About & Out – What’s Hot In SoCal Jazz – Week Of August 10, 2026

SoCal jazz highlights this week include Esperanza Spalding, Roy McCurdy, Ferenc Nemeth, Sullivan Fortner, Jay Jennings, Michael Feinstein, Logan Richardson, Dayramir Gonzalez, Doug Webb, Nolan Shaheed, Stanley Jordan, Abandoned Jukebox, Joshua White, and Banned From Utopia.

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 8/10 – Doug Webb at The Baked Potato

Saxophonist Doug Webb is at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the first of two nights (Mon-Tue) with Tool drummer Danny Carey, plus Mitchel Forman on keys, Jimmy Earl on bass, and Jamie Kime on guitar. Abandoned Jukebox is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. Pianist Christina Galisatus is at Bub & Grandma’s in Eagle Rock. Guitarist/vocalist Rory Glassford is at The High Low in Atwater Village. Guitarist Terry Wollman is at the Festival Of Arts 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. 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. Vibraphonist Ian Harland leads a jam session at the Charade Speakeasy in San Diego. Saxophonist Nicole McCabe leads a student jam session at the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica.

Tuesday 8/11 – Logan Richardson at 2220 Arts + Archives

Saxophonist Logan Richardson hosts an evening of top saxophonists at 2220 Arts + Archives in downtown L.A. featuring Bennie Maupin, Ralph Moore, Steve Lehman, and Teodross Avery. Saxophonist Doug Webb is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Pianist Gerald Clayton hosts the Tuesday Happenings Jam Session at Sam First near LAX. The Billy Vera Big Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air with vocalist Tamela D’Amico. Guitarist Alfredo Cáceres is at Visionarium in South Pasadena. The Glenn Miller Orchestra is at the Redlands Bowl in Redlands. The Irvine Barclay Jazz Band is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Big Time Operator 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. 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. The Irvine Barclay Jazz Band is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Jumpin’ Joz is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Pianist/guitarist Carlos Velasco is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Pianist Matt Politano leads a breakfast jazz trio at Jones Coffee Roasters in Pasadena.

Wednesday 8/12 – Esteban Adame at Catalina Jazz Club

Pianist Esteban Adame leads a quartet in the music of Horace Silver at Catalina in Hollywood. Guitarist Stanley Jordan is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. Pianist Dayramir Gonzalez is at Lou Lou’s in San Diego. Saxophonist Carlo Alfonso is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Trumpeter Nicolaus Gelin is at Sam First near LAX. Saxophonist Doug Webb is at 1881 in Pasadena. Vocalist Meloney Collins is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. The LA Jazz Society sponsors a meet and hang at at the Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge in downtown L.A. The Jazz Sundials are at The Grape in Ventura. Vocalist Christena Rich is at Vibrato in Bel Air with guitarist Laurence Juber. Drummer Tom Dante is at the Knolls Restaurant in Laguna Niguel with vocalist Lia Booth. Vocalist Elena & guitarist George Gilliam are at Mozambique in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Justin Chart is at Zaya in downtown L.A. Guitarist David Eastlee is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. 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.

Thursday 8/13 – Ferenc Nemeth at Sam First

Drummer Ferenc Nemeth is at Sam First near LAX with Ruslan Sirota on piano and Daniel Roem on sax. Pianist Sullivan Fortner is at The Conrad in La Jolla.  Banned from Utopia plays the music of Frank Zappa at The Baked Potato in Studio City for the first of two nights (Thu-Fri). Drummer Tim Rachbach is at the Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge in downtown L.A. Vocalist Judith Hill is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. Trumpeter Jay Jennings is at Montauk in Redondo Beach. Keyboardist Brandon Coleman is at The Sun Rose in West Hollywood. Blanco Diablo is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. The Kimba Collective is at Catalina in Hollywood. Drummer Malachi Watson is at the Hammer Museum in Westwood.  Pianist/vocalist Marina Pacowski is at The Grape in Ventura.  Pianist Joshua White is at The Merc in Temecula. Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo. Funny Bones is at Campus Jax in Newport Beach. Bassist Mauricio Morales is at the Cascade Lounge in Palm Springs. Guitarist Pat Kelley is at The Grand On State Street in Santa Barbara. Guitarist Nadav Peled is at Bar Bacari in Sherman Oaks. Drummer James Yoshizawa is at Bar Bacari in Silverlake. Drummer Julien Cantelm is at Bar Bacari North Park in San Diego. The Secret Agents with vocalist Mark Kopitzke are at Roost 374 in San Clemente. Saxophonist Danny Gonzalez is at Lou Lou’s in San Diego. 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 Doug MacDonald is at Edwin Mills in Palm Springs. 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. 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. Pianist Kevin Tokarz is at Eddie V’s in Palm Desert. Vocalist Kaylee Daugherty is at Harbor & Sky in San Diego. Saxophonist Adrienne Nims is at Ki’s Restaurant in Cardiff. Vocalist Mercedes Moore does a happy hour show at California English in San Diego.

