About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – Week Of April 27, 2026

About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – Week Of April 27, 2026

April ends and May opens with a SoCal jazz week including Take 6, Hiromi, Doug Webb, Andrew Synowiec, Angélique Kidjo, Erc Johnson, Ralph Moore, Thom Rotella, Nolan Shaheed, Michael Ragonese, Michelle Coltrane, Dafnis Prieto, Lucia, Lucy Khanyan, Stu Hamm, and Theo Saunders.

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, especially around holidays. The LAjazz.com Quick Calendar lists events and showtimes three days in advance on the LAjazz.com home page.

Monday 4/27 – Alexander Noice at The High Low

Guitarist Alexander Noice is at The High Low in Atwater Village. The Tom Kubis Big Band is at the Gaslamp in Long Beach. Vocalist Andrea Miller is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Percussionist Poncho Sanchez is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. The KoMaGa Trio is at SOhO in Snata Barbara. Phatback Earl & Me is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Jay Israelson is at Bub & Grandma’s in Eagle Rock. Guitarist Carlos Velasco 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. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Very Good Mondays is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood with bassist Hadrien Feraud. The Hot Club Of Los Angeles is at the Cinema Bar in Culver City. Vibraphonist Ian Harland leads a jam session at the Charade Speakeasy in San Diego.

Tuesday 4/28 – Doug Webb at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Doug Webb is at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the first of two nights (Tue-Wed) with Mitchel Forman on keys, Jame Kime on guitar, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Danny Carey on drums. Saxophonist Devin Daniels hosts the Tuesday Happenings jam session at Sam First near LAX. Saxophonist John Lindsay is at Visionarium in South Pasadena. Trombonists Joey Sellers and Ryan Dragon are at the Saddleback McKinney Theatre in Mission Viejo. Guitarist Angelo Metz is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Vocalist Courtney Lemmon is at La Puglia 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 Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Guitarist Louis Valenzuela is at Madison On Park in San Diego. Pianist Edward Gabrielyan is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. Bassist Teddy Bang is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. Vocalist Slim Man is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Pianist Michael Peed is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Pianist Matt Politano leads a breakfast jazz trio at Jones Coffee Roasters in Pasadena.

Wednesday 4/29 – Lucy Khanyan at Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge

Armenian pianist Lucy Khanyan is at the Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge in downtown L.A. with Alfredo Lopez on bass and Movses Ebejyan on drums. Saxophonist Doug Webb is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist David Arnay is at 1881 in Pasadena. Guitarist Riner Scivally is at Visionarium in South Pasadena. The Dirty Work Big Band is at Dreamland in Malibu. Los Compadres is at TRiP in Santa Monica. The Buena Vista Orchestra is at Belly Up in Solana Beach. Pianist Adam Wolff is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. Guitarist Angelo Metz is at Native Fields in Walnut. TUBOP is at Chapter One in Santa Ana. Sylvia & The Rhythm Boys are at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. The Soul Organ Trio is at Club 616 in Santa Ana. Guitarist Doug MacDonald leads a jazz jam at the Z Club in Joshua Tree. College jazz bands from CalArts and USC are at Sam First near LAX. Vocalist Debby Boone is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Ellen Warkentine is at Garcons De Cafe in downtown L.A. Guitarist Scotty Bramer is at Guenther’s Lounge in Murrieta.

Thursday 4/30 – Take 6 at Blue Note LA

Vocal group Take 6 begins a four-night (Thu-Sun) run at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. Guitarist Andrew Synowiec is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Drummer Dafnis Prieto is at Sam First near LAX. Pianist Brian Clemens leads a big band at Campus Jax in Newport Beach with vocalist Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim. The California JazzPops Orchestra us at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Lucia is at the Music Academy Of The West in Santa Barbara. Drummer Leo Vigil is at Jojo’s Hideaway in Tustin with a band including guitarist Dean Parks. Pianist Irving Flores is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Vocalist Aaron Jacobs & The Swing Tones are at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist Zane Johnson is at Montauk in Redondo Beach. Saxophonist Charlie Arbelaez and flutist Holly Hofmann are at Lou Lou’s in San Diego. Vocalist Allison Adams Tucker is at Dizzy’s in San Diego. Guitarist Doug MacDonald plays the music of Billie Holiday at the Cascade Lounge in Palm Springs. Guitarist Peter Sprague is at The Merc in Temecula. The Two Trees Jazz Project is at The Grape in Ventura. Drummer/vocalist Tony Jones is at the First Church of Christ Scientist in Pasadena. Drummer James Yoshizawa is at Bar Bacari in Silverlake. Pianist/vocalist Christopher Linman is at the Langham Hotel Tap Room in Pasadena. Guitarist Mitchell Long is at Divina Cucina in Montrose. Four And More are at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. Guitarist Dave Askren 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.   Saxophonist Billy T & The Fam are at The Dresden in Los Feliz.  Sylvia & The Rhythm Boys are at Meet In Paris Restaurant & Lounge in Culver City.   Pianist Richard Turner is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells.   Saxophonist Pascal Valcasara is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City.   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. Jazz Noir is at the Biltmore Hotel Gallery Bar in downtown L.A.   Bassist Leslie Baker is at Visionarium in South Pasadena. Saxophonist Mike Whitman is at Roost 374 in San Clemente. Pianist Sue Palmer plays an afternoon show at California English in San Diego. Pianist Kevin Tokarz is at Eddie V’s in Palm Desert.

