About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – Week Of January 20, 2025

It’s NAMM week in Southern California, so expect clubs and venues to be busier than usual and make preparations accordingly. Jazz highlights include Edward Simon, Simon Phillips, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Chad Wackerman, Oz Noy & Andrew Synowiec, Bob Sheppard, Tony Austin, Stu Hamm, Mohini Dey, Jahari Stampley, Jeong Lim Yang, The Melanin Horns, Hailey Niswanger, Andy Prado, and Aaron Janik.

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 1/20 – Andy Prado at The Baked Potato

Drummer Andy Prado is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Aaron Janik on trumpet, Phillip Whack on sax, Cole Riddle on keys, Anthony Crawford on bass, Alex Sill on guitar, and Ollie Lopez on percussion. Percussionist Poncho Sanchez is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. The West Coast Jazz Hour Trio is at Bub & Grandma’s in Eagle Rock. Pianist Todd Hunter & The Brazilians are at The High Low in Atwater Village. Vocalist Sharon Marie Cline is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. 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. 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. Pianist Michael Peed is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego.

Tuesday 1/21 – Aaron Janik at The Baked Potato

Trumpeter Aaron Janik is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Gene Coye on drums, Paul Cornish on piano, Joe Cleveland on bass, Chase Jackson on vibes, Andre Frappier on guitar, and Micki Miller on vocals. Pianist Gerald Clayton hosts the Tuesday Happenings jam session at Sam First near LAX. The Sultans Of Swing are at La Puglia in Santa Monica. Corcovado is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Trumpeter/vocalist Matt Von Roderick is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Keyboardist Sam Barsh is at Shoo Shoo Baby in downtown L.A. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley hosts a jazz jam at General Lee’s in Chinatown Los Angeles. Vocalist Slim Man is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Vocalist Rose Mallet is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Pianist Adam Wolff is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Pianist Derrik Lewis plays a happy hour show at The Tropicale in Palm Springs. Pianist Matt Politano leads a breakfast jazz trio at Jones Coffee Roasters in Pasadena. Vocalist Dave Scott is at the Senses Bistro in San Diego. Pianist Adam Wolff is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. French vocal group Paris Chansons is at Vibrato in Bel Air.

Wednesday 1/22 – Bob Sheppard at Sam First

Saxophonist Bob Sheppard is at Sam First near LAX with John Beasley on piano, Tim Lefebvre on bass, and Gary Novak on drums. MaMoGi is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro with bassist Mohini Dey. Guitarist Oz Noy is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Jimmy Branly is at 1881 in Pasadena. Flutist Lori Bell is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Drumer Tyler Hammond is at The Grape in Ventura. Vocalist Lia Booth is at Garcons De Cafe in downtown L.A. Guitarist Scotty Bramer is at Aum Beer House in Garden Grove. Pianist Michael LeVan is at Il Gatto in La Habra. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. The Barclay Theatre Jazz Band is at Bistango in Irvine.  The Soul Organ Trio is at Club 616 in Santa Ana. Keyboardist Brad Bietry hosts a happy hour open mic and jam session at The George in Pasadena. Pianist Kevin Tokarz plays a happy hour show at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. The Flight 584 Big Band is at the Mayflower Club in North Hollywood. Vocalist Tamara Lalayan is at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist Justin Chart is at Gravitas in Beverly Hills.  TUBOP is at Chapter One in Santa Ana.

Thursday 1/23 – Simon Phillips Protocol V at Catalina Jazz Club

Drummer Simon Phillips’ Protocol V opens a three-night run at Catalina in Hollywood with Otmaro Ruiz on keys, Jacob Scesney on sax, Ernest Tibbs on bass, and Alex Sill on guitar. Bassist Jeong Lim Yang is at The Paramount in East Los Angeles. Drummer Roni Kaspi is at Sam First near LAX. Organist Brian Charette is at The Grape in Ventura. Guitarist Allen Hinds is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Lettuce is at The Novo in downtown L.A. Apex Breed is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Drummer Matt Johnson’s New Jet Set is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach.  Trumpeter Greg Adams & East Bay Soul are at the Cascade Lounge in Palm Springs.  Guitarist Zach Caplinger is at Jojo’s Hideaway in Tustin. Pianist Bill Mays is at The Merc in Temecula. Saxophonist Dave Goldberg is at Semi Tropic Wines in Costa Mesa. Pianist Brian O’Rourke is at the Urban Press Winery in Burbank. Pianist/vocalist Valentina Shelton is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley is at the Continental Club in downtown L.A. The Irvine Barclay Theatre Jazz Band is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Four and More are at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. 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. The ESP Jazz Collective is at the Black Rail Kitchen & Bar in Carlsbad. Pianist Richard Turner, Jr. is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Pianist Michael LeVan is at Il Gatto in La Habra. The West Coast Jazz Duo is at Stella’s in Dana Point. Vocalist Roman Palacios is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Pianist Kevin Tokarz is at Eddie V’s in San Diego.

