About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of January 1, 2024

2024 opens with a SoCal jazz week featuring Band Of Brothers, Roberta Gambarini, Eric Scott Reed, Alan Broadbent, Gerald Clayton & Elena Pinderhughes, Scott Kinsey, Jumaane Smith, Dmitris Jimmy Mahlis, Greg Mathieson, Christina Galisatus, Groove Legacy, Tyrone Perkins, and Sarah Thawer.

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 1/1/24 – Very Good Mondays at Gold-Diggers

Very Good Mondays is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood with Sarah Thawer on drums, Dominique Xavier on keys, Danny Janklow on sax, Jermaine Paul on bass, and Andrew Renfroe on guitar. Guitarist Jacques Lesure hosts a jam session at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach including drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith. Guitarist Riner Scivally is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Bassist Ryan Cross’ Jazz Eclectic is at Riviera 31 at the Beverly Hills Sofitel Hotel. The Hot Club of Los Angeles is at the Cinema Bar in Culver City. Drummer Issak Weatherwax is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. Pianist Richard Turner is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells.

Tuesday 1/2 – Groove Legacy at The Baked Potato

Groove Legacy is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Gary Novak on drums, Travis Carlton on bass, Ido Meshulam on trombone, Sam Meek on guitar, Billy Steinway on keys, and special guest Tom Scott on sax. The Aristocats are at La Puglia in Santa Monica with vocalist Andrea Miller. Beautiful Reflections open for guitarist Shea Welsh at TRiP in Santa Monica. Supasoul is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Pianist Mike Wofford is at the Manhattan in La Jolla. Trombonist Matt Hall is at Seven Grand in San Diego. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley hosts a jazz jam at General Lee’s in Chinatown. Trumpeter John Reynolds is at Madison On Park in San Diego. Pianist Matt Politano leads a breakfast jazz trio at Jones Coffee Roasters in Pasadena.

Wednesday 1/3 – Scott Kinsey at The Baked Potato

Keyboardist Scott Kinsey is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Gary Novak and Cyril Atef on drums, Michael Landau on guitar, and Tim Lefebvre on bass. The Stubbs Quintet is at Sam First near LAX. Vocalist Roberta Gambarini is at Catalina in Hollywood. GENR8R is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood. Jumpin Joz is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Saxophonist Jerry Mandel is at Bistango in Irvine. Drummer Tom Dante is at Skyloft in Laguna Beach. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. Vocalist Sylvia Rodriguez is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. Saxophonist Bryan McCann is at Cafe Fiore in Ventura. The Flight 584 Big Band is at the Mayflower Club in North Hollywood.

Thursday 1/4 – Roberta Gambarini at Catalina Jazz Club

Vocalist Roberta Gambarini finishes a two-night (Wed-Thu) run at Catalina in Hollywood, backed by Tamir Hendelman on piano, Chuck Berghofer on bass, and Roy McCurdy on drums. Pianist Christina Galisatus is at Sam First near LAX. Trombonist Matt Hall is at the Cascade Lounge in Palm Springs. Trumpeter/vocalist Matt Von Roderick is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Janis Mann is at The Merc in Temecula. Bassist Chris Golden is at The Grape in Ventura. Eva & The Vagabond Tales are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. The Route 66 Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale.  Pianist/vocalist Peter Smith is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena.  Guitarist Matthew Yeakley is at the Continental Club in downtown L.A. 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.  Vocalist Roman Palacios is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego.  Guitarist Ron Eschete is at Macallan’s Public House in Brea. Trombonist Luis Bonilla is at Azo Vino in Covina.

Friday 1/5 – Eric Scott Reed at Sam First

Pianist Eric Scott Reed is at Sam First near LAX for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat) with Mike Gurrola on bass and Marcelo Carelli on drums. Organist Greg Mathieson is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trumpeter/vocalist Jumaane Smith is at The Grape in Ventura. Vocalist Tyrone “Mr. SuperFantastic” Perkins and the Fantastic 8 are at Catalina in Hollywood. Vocalist Sinne Eeg and pianist Josh Nelson are at Libretto in Paso Robles. Vocalist Janis Mann is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Bassist Justin Grinnell and pianist Melonie Grinnell are at Books & Records in San Diego. Drummer/vocalist Tony Jones is at the Urban Press Winery in Burbank. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Trombonist Luis Bonilla is at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena. Pianist Bruce Baker is at the Shade Hotel Sea Level Restaurant in Redondo Beach. Ella Swings is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Vocalist Tony Galla is at Vibrato in Bel Air.

