About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – The Week Of January 22, 2024

It’s NAMM Week in SoCal so expect busy venues for shows including Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, Terri Lyne Carrington, Simon Phillips, Mark Winkler, Victor Wooten, Mike Miller, Azar Lawrence, Gilad Hekselman, Brian Charette, Bernie Dresel, Linda May Han Oh, Betty Bryant, Nellie McKay, Sara Gazarek, and Bill Cunliffe.

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 1/22 – Aaron Janik at The Baked Potato

Trumpeter Aaron Janik is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Julian Pollack and Javier Santiago on keys, Joe Cleveland on bass, Colin Cook on guitar, Chase Jackson on vibes, and Gene Coye on drums. Bassist Linda May Han Oh is at the Townhouse in Venice. Guitarist Riner Scivally is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Guitarist Carlos Velasco is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. The Saddleback College Jazz Faculty including trumpeter Ron Stout plays a show at the McKinney Theatre in Mission Viejo. Saxophonist Richard Elliot 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. Very Good Mondays is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood.

Tuesday 1/23 – Bernie Dresel BBB at Catalina Jazz Club

Drummer Bernie Dresel’s BBB Big Band is at Catalina in Hollywood. Bassist Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers are at Belly Up in Solana Beach. Pianist Gerald Clayton hosts the Tuesday Happenings jam session at Sam First near LAX. Vocalist Nellie McKay is at SOhO in Santa Barbara. Saxophonist David Angel is at Vibrato in Bel Air with a big band. Guitarist Adam Ratner is at Tavern On Brand in Glendale. Gypsy guitarist Stephane Wrembel is at Dizzy’s in San Diego. The Sultans Of Swing are at La Puglia in Santa Monica. Cosmosquad is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. 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 1/24 – Daniel Rosenboom at Vine

Trumpeter Daniel Rosenboom is at Vine in Long Beach with Joshua White on piano, Billy Mohler on bass, and Shawn Baltazor on drums. Pianist/vocalist Betty Bryant is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Guitarist Allen Hinds is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Drummer Benjamin Ring is at Sam First near LAX. Vocalist Nellie McKay is at Catalina in Hollywood. Trumpeter Julien Knowles leads a jam session at The York in Highland Park. Vocalist Maria Schafer is at Garcons de Cafe in downtown L.A. Guitarist/vocalist Rafael Moreira is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Nicole McCabe is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood. Gypsy guitarist Stephane Wrembel is at The Grape in Ventura. Gypsy guitarist John Jorgenson is at SOhO in Santa Barbara. Drummer Jimmy Branly is at 1881 in Pasadena. Drummer Tom Dante is at Skyloft in Laguna Beach. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. The Barclay Theatre Jazz Band is at Bistango in Irvine. Vocalist Amanda Portela is at the Hotel Republic in San Diego. Jumpin’ Joz is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Pianist Tommy Gannon is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Eddie V’s in Palm Desert.

Thursday 1/25 – Mark Winkler at Catalina Jazz Club

Vocalist Mark Winkler celebrates a CD release at Catalina in Hollywood, backed by Rich Eames on piano, Gabe Davis on bass, Dave Tull on drums, Bob Sheppard on sax, Brian Swartz on trumpet, and John Beasley on keys. Guitarist Gilad Hekselman is at Sam First near LAX for the first of three nights (Thu-Sat). Bassist Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers are at The Troubadour in West Hollywood. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos opens a new bi-weekly residency at Lou Lou’s Jungle Room in San Diego. Pianist Bill Cunliffe is at The Grape in Ventura. Guitarist Marcel Camargo and vocalist Lila Forde are at The Resident in downtown L.A. Guitarist Allen Hinds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Matt Johnson’s New Jet Set is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Trumpeter/vocalist Matt Von Roderick is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist Michael Levan is at The Merc in Temecula. Saxophonist Glenn Cashman is at The Raymond 1886 in South Pasadena. Vocalist Lauren Wild is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Gypsy guitarist John Jorgenson is at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Bobbi DeCarlo is at the Cascade Lounge in Palm Springs. Vocalist Maria De La Vega & The Wayward Five are at Seven Grand in downtown L.A. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. 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.

Friday 1/26 – Azar Lawrence at The Mint

Saxophonist Azar Lawrence is at The Mint in West L.A. with Dennis Nelson on guitar, Robert Turner on keys, Raymond Johnson on drums, and Weldon Scott on bass. Bassist Stu Hamm is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Gilad Hekselman is at Sam First near LAX. Guitarist Tim Miller is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Trombonist Ryan Porter is at The World Stage in South L.A. Vocalist Cheryl Bentyne is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat). Organist Brian Charette is at The Grape in Ventura for the first of two nights (Fri-Sat). Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Libretto in Paso Robles. Violinist Susie Hansen is at the Chevy Chase Country Club in Glendale. Vocalist Janice Anderson is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Vocalist Veronique Forget is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Saxophonist Dave Victorino is at Azo Vino in Covina. Vocalist Keri Kelsey leads an open mic at the Garden Cafe in Sherman Oaks. Pianist Marc LeBrun is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo. Flutist/vocalist Cobby Brzeski is at Books & Records in San Diego. Pianist/vocalist Valentina Shelton is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Bassist Karim Yengsep is at the OC Fish Grill in Irvine. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells with vocalist Yve Evans. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. The Route 66 Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. Pianist Bruce Baker is at the Shade Hotel Sea Level Restaurant in Redondo Beach. Vocalist Tasha Taylor is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The Catalina Combo is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. The Dave Stephens Band is at The Drake in Laguna Beach.

