About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of March 20, 2023

March winds down with a SoCal jazz week including The Cookers, Steve Smith, Samara Joy, Oscar Hernandez, Take 6, Adam Hersh, Judy Wexler, Louie Palmer, Michael Carvin, Karolina Naziemeic, Bernie Dresel, Denny Seiwell, Allison Miller, Nedra Wheeler, and Jeff Goldblum.

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 3/20 – The Moment at Oracle Tavern

The Moment will be at the Oracle Tavern in downtown L.A. with Gary Fukushima on keys, Brad Rabuchin on guitar, Chuck Manning on sax, and Brad Dutz on percussion with an additional set from Brad Dutz’s trio. Coevality is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with John Reicher on guitar, Derrick Elliott on bass, and Andy Prado, Jr. on drums. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Guitarist Jacques Lesure hosts a jam session at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach including drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith. Pianist Irving Flores is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Guitarist Molly Miller is at Perch 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. Pianist Richard Turner, Jr. is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Eternity Jazz is at the Chess Park Lounge in Glendale. Trio Renacimiento is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. Very Good Mondays is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood. Saxophonist Nicole McCabe is at ETA in Highland Park. Guitarist Ken Song is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. The SBCC Big Band is at SOhO in Santa Barbara.

Tuesday 3/21 – KaroliNa at Catalina Jazz Club

Violinist/vocalist Karolina Naziemeic celebrates a CD release at Catalina in Hollywood, backed by Tom Ranier on piano, Chuck Berghofer on bass, Ray Brinker on drums, Brian Scanlon on sax, Alan Kaplan on trombone, and Gayle Levant on harp. Drummer Bernie Dresel’s BBB big band is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trumpeter Keyon Harrold leads the Tuesday Jazz Jam at Sam First near LAX. Vocalist Michelle Coltrane is at La Puglia in Santa Monica. Saxophonist Patrick Lamb is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Angel Town Combo is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Corcovado with vocalist Natalie Jacob and guitarist Mark Leggett spilt a bill at TRiP in Santa Monica. Pianist Tommy Gannon is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Trumpeter/vocalist Matt Shulman and keyboardist Koji Ono are at the Chess Park Lounge in Glendale. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. The Jazztown Band is at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. Vocalist Slim Man is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. The Supasol Band is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley hosts a jazz jam at General Lee’s in Chinatown Los Angeles. Vocalist Keri Kelsey hosts an open mic at The Gardenia in West Hollywood.

Wednesday 3/22 – Louie Palmer at The Baked Potato

Drummer Louie Palmer is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Nir Felder on guitar, Dennis Hamm on keys, Dan Lutz on bass, and Aaron Janik on trumpet. Drummer Denny Seiwell is at The Grape in Ventura. Trumpeter Tony Guerrero is at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach with vocalist Rachel Avalon. Vocalist Gina Kollman celebrates a CD release at Catalina in Hollywood. Blanco Diablo is at 1881 in Pasadena. Violinist Nora Germain and guitarist Luca Pino are at The Stowaway in downtown L.A. Pianist/vocalist Kiki Ebsen plays the music of Joni Mitchell at Vibrato in Bel Air. Saxophonist Ari Silberman is at the Oeno Wine Bar in Atwater Village. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at Panama 66 at the San Diego Museum Of Art. Drummer Tom Dante is at Skyloft in Laguna Beach. The USC Jazz Honors Combo is at Sam First near LAX. Saxophonist Greg Vail is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist Eric Shechter is at the Jazz Lounge in San Diego. Vocalist Marguaret Love & Her Lovettes are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.

Thursday 3/23 – Steve Smith & Vital Information at Catalina Jazz Club

Drummer Steve Smith & Vital Information begin a three-night (Thu-Sun) run at Catalina in Hollywood with Manuel Valera on keys and Janek Gwizdala on bass. Vocal group Take 6 is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Flutist Lori Bell is at Sam First in West L.A. Pianist Max Haymer begins a two-night (Thu-Fri) run at Libretto in Paso Robles. Bassist Benny Rietveld is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Jacob Wendt is at Collage in San Pedro. The Urban Jazz Collective is at The Grape in Ventura. Vocalist Sharon Marie Cline is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist/vocalist Peter Smith is at The Merc in Temecula. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at Il Sogno Italiano in Diego. Vocalist Gretje Angell is at Kulak’s Woodshed in North Hollywood. Violinist Fabrice Martinez is at The Edmon in downtown L.A. Pianist Eric Shechter is at the Jazz Lounge in San Diego. The Jazz Cartel Quartet is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Keyboardist/vocalist Kirk Covington is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo. Saxophonist Justin Chart is at Daddy Diamonds in Hollywood. 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. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Sylvia & The Rhythm Boys are at Meet In Paris Restaurant & Lounge in Culver City. Saxophonist David Patterson is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. The World Stage in South L.A. hosts an evening outdoor patio jam session for instrumentalists.