Friday 1/24 – Miguel Atwood-Ferguson at Motivo LA

Violaist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson is at Motivo LA in Atwater Village with Devin Daniels on sax, Greg Spero on keys, Jermaine Paul on bass, and Greg Paul on drums. Drummer Tony Austin is at The World Stage in South L.A. Pianist Edward Simon is at Sam First near LAX. Drummer Simon Phillips’ Protocol V is at Catalina in Hollywood. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is at Lou Lou’s in San Diego. Drummer Jeff Hamilton begins a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Libretto in Paso Robles. Guitarists Oz Noy and Andrew Synowiec are at The Grape in Ventura.  Organist Brian Charette is at 1881 in Pasadena.  Guitarist Carl Verheyen is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Miki Howard is at The Sun Rose in West Hollywood. Guitarist Jesse Cook is at the Barclay Theatre in Irvine. Vocalist Amanda Castro is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo. Pianist/vocalist Aimee Nolte is at Camila’s Jazz Club in Montclair. Bassist Rob Thorsen is at Panama 66 in San Diego. The Sway Collective is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Stratos is at the Townhouse in Venice.  Saxophonist Justin Chart is at Sogno Toscano in Santa Monica. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells with vocalist Darci Daniels. Pianist Ron Kobayashi is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Guitarist Angelo Metz is at Native Fields in Walnut. The Route 66 Trio is at Bourbon Steak in Glendale. The Sunny Blue Trio is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. LeJazzanne is at the Z Club in Joshua Tree. The Catalina Combo is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Bassist Nicolas Doan is at Collage in San Pedro. The New Orleans Swinging Gypsies are at Golden Island in San Diego. Pianist John Opferkuch is at Books & Records in San Diego. Vocalist Amanda Portela is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego.

Saturday 1/25 – Edward Simon at Sam First

Pianist Edward Simon concludes a two-night (Fri-Sat) run at Sam First near LAX with Reuben Rogers on bass and Adam Cruz on drums. Drummer Chad Wackerman is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Simon Phillips’ Protocol V is at Catalina in Hollywood. Saxophonist/vocalist Mae.Sun (Hailey Niswanger) and drummer Gengis Don are at The Sun Rose in West Hollywood. Drummer Jeff Hamilton is at Libretto in Paso Robles. Pianist/vocalist Bill Cantos is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo.  The Pickle Mafia is at The Grape in Ventura. Phat Cat Swinger is at the Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts. The Jazz Cartel is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist J. Michael O’Neal is at Camila’s Jazz Club in Montclair. Vocalist Jerry Costanzo & His Gotham City Swingers are at the Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association. Vocalist Lindsey Webster is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Cobby Brzeski is at Books & Records in San Diego. Drummer Zak Najor is at Lou Lou’s in San Diego. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego with vocalist Kaylee Daughtery. Bassist Karim Yengsep is at Basil Brazil in San Juan Capistrano. Pianist Adam Wolff is at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego. Saxophonist David Leech is at Pips On La Brea in West L.A. Hammerstein Swing is at Cicada in downtown L.A. Vocalist Chloe Perrier is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Vocalist Jenessa Noland is at Black Rail Kitchen & Bar in Carlsbad. Black Diamonds are at Azo Vino in Covina.

