vocalist Casey Abrams is at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. 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. Drummer Tom Dante is at Skyloft in Laguna Beach. Bassist Jake Leckie is at Three Clubs in Hollywood.

Thursday 9/1 – Nubya Garcia & Nate Smith at the Ford Amphitheatre

Saxophonist Nubya Garcia and drummer Nate Smith are at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood.  Groove Legacy is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Danny Janklow is at The Grape in Ventura.  Saxophonist Steve Lehman is at Sam First near LAX with pianist Gerald Clayton and vibraphonist Joel Ross.  Trumpeter Tony Guerrero is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Keyboardist Scott Wilkie is at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. Pianist Rob Mullins is at The Merc in Temecula. Organist Carey Frank is at Verse in Toluca Lake. The Stardust Revue is at the Cascade Lounge in Palm Springs. Vocalist Chloe Perrier is at Sorriso in Pasadena. The Apollo Trio is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist Aimee Nolte is at the Loews Hotel in Santa Monica. Four And More is at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. The Route 66 Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. 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. Drummer Davey Miller is at A Twist On Main in Ventura. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Drummer Tyler Hammond is at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood. Vocalist Dan Olivo is at LeGrand Restaurant in downtown L.A. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Vocalist Tasha Taylor is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The World Stage in South L.A. hosts an evening outdoor patio jam session for instrumentalists.

Friday 9/2 – Lizz Wright at Catalina Jazz Club

Vocalist Lizz Wright is at Catalina in Hollywood for the first of two nights with pianist Kenny Banks, Sr.  Saxophonist Ralph Moore is at Sam First near LAX. Black Nile has the free Friday jazz show at LACMA in West L.A.  Pianist Theo Saunders leads a tribute to the late Ray Armando at The World Stage in South L.A.  Trumpeter Jay Jennings and pianist Julian Pollock are at Libretto in Paso Robles. Vocalist Sharon Marie Cline is at the Conference Room in Playa Vista. The Vivino Brothers are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Melanie Taylor is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Pianist Quinn Johnson is at 1881 in Pasadena.  Vocalist Mando Cordova is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist/vocalist John Proulx is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena.  The Aristocats are at the Olive & Fig Restaurant & Jazz Bar in Canoga Park with guest vocalist Elena Gilliam. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Bassist Karim Yengsep is at the OC Fish Grill in Irvine. Drummer Mark San Filippo is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. The Cookies are at Vibrato in Bel Air.

Saturday 9/3 – Jay Jennings at Sam First

Trumpeter Jay Jennings is at Sam First near LAX with Julian Pollock on piano, Ross Schodek on bass, and Jose Perez on drums. Saxophonist Doug Webb is at The Grape in Ventura. Incendio is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Vocalist Lizz Wright is at Catalina in Hollywood. Percussionist/vocalist Louie Cruz Beltran is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist George Khan is at Libretto in Paso Robles.  Bassist Sherry Luchette is at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena.  Guitarist Allen Hinds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Jazz Cartel is at Sorriso in Pasadena.  Drummer/vocalist Bryan Cabrera is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Darryl Walker is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Saxophonist Daniel Rotem is at ETA in Highland Park. Flutist Holly Hofmann is at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. The Aristocats are at the Olive & Fig Restaurant & Jazz Bar in Canoga Park with guest vocalist Jay Jackson. The Pepper Moons are at the Cicada Club in downtown L.A.

Sunday 9/4 – Gary Novak at The Baked Potato

Drummer Gary Novak is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Bob Reynolds on sax, Ruslan Sirota on keyboards, and Mike Gurrola on bass. Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Guinga and clarinetist/saxophonist Nailor Proveta are at 2220 Arts + Archives in downtown L.A.  Pianist Eric Dries is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Kirsten Edkins plays an afternoon show at Ferro in Idyllwild. Vocalist Elaine Gibbs is at Catalina in Hollywood. 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. The LA Jazz Connection is at Strada in downtown L.A. Vocalist Mark Christian Miller does the afternoon brunch at Urban Press Winery in Burbank. Bassist Rob Thorsen does a brunch session at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. Saxophonist Nick Gomez does the early jazz brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. The World Stage in South L.A. hosts an evening outdoor patio jam session for vocalists.

Monday 9/5 – The Lineage Trio at The Baked Potato

The Lineage Trio is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Graham Dechter on guitar, Alex Frank on bass, and Ryan Shaw on drums. Guitarist Marc Ribot is at Zebulon in Silverlake. 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. The Hot Club of Los Angeles is at the Cinema Bar in Culver City.

Tuesday 9/6 – Gerald Clayton at Sam First

Pianist Gerald Clayton leads a jazz jam at Sam First near LAX.  Pianist Rob Mullins is at La Puglia in Santa Monica. Alanna & These Fine Gentlemen and guitarist Shea Welsh split a bill at TRiP in Santa Monica. The Fabulous Thunderbirds are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist/vocalist Freddie Ravel is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Jazz Cartel Quartet is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Pianist Marc LeBrun is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. The Jazztown Band is at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park.

Wednesday 9/7 – Wynton Marsalis JALCO & Manhattan Transfer at the Hollywood Bowl

Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra are at the Hollywood Bowl – Manhattan Transfer opens. Vocalists Calabria Foti and Kenny Washington are at Bistango in Irvine backed by a trio led by pianist Josh Nelson. Pianist Paul Cornish is at Sam First near LAX.  Saxophonist Ian Roller is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Jazz In Pink is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Clarinetist Matthew Stubbs is at The Paramount in East L.A. Vocalist Sue Matsuki is at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s in Studio City. Saxophonist Greg Vail is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Lisa Andrea Torres is at Garcons De Cafe in downtown L.A. 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 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. Drummer Tom Dante is at Skyloft in Laguna Beach. Bassist Jake Leckie is at Three Clubs in Hollywood.