Friday 3/24 – Adam Hersh Plays Allan Holdsworth at Sam First

Keyboardist Adam Hersh leads a group at Sam First near LAX in the music of Allan Holdsworth for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat) featuring Gary Novak on drums, Andy Waddell on guitar, and Max Gerl on bass. Drummer Steve Smith & Vital Information are at Catalina in Hollywood. Bassist Nedra Wheeler is at The World Stage in South L.A. Vocalist Amy Keys is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Bassist Marshall Hawkins is at the La Jolla Community Center with pianist Joshua White. Saxophonist Brian Levy plays the music of Wayne Shorter at Dizzy’s in San Diego. Pianist Max Haymer is at Libretto in Paso Robles. Keyboardist John Tesh is at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. Keyboardist Lao Tizer is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Mike Casey is at the St. Barnabas Harmony Room in Eagle Rock. Vocalist Teryn Re’ celebrates a birthday at The York in Highland Park. Organist Carey Frank is at the Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. Trio Dinicu is at Corazon Performing Arts in Topanga. Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo. Saxophonist Michael Lington is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. The Jive Aces are at The Grape in Ventura. Guitarist Peter White and saxophonist Richard Elliot are at the Solvang Festival Theater in Solvang. Drummer Joel Taylor is at 1881 in Pasadena. The SoCal Jazz Collective is at the OC Fish Grill in Irvine. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. The Aristocats are at the Olive & Fig Restaurant & Jazz Bar in Canoga Park. The Jazz Cartel Trio is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Drummer Mark San Filippo is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Eternity Jazz is at the Chess Park Lounge in Glendale. The Hot Club of Palm Springs is at Vicky’s of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Pianist Chris Dawson is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Pianist Sue Palmer is at Golden Island in San Diego. Vocalist Roman Palacios is at Il Sogno Italiano in Diego. Black Diamonds are at Azo Vino in Covina.

Saturday 3/25 – The Cookers at Segerstrom Samueli Theater

The Cookers play two shows at the Segerstrom Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa with Billy Harper and Donald Harrison on saxes, Eddie Henderson and David Weiss on trumpets, Cecil McBee on bass, George Cables on piano, and Billy Hart on drums. Vocalist Judy Wexler is at the St. Barnabas Harmony Room in Eagle Rock. Drummer Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom is at the Athenaeum Library in La Jolla. Pianist Jeff Goldblum is at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown L.A. Keyboardist Don Randi & Quest are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Steve Smith & Vital Information are at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist Adam Hersh plyas the music of Allan Holdsworth at Sam First near LAX.  The Baker Brothers Big Band is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Il Sogno Italiano in Diego with vocalist Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim. Pianist Scott Wilkie is at Libretto in Paso Robles.  The Pino Noir Quartet with vocalist Natalie Mendoza is at Bar Baccari in Silverlake.   Drummer/vocalist Bryan Cabrera is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Guitarist Victor Baker is at the Jazz Lounge in San Diego. Guitarist Javier Colon is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.  Trumpeter/vocalist Rick Braun is at the Westin Resort in Rancho Mirage. Saxophonist Mike Casey is at The Grape in Ventura. Blues guitarist Jamey Arent is at Matt Denny’s Ale House in Arcadia. Sylvia & The Rhythm Boys are at Hawg Heaven BBQ in Pasadena. The Aristocats are at the Olive & Fig Restaurant & Jazz Bar in Canoga Park. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Vocalist Liela Soder is at the Chess Park Lounge in Glendale. Flutist Holly Hofmann is at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. Pianist/vocalist Peter Smith is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. The Wise Guys Big Band Machine is at the Cicada Club in downtown L.A. Vocalist Tony Galla is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Jumpin Joz is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.