Friday 5/1 – Hiromi’s Sonic Wonder at the Orpheum Theatre

Pianist Hiromi brings her Sonic Wonder group to the Orpheum Theatre in downtown L.A. with Hadrien Feraud on bass, Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, and Gene Coye on drums. Pianist Michael Ragonese is at the Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge in downtown L.A. Vocalist Michelle Coltrane kicks off the 2026 Friday Night Jazz Series at LACMA in West L.A. Bassist Stu Hamm is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Theo Saunders is at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center. Vocalist Melissa Morgan is at Sam First near LAX. Flutist Nestor Torres is at the Soka Performing Asrts Center in Aliso Viejo. Take 6 is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. Vocalist Lucia is at The Conrad in La Jolla. Estilo Y Gracia is at Lou Lou’s in San Diego. Pianist Alex Minasian is at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Indioan Wells. Vocalist Luke Carlsen & The Fresh Rhythm are at Vibrato in Bel Air. Pianist/vocalists Aimee Nolte and John Proulx play the music of Chet Baker at The Jazz Lounge in San Diego. Saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree is at Industry Cafe & Jazz in Culver City. Vocal group Street Corner Renaissance is at Catalina in Hollywood with guest vocalist Windy Barnes. Vocalist Sheree Brown is at The World Stage in South L.A. Vocalist Janice Anderson is at the Canyon Bistro in Topanga. Vocalist Kaylee Daugherty is at Books & Records in San Diego. Pianist Adam Wolff is at Golden Island in San Diego. Jazzz Peeeple is at The Grape in Ventura. The SoCal Jazz Collective is at the OC Fish Grill in Irvine. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells with vocalist Chris Bennett. Trumpeter Chris Lawrence III is at Bar Bacari in Sherman Oaks. Bassist Teddy Bang is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. San Lyon is at Cicada in downtown L.A. Guitarist Dusty Brough is at Bar Bacari in Culver City. The Catalina Combo is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Drummer Perry Ostrin is at The Crush Pad in Pasadena. The Woody James Legacy Big Band plays an afternoon show at the Mayflower Club in North Hollywood.

Saturday 5/2 – Ralph Moore at Sam First

Saxophonist Ralph Moore is at Sam First near LAX with a quartet including Eric Scott Reed on piano and Luca Alemanno on bass. Guitarist Thom Rotella is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trumpeter Nolan Shaheed is at the Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge in downtown L.A. Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band is at the Jacobs Center in San Diego. Take 6 is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. The Choi Cunliffe Big Band plays an afternoon show at Woodbridge Park in Studio City. Pianist/accordionist Severin Behnen is at Collage in San Pedro. Calycosa is at The World Stage in South L.A. Pianists Jonathan Cohen and John Opferkuch are at The Jazz Lounge in San Diego. Guitarist Mark Carter is at Azo Vino in Covina. Keyboardist Nathan Mitchell is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Mercedes Moore is at Books & Records in San Diego. Guitarist Albert Hurtado is at the Black Rail Kitchen & Bar in Carlsbad. The Euphoria Brass Band is at Panama 66 in San Diego. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at Vicky’s Of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Pianist David Moscoe is at The Dresden in Los Feliz. Drummer Peter Buck is at the Queensview Steakhouse at Parker’s Lighthouse in Long Beach. The Jazztown Band is at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Park. Drummer Izzak Weatherwax is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at Palmina By Puglia in Palm Springs. Vocalist Ed Romero is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. The Esquires Big Band is at Cicada in downtown L.A. Alligator Beach is at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica. Drummer Jake Tompkins is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Pianist Eric Scott Reed leads an afternoon workshop at The World Stage in South L.A. Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia does a morning brunch gig at Brightside California Kitchen in Santa Monica. The Randy Van Horne Singers do a brunch at Visionarium in South Pasadena. The Garners play a brunch at California English in San Diego.