Friday 8/14 – Esperanza Spalding at 2220 Arts + Archives

Bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding is at 2220 Arts + Archives in downtown L.A. Drummer Roy McCurdy is at Sam First near LAX. Trumpeter Nolan Shaheed is at the Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge in downtown L.A. Pianist Joshua White is at LACMA in West L.A. Pianist Dayramir Gonzalez is at The Grape in Ventura.  Brazilian guitarist Guinga and vocalist Anna Paes are at 2220 Arts+ Archives in downtown L.A.  Banned from Utopia plays the music of Frank Zappa at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Woodwind player Myles Prower plays the music of Billy Strayhorn at Catalina in Hollywood. Bassist Emma Dayhuff is at Motivo LA in Atwater Village. Vocalist Brenna Whitaker is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo. Trombonist Khristian Foreman is at the Townhouse in Venice. Vocalist Sacha Boutros is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Guitarist Peter White and saxophonists Vincent Ingala and Euge Groove are at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach. Guitarist Zo Shah is at Bar Bacari North Park in San Diego. Vocalists Matt Forbes and Jesse Goddard are at The Dresden in Los Feliz. Saxophonist Steve Cole is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Mercedes Moore is at Golden Island in San Diego. Pianist Adam Wolff is at the Black Rail Kitchen & Bar in Carlsbad. Guitarist Doug MacDonald is at the Truffle Bistro in Orange. Drummer Joel Taylor is at 1881 in Pasadena. Vocalist Grace Fae & The Grandbirds are at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. The SoCal Jazz Collective is at the OC Fish Grill in Irvine. Trumpeter Chris Lawrence III is at Bar Bacari in Sherman Oaks. Bassist Teddy Bang is at the Culver Hotel in Culver City. Guitarist Dusty Brough is at Bar Bacari in Culver City. Vocalist Chloe Perrier is at Cicada in downtown L.A. Vocalist Kaylee Daugherty is at the Hilton Coastal Cantina in Del Mar. Vocalist Cynthia Gonzalez is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Vocalist Leigh Vance is at The Grand On State Street in Santa Barbara. The Woody James Legacy Big Band plays an afternoon show at the Mayflower Club in North Hollywood.

Saturday 8/15 – Roy McCurdy at Sam First

Drummer Roy McCurdy is at Sam First near LAX for the second of two nights (Fri-Sat) with Rickey Woodard on sax, Michael Wolff on piano, and Mike Gurrola on bass. Organist Brian Charette is at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Saxophonist Joshua Christian Childress is at the Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge in downtown L.A. Ethio-Cali is at Grand Performances in downtown L.A. Trumpeter Tatiana Tate is at The Sun Rose in West Hollywood. Bassist Stu Hamm is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Guitarist Jonathan Stout is at Boulevard Music in Culver City with vocalist Hilary Alexander. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal plays an afternoon show at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Julie Kelly is at Desert Rose in Los Feliz. Vocalist Amanda Castro is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Sharon Marie Cline is at Montauk in Redondo Beach. Vocalist Marina Pacowski is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. Pino Noir is at Bar Bacari in Culver City. Drummer/vocalist Dave Tull is at Eddie V’s in El Segundo. Bassist Philip Chuah is at Bar Bacari in Silverlake. Incendio is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Vocalist Chante Moore is at the Thornton Winery in Temecula with saxophonist Jackiem Joyner and flutist Althea Rene. Bassist Julian Esparza is at Bar Bacari North Park in San Diego. Guitarist/vocalist Daryl Darden is at The World Stage in South L.A. Vocalist Teri Bond is at Visionarium in South Pasadena. Vocalist Janet Orsi & The Akustakats are at the Alza Italian Kitchen in Rancho Santa Margarita. Drummer/vocalist Bryan Cabrera is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vocalist Cobby Brzeski is at Books & Records in San Diego. Pianist John Opferkuch is is at the Black Rail Kitchen & Bar in Carlsbad. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. 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. Vocalist Mercedes Moore is at Cicada in downtown L.A. Black Diamonds are at Azo Vino in Covina. Pianist Eric Scott Reed leads an afternoon workshop at The World Stage in South L.A. Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia does a brunch gig at Brightside California Kitchen in Santa Monica. The Randy Van Horne Singers do a brunch at Visionarium in South Pasadena.