Sunday 3/26 – Oscar Hernandez at Catalina Jazz Club

Keyboardist Oscar Hernandez celebrates a birthday at Catalina in Hollywood with Justo Almario on sax, Rene Camacho on bass, Andy Sanesi on drums, and Joey De Leon on percussion. Vocalist Samara Joy is with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra at The Soraya in Northridge. Drummer Michael Carvin does an afternoon show at the El Portal Theatre Monroe Forum in North Hollywood. Guitarist Terry Wollman is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Organist Carey Frank is at The York in Highland Park. Guitarist Riner Scivally is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. The Jazz Butchers open for pianist Sam Hirsh’s trio and jam session at The Mint in West L.A.  Pianist Alyse Korn and saxophonist Robert Kyle celebrate a CD release at the Beatrice Wood Center For The Arts in Ojai.  Vocalist Rose Mallett is at Tio Leo’s Lounge in San Diego.  Trumpeter/vocalist Johnny Britt celebrates an album release at Venice West in Venice. Saxophonist Peter De Luke & The Mellotones are at Dizzy’s in San Diego. Saxophonist Marcus Anderson is at Humphrey’s Backstage in San Diego. Vocalist Rebecca Jade is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at Tio Leo’s Lounge in San Diego. Drummer Rodolfo Zuniga is at Libretto in Paso Robles. Pianist Mike Wofford is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. Vocalist Liela Avila is at Hawg Heaven BBQ in Pasadena. Trumpeter/vocalist Matt Shulman and keyboardist Koji Ono are at the Chess Park Lounge in Glendale. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Vocalist Lia Booth has the early jazz brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. The Jazz Cartel plays a brunch at Hawg Heaven BBQ in Pasadena. Vocalist Lorraina Marro has the afternoon brunch at the Urban Press Winery in Burbank. Saxophonist Dave Victorino does a Latin jazz brunch at Club 23 in Covina. Vocalist Sandy Cummings does a jazz brunch at SOhO in Santa Barbara. Angela O’Neill & The Outrageous 8 do a jazz brunch at the Pour House in Monrovia. Trumpeter Jay Jennings does a jazz brunch at the Cara Hotel in Los Feliz.

Monday 3/27 – Joel Taylor at The Baked Potato

Drummer Joel Taylor is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Julian Coryell on guitar, Travis Carlton on bass, and Matt Rohde on keys. Pianist Marc LeBrun is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist Irving Flores is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Guitarist Jacques Lesure hosts a jam session at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach including drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith. 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. Pianist Richard Turner, Jr. is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Eternity Jazz is at the Chess Park Lounge in Glendale. The Hot Club of Los Angeles is at the Cinema Bar in Culver City. Trio Renaciamento is at Las Perlas in downtown L.A. Very Good Mondays is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood. The SMC Jazz Ensemble is at the Santa Monica College Music Hall.

Tuesday 3/28 – Ruslan Sirota at The Baked Potato

Keyboardist Ruslan Sirota is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Kira Levin on vocals, Mike Gurrola on bass, and Gene Coye on drums. Trombonist Kalia Vandever is at Zebulon in Silverlake. Vocalist Sara Niemetz is at The York in Highland Park. Pianist Gerald Clayton hosts the Tuesday jazz jam at Sam First near LAX. Pianist Mike Wofford is at Il Sogno Italiano in Diego. Vocalist Steven Michael & The Paul McDonald Big Band are at Vibrato in Bel Air with guest vocalist Amanda Castro. Bassist Kevin “Brandino” Brandon is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Vocalist Patrick Barnitt is at La Puglia in Santa Monica. Blanco Diablo is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Pianist/vocalist Yve Evans is at Eddie V’s in Palm Desert. Percussionist Joey De Leon is at the Cana Rum Bar in downtown L.A. Keyboardist Sam Barsh is at Shoo Shoo Baby in downtown L.A. Trumpeter/vocalist Matt Shulman and keyboardist Koji Ono are at the Chess Park Lounge in Glendale. 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. The Supasol Band is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Vocalist Slim Man is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Palm Desert. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley hosts a jazz jam at General Lee’s in Chinatown. Supasoul is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.

Wednesday 3/29 – Rosario Guiliani at Sam First

Saxophonist Rosario Giuliani is at Sam First near LAX with Pieto Lussu on piano, Luca Alemanno on bass, and Joe La Barbera on drums. Bassist Marco Renteria is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Rose Colella is at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia is at Kulak’s Woodshed in North Hollywood. Duck Soup plays the music of Vince Guaraldi at the Oeno Wine Bar in Atwater Village. Guitarist Dean Grech is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist/vocalist Yve Evans is at Eddie V’s in Palm Desert. Native Vibe is at The Grape in Ventura. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at Panama 66 at the San Diego Museum Of Art. Saxophonist Jerry Mandel is at Bistango in Irvine. Drummer Tom Dante is at Skyloft in Laguna Beach. The Flight 584 Big Band is at the Mayflower Club in North Hollywood. French vocal group Paris Chansons is at Vibrato in Bel Air.