Sunday 1/26 – Jahari Stampley at The Conrad

Pianist Jahari Stampley is at The Conrad in La Jolla with D-Erania Stampley on bass and Miguel Russell on drums. Bassist Stu Hamm is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. The Melanin Horns are at the Aziz Gallerie in South L.A. Guitarists Oz Noy and Andrew Synowiec play a late afternoon show at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Drummer Robert “Sput” Searight hosts a post-NAMM jam session at The Mint in West L.A. Pianist Edward Simon is at the Athenaeum Library in La Jolla. Bassist Nathan East and keyboardist son Noah East are at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Pianist David Benoit is at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center.  Pianist Bill Mays is at Tio Leo’s Lounge in San Diego.  Catalina in Hollywood hosts a fire relief fundraiser by Vox Femina Cabaret. Vocalist Maude Maggart is at The Gardenia in West Hollywood. Vocalist Lia Booth is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist Irving Flores is at The Jazz Lounge in San Diego. Saxophonist Patrick Lamb is at Humphrey’s By The Bay in San Diego. The Soto Six are at Panama 66 in San Diego. Pianist Eve Elliot is at Bub & Grandma’s in Eagle Rock. The Innervision Records NAMM Jam is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Pianist Michael Wolff is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Trombonist Matt Hall is at Lou Lou’s in San Diego. Pianist Sam Hirsh is at the Kookaburra Lounge in Hollywood. 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. Bassist Ryan Cross is at Delilah in West Hollywood. Pianist Richard Glaser is at The Barkley in South Pasadena. Pianist Michael LeVan is at Il Gatto in La Habra with vocalist Andrea Miller. The World Stage in South L.A. hosts the Rose Gales Vocal Jam Session. The Jelly Roll Jazz Band is at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. Guitarist Tom Collins is at the Ojai Pub in Ojai. The Hard Bop Ensemble is at The Copper Room in Yucca Valley. Guitarist Doug MacDonald leads a jazz jam at Z Club in Joshua Tree.  Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia has the afternoon brunch at the Urban Press Winery in Burbank.  Vocalist Lia Booth has the early jazz brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Vocalist Sandy Cummings does a brunch at SOhO in Santa Barbara. 2.0 has the Sunday brunch at Camila’s Jazz Club in Montclair.

Monday 1/27 – Jazz For Relief LA at The World Stage

Pianist Eric Reed leads a benefit at The World Stage in South L.A. for jazz musicians affected by the recent L.A. area fires with numerous other players including Ralph Moore, Teodross Avery, Danny Janklow, Dwight Trible, Mike Gurrola, LA Jazz Quartet, Scott Mayo & many more. Guitarist Jamie Kime is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Saxophonist Daniel Rotem is at The High Low in Atwater Village. The Tom Kubis Big Band is at the Gaslamp in Long Beach. Bassist Vincen Garcia is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Vocalist/guitarist Ron Artis II isat Spaghettini in Seal Beach. 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. Very Good Mondays is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Pianist Michael Peed is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Guitarist Cole Berliner is at Bub & Grandma’s in Eagle Rock.

Tuesday 1/28 – Brent Fischer Orchestra at Vibrato

Composer/arranger Brent Fischer leads an jazz orchestra at Vibrato in Bel Air with vocalists James Torme, Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim, and Nicole Zuratis. Basic Cable is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Gerald Clayton hosts the Tuesday Happenings Jam Session at Sam First near LAX. Trumpeter/vocalist Chris Norton is at La Puglia in Santa Monica. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Vocalist Keri Kelsey hosts an open mic at The Gardenia in West Hollywood. The Irvine Barclay Jazz Band is at The Drake in Laguna Beach with vocalist Crystal Clulee. Keyboardist Sam Barsh is at Shoo Shoo Baby in downtown L.A. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Pianist Mike Wofford is at the Manhattan in La Jolla. The Brig Band is at The Brig in Venice. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley hosts a jazz jam at General Lee’s in Chinatown. Pianist Matt Politano leads a breakfast jazz trio at Jones Coffee Roasters in Pasadena.

Wednesday 1/29 – Liz Cole at Catalina Jazz Club

Vocalist Liz Cole celebrates an album release at Catalina in Hollywood with Larry Koonse on guitar, Jacob Mann on piano, Jonathan Richards on bass, and Aaron Serfaty on drums. Pianist Otmaro Ruiz is at Vibrato in Bel Air with guest guitarist Lee Ritenour. Organist Brian Charette is at Sam First near LAX. Brazilian guitarist Filipe Rosset is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Guitarist/vocalist Rafael Moreira is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Maria Schafer is at Garcons De Cafe in downtown L.A. Trumpeter Keyon Harrold does an early afternoon program at the Grammy Museum in downtown L.A. Vocalist/pianist Christine Guter is at The Jazz Lounge in San Diego for the first of two nights (Wed-Thu). Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Pianist/vocalist Christopher Linman is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Justin Chart is at Gravitas in Beverly Hills. Pianist Michael LeVan is at Il Gatto in La Habra. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. The Barclay Theatre Jazz Band is at Bistango in Irvine.  Guitarist David Eastlee is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. The Soul Organ Trio is at Club 616 in Santa Ana. Keyboardist Brad Bietry hosts a happy hour open mic and jam session at The George in Pasadena. Pianist Kevin Tokarz plays a happy hour show at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Pianist Michael Peed is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego.  TUBOP is at Chapter One in Santa Ana.