Sunday 8/16 – YaYennings Quartet at The Baked Potato

Trumpeter Jay Jennings is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Andrew Renfroe on guitar, Corbin Jones on bass, and Myles Martin on drums . Pianist/vocalist Michael Feinstein is at The United Theater in downtown L.A. Trumpeter Joshua Brown opens for drummer Kevin Kanner’s jazz jam at The Mint in West L.A. Pianist Judy Carmichael is at the Norris Pavilion in Rolling Hills Estates for a late afternoon show. Vocalist Val Monroe is at The Jazz Salon in downtown L.A. Saxophonist Charlie Arbelaez is at Tio Leo’s Lounge in San Diego. Guitarist Patrick Yandall is at Humphrey’s Backstage in San Diego. Keyboardist Andre Bernier is at Venice West in Venice. Bassist Rob Thorsen is at Lou Lou’s in San Diego. Drummer/vocalist Bryan Cabrera is at The Drake in Laguna Beach with pianist Ron Kobayashi. 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. Vocalist Salvador Padilla is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego with pianist Carlos Velasco. 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. The ESP Jazz Collective hosts an open jam at the Black Rail Kitchen & Bar in Carlsbad. Very Good Sunday is at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood. The Santa Ana Swingers play a happy hour show at Club 616 in Santa Ana. Drummer Jorg Dubin plays a jazz brunch at the Zinc Cafe in Laguna Beach. Saxophonist Justin Chart has the early brunch at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.

Monday 8/17 – Dave Hill at The Baked Potato

Guitarist Dave Hill is at The Baked Potato in Studio City with Gregg Karukas on keys, David Hughes on bass, Rand Singer on sax, and Dave Anderson on drums. Bassist Seth Ford-Young and guitarist Luca Pino are at Bub & Grandma’s in Eagle Rock. Drummer Tim Rachbach is at The High Low in Atwater Village. Vocalist Magnus Ferrell is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood for the first of two nights (Mon-Tue). Guitarist Brad Rabuchin is at Sun Space in Shadow Hills. 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 keyboardist Sam Barsh. 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. Pianist Adam Wolff is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Flutist Lori Bell plays a noon show at the Athenauem Library in La Jolla.

Tuesday 8/18 – John Pizzarelli at Bistango

Guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli is at Bistango in Irvine for the first of two nights (Tue-Wed). Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia & The Moment are at the Birds Of A Feather Jazz Lounge in downtown L.A. Trumpeter Elliot Deutch’s Pandemonium Big Band is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Vocalist Magnus Ferrell is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. Drummer Gorden Campbell is at The Mint in West L.A. Trumpeter/vocalist Matt Von Roderick is at The Drake in Laguna Beach. Vibraphonist Chris Stevens does a happy hour show at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. Jumpin’ Joz is at Edwin Mills in Pasadena. 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. 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. Sound Dhaba hosts a Latin Jazz jam night in downtown L.A. Pianist Matt Politano leads a breakfast jazz trio at Jones Coffee Roasters in Pasadena. The Baked Potato in Studio City features a four-act Showcase Night.

Wednesday 8/19 – Herbie Hanock Celebrates Miles Davis At 100 at The Hollywood Bowl

Pianist Herbie Hancock celebrates the music of Miles Davis with a band including trumpeter Terence Blanchard, bassists Ron Carter, Christian McBride, and Marcus Miller, saxophonist Kenny Garrett, and arranger Vince Mendoza. Saxophonist Donald Harrison is at Blue Note LA in Hollywood. Drummer Charles Ruggiero is at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Vocalist Kenny Washington is at Sam First near LAX. Guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli is at Bistango in Irvine. The Buddy Rich Big Band Machine is at Vibrato in Bel Air. Saxophonist Alex Rashad is at Tuning Fork in Studio City. Pianist Taylor Lee is at Sound Dhaba in downtown L.A. Vocalist Gavin Braun offers a tribute to Frank Sinatra at Catalina in Hollywood. Pianist Mikan Zlatkovich is at The Manhattan in La Jolla. 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. Pianist/guitarist Carlos Velasco is at Il Sogno Italiano in San Diego. Collage in San Pedro hosts an open jazz jam.