Saturday 1/27 – Herb Alpert & Lani Hall at The Soraya

Trumpeter Herb Alpert & vocalist Lani Hall are at The Soraya in Northridge. Drummer Simon Phillips leads his Protocol V ensemble at Catalina in Hollywood for the first of two nights (Sat-Sun). Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington is at CAP UCLA Royce Hall in Westwood. Guitarist Gilad Hekselman is at Sam First near LAX. Vocalist Chaka Khan is at the Luckman Performing Arts Center at Cal State L.A. Organist Brian Charette is at The Grape in Ventura. Vocalist Sara Gazarek is at The Sun Rose in West Hollywood. Trumpeter Dan Rosenboom is at Libretto in Paso Robles. Trumpeter Tony Guerrero is at Vibrato in Bel Air with vocalist Adryon De Leon. Guitarist Carl Verheyen is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Claude Hall is at The Gardenia in West Hollywood. Vocalist Cheryl Bentyne is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. The New West Symphony celebrates the music of George Gershwin at the Fred Kavli Theater in Thousand Oaks with guest pianist Roger Kellaway. Gypsy guitarist John Jorgenson is at the Grand Annex in San Pedro. The LA Classics & Pop Ensemble is at Collage in San Pedro. Flutist Nori Tani is at the Conference Room in Playa Vista. Saxophonist Michael Paulo celebrates a CD release at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Pianist Marc LeBrun is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego with vocalist Janessa Noland. Pianist Gary Matsumoto is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. 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. Vocalist Douglas Roegiers is at the Cicada Club in downtown L.A. Vocalist Chloe Perrier is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena.

Sunday 1/28 – Mike Miller at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Mike Miller is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Mitchel Forman on keys, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Chad Wackerman on drums Drummer Simon Phillips’ Protocol V is at Catalina in Hollywood. Trumpeter Herb Alpert and vocalist Lani Hall are at the Musco Center in Orange. The Afro Peruvian Jazz Orchestra is at the Colony Theatre in Burbank.   Trumpeter Elliott Caine is at The York in Highland Park. Drummer Robert “Sput” Searight hosts a NAMM jam session at The Mint in West L.A. Guitarist Gilad Hekselman is at the Athenaeum Library in La Jolla. Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin is at The Conrad in La Jolla. The New West Symphony celebrates the music of George Gershwin at the Fred Kavli Theater in Thousand Oaks with guest pianist Roger Kellaway for an afternoon matinee performance. The Four Freshmen are at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. Drummer Dean Mucetti & Rhythm Real are at Bar Bandini in Silverlake. Soul Sauce is at Roscoe’s Jazz Cafe in Long Beach. Vocalist Mando Cordova is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Patrick Lamb is at Humphrey’s Backstage in San Diego. Innervision Records hosts a NAMM Jam at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. The Gaslamp Quartet Jazz Orchestra is at Tio Leo’s Lounge in San Diego. 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. Organist Mark Brown has 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. Drummer John Kithcart has the early jazz brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Flutist/vocalist Cobby Brzeski leads a brunch at the Hotel Republic in San Diego. Guitarist Jon Garner does a brunch at Books & Records in San Diego. Organist Douglas Kvandal leads an afternoon jam session at the Jazz Lounge in San Diego. Vocalist Sandy Cummings does a jazz brunch at SOhO in Santa Barbara. Drummer Don Littleton does a brunch at My Father’s Barbecue in Carson.

Monday 1/29 – Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band w/Patti Austin at Catalina Jazz Club

Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band is at Catalina in Hollywood with vocalist Patti Austin. Organist Brian Charette at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Percussionist Poncho Sanchez is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway is at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Springs. Guitarist Matteo Mancuso is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro for the first of two nights (Mon-Tue). The Pickle Mafia is at The Grape in Ventura. Vocalist Crystal Clulee is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist Tommy Gannon 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. 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. Pianist Richard Turner is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Very Good Mondays is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood.

Tuesday 1/30 – Pete Malinverni at Bacchus’ Kitchen

Pianist Pete Malinverni is at Bacchus’ Kitchen in South Pasadena with bassist Mike Gurrola and drummer Jeff Hamilton in a program dedicated to the music of Leonard Bernstein. The SicNarf big band is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Accordionist Cory Pesaturo is at Vibrato in Bel Air.  Trumpeter Herb Alpert and vocalist Lani Hall are at The Sound in Del Mar.  Guitarist Matteo Mancuso is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Pianist George Kahn is at La Puglia in Santa Monica with vocalist Courtney Lemmon. Beautiful Reflections opens for the MvA Quintet at TRiP in West L.A. Pianist Eric Dries is at The Drake in Laguna Beach with vocalist Meloney Collins.  Pianist Tommy Gannon is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Vocalist Keri Kelsey leads an open mic at The Gardenia in West Hollywood. 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 1/31 – Ranky Tanky w/Lisa Fischer at The Soraya

Ranky Tanky is at The Soraya in Northridge with vocalist Lisa Fischer. Bassist Pete Griffin is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Nicholas Bearde is at Sam First near LAX. The Buddy Rich Big Band Machine is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Trumpeter Herb Alpert and vocalist Lani Hall are at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo. Guitarist David Eastlee is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Saxophonist Greg Vail is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Guitarist Carlos Velasco is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Vocalist Lisa Andrea Torres is at Garcons de Cafe in downtown L.A. 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.