Saturday 1/6 – Band Of Brothers at The Baked Potato

Band Of Brothers is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Tony Levin on bass, Pete Levin on keys, Pat La Barbera on sax, and Joe La Barbera on drums. Pianist Eric Scott Reed is at Sam First near LAX. Trumpeter/vocalist Jumaane Smith is at the Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts. Guitar and oud player Dmitris Jimmy Mahlis is at The Grape in Ventura. Vocalist Janis Mann is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Judy Wexler is at Libretto in Paso Robles. Jazz tap dancer Joseph Wiggan is at The Nimoy in Westwood with pianist Robert Turner. Trombonist Matt Hall is at Dizzy’s in San Diego.  Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo.  Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego with vocalist Lauren Koval.  Pianist Jacob Mann is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena.  Pianist Sue Palmer is at Books & Records in San Diego. French vocal group Paris Chansons are at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Pianist Bruce Baker is at the Shade Hotel Sea Level Restaurant in Redondo Beach. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. The Sultans Of Swing are at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. Vocalist Ed Romero is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Vocalist Mando Cordova is at The Drake in Laguna Beach.  The Pepper Moons are at the Barkley Restaurant in South Pasadena.

Sunday 1/7 – Alan Broadbent at The Nimoy

Pianist Alan Broadbent is at The Nimoy in Westwood. Pianist Gerald Clayton is at 2220 Arts + Archives in downtown L.A. with flutist Elena Pinderhughes. Band Of Brothers is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Amanda McBroom is at Catalina in Hollywood with composer/pianist Michele Brourman. Pianist Yumi Komishiwa opens for pianist Sam Hirsh’s trio and jam session at The Mint in West L.A. Vocalist Allison Adams Tucker celebrates a CD release at Humphrey’s Backstage in San Diego. JazzFunkSoul is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.  Pianist Tommy Gannon is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego with vocalist Andrea Miller.  Vocalist Maria Schafer is at The York in Highland Park.  Drummer/vocalist Bryan Cabrera is at The Drake in Laguna Beach with pianist Ron Kobayashi. Pianist Mike Wofford is at the Manhattan in La Jolla. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Pianist Irving Flores is at Madison On Park in San Diego. Guitarist Ken Song is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.  Pianist Robert Turner is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena.  The World Stage hosts the Rose Gales Vocal Jam Session. Pianist Todd Hunter & The Brazilians have the afternoon brunch at the Urban Press Winery in Burbank. Guitarist Sam Shepherd plays an afternoon jazz brunch at Jack’s in Dana Point.  Belvedear does a brunch at Sogno Toscano in Santa Monica.  Saxophonist Nick Gomez has the early jazz brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Guitarist Mark Towns does a flamenco/jazz morning show at the Montrose Harvest Market in Montrose.

Monday 1/8 – Janis Mann at The Baked Potato

Vocalist Janis Mann is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Brandon Fields on sax, Andy Langham on keys, Mike Gurrola on bass, and Jimmy Branly on drums. Guitarist Riner Scivally is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Saxophonist Michael Lington is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Guitarist Jacques Lesure hosts a jam session at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach including drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith. 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. Drummer Issak Weatherwax is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. Very Good Mondays is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood. The Irvine Barclay Jazz Band is at The Drake in Laguna Beach.

Tuesday 1/9 – Gerald Clayton at Sam First

Pianist Gerald Clayton hosts the Tuesday Happenings jam session at Sam First near LAX. The Band Of Brothers is at Libretto in Paso Robles. Pianist/vocalist Bryan Eng does the music of Nat King Cole at Catalina in Hollywood. The Jazz Butchers are at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Dave Damiani & The No Vacancy Orchestra are at Vibrato in Bel Air.  Corcovado and saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree split a bill at TRiP in Santa Monica.  Vocalist Patrick Barnitt is at La Puglia in Santa Monica.  Jumpin’ Joz is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A.  Supasoul is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Vocalist Slim Man 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 Matthew Yeakley hosts a jazz jam at General Lee’s in Chinatown Los Angeles. Trumpeter John Reynolds is at Madison On Park in San Diego. Trombonist Matt Hall is at Seven Grand in San Diego. Pianist Matt Politano leads a breakfast jazz trio at Jones Coffee Roasters in Pasadena.

Wednesday 1/10 – West Coast Jazz Hour Big Band with Sinne Eeg at Vibrato

The West Coast Jazz Hour Big Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air with guest vocalist Sinne Eeg. Drummer Clarence Penn is at Sam First near LAX with a group including Adam Rogers on guitar. Drummer Charles Ruggerio plays the music of Thelonious Monk at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Sasha Berliner on vibes, Mike Gurrola on bass, and Bob Reynolds on sax. Blanco Diablo is at The Grape in Ventura.  Drummer Jimmy Branly is at 1881 in Pasadena.  Saxophonist Louis Van Taylor is at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Greg Vail is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Guitarist David Eastlee is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Trumpeter Julien Knowles leads a jam session at The York in Highland Park. Drummer Tom Dante is at Skyloft in Laguna Beach. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. Vocalist Sylvia Rodriguez is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. The Barclay Theatre Jazz Band is at Bistango in Irvine.