Sunday 5/3 – Santa Monica International Jazz Festival at Third Street Promenade

The Santa Monica international Jazz Festival kicks off with an all-day event at the Third Street Promenade including Genevieve Artadi, Instant Alter, and Billy Mohler. Vocalist Angélique Kidjo is at The Conrad in La Jolla. Guitarist Eric Johnson is at The Grove Of Anaheim. Drummer Paul Peress is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Take 6 is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. The Herbie Hancock Institute Jazz Ensemble opens for drummer Kevin Kanner’s jazz jam at The Mint in West L.A. Vocalist Sharon Marie Cline is at the Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Nicole McCabe is at Lou Lou’s in San Diego. Vocalist Tony Gil is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Drummer/vocalist Bryan Cabrera is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Ian Tordella is at Tio Leo’s Lounge in San Diego. Vocalist Anita Robles celebrates a birthday with an afternoon show at Rio Zonas Acai in North Hollywood. Keyboardist/vocalist Freddie Ravel is at Vibrato in Bel Air. The ESP Jazz Collective is at the Black Rail Kitchen & Bar in Carlsbad. Guitarist Ken Song is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Guitarist Jacques Lesure is at Lavender Blue in Inglewood. Bassist Ryan Cross is at Delilah in West Hollywood. Pianist Richard Glaser is at The Barkley in South Pasadena. Guitarist Matthew Yeakley is at Cafe Tondo in Chinatown. The Richie In The Pocket Big Band is at Big Jim’s Family Restaurant in Sun Valley. 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. Drummer Jorg Dubin is at the Zinc Cafe in Laguna Beach. The Hard Bop Ensemble is at The Copper Room in Yucca Valley. The Santa Ana Swingers play a happy hour show at Club 616 in Santa Ana. Vocalist Lia Booth has the early brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Bassist Adam Cohen plays a jazz brunch at Visionarium in South Pasadena. The Crossroads School sponsors a jazz brunch at Catalina in Hollywood.

Monday 5/4 – Pat Metheny at Walt Disney Hall

Guitarist Pat Metheny is at Walt Disney Hall in downtown L.A. with Chris Fishman on keys, Jermaine Paul on bass, Joe Dyson on drums, and leaonard Patton on vocals/percussion. Bassist/vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. Keyboardist Jordan Seigel is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Bassist Billy Mohler is at The High Low in Atwater Village. 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. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Eddie V’s in San Diego. Very Good Mondays is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood. The Hot Club Of Los Angeles is at the Cinema Bar in Culver City. Vibraphonist Ian Harland leads a jam session at the Charade Speakeasy in San Diego. Guitarist Peter Sprague plays a noon show at the Athenaeum Library in La Jolla. The SBCC Big Band is at SOhO in Santa Barbara.

Tuesday 5/5 – Eric Revis at Sam First

Bassist Eric Revis plays the music of Charles Mingus at Sam First near LAX with Teodross Avery on sax, Dan Rosenboom on trumpet, Joshua White on piano, and Clarence Penn on drums. Guitarist Pat Metheny is at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. Vocalist Lucia is at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach. Vocalist Janis Mann is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Bassist/vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. Vocalist Lia Booth is at La Puglia in Santa Monica. Trumpeter/vocalist Matt Von Roderick is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Anne Walsh is at the Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach. Pianist Sue Palmer is at Tio Leo’s Lounge in San Diego. 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. Vocalist Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room in Palm Springs. Guitarist Louis Valenzuela is at Madison On Park in San Diego. Pianist Edward Gabrielyan is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. Bassist Teddy Bang is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. Pianist Michael Peed is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Los Compadres is at TRiP in Santa Monica. Pianist Matt Politano leads a breakfast jazz trio at Jones Coffee Roasters in Pasadena.

Wednesday 5/6 – Bilal at Blue Note LA

Vocalist Bilal is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood for the first of two nights (Wed-Thu). Keyboardist Scott Kinsey is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trumpeter/vocalist Benny Benack III is at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach for the first of tweo nights (Wed-Thu). Bassist/vocalist Meshell Ndgeocello is at the Epstein Family Amphitheater in San Diego. Pianist Michael Orenstein is at Sam First near LAX. Pianist/vocalist Christopher Linman is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Guitarist David Eastlee is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. Guitarist Angelo Metz is at Native Fields in Walnut. TUBOP is at Chapter One in Santa Ana. Sylvia & The Rhythm Boys are at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. The Soul Organ Trio is at Club 616 in Santa Ana. The Flight 584 Big Band is at The Mayflower Club in North Hollywood. Guitarist Doug MacDonald leads a jazz jam at the Z Club in Joshua Tree. Saxophonist Bryan McCann is at Cafe Fiore in Ventura.