When the progressive rock band Yes first set the standard for it’s genre, vocalist Jon Anderson was the youthful Bilbo Baggins of the group, with his alto voice a perfect foil for the complex themes and rhythms, as well as…
Category: Concert Reviews
Devin Daniels Quintet Album Release@Sam First Bar 08.09.24
For getting a pulse of what’s new and exciting in the LA jazz scene, no place captures it better than Sam First Bar. Not only do they provide a fertile soil for younger artists to get together and share ideas,…
Graham Dechter/Alex Frank Quartet@The Baked Potato 08.06.24
This is why I love the LA jazz scene… So, I just saw guitarist Graham Dechter and bassist Alex Frank a couple weeks ago at Sam First Bar, delivering comfort food bop with pianist Josh Nelson at the helm. Why…
Steve Gadd Band@Catalina’s 08.01.24
At the tender age of 79, Steve Gadd is one of the last living drummers who have influenced countless musicians in his wake. How many aspiring drummers were in attendance at his opening show at the packed Catalina’s is difficult…
The Baylor Project@The Sun Rose 07.25.24
You know that the evening at the Sun Rose is going to take music to its root when co-leader and drummer Marcus Baylor started and concluded the 90 minute set by asking the packed house “Let the church say ‘what’”?…
Dechter/Frank Quartet with Josh Nelson@Sam First Bar 07.19.24
One of the most uncompromising swinging groups in LA is that co-led by guitarist Graham Dechter and bassist Alex Frank, with drummer Kevin Kanner supplying the steady pulse. This night at Sam First Bar, the trio brought in one of…
The Barrelhouse Wailers@The Grape Ventura 07.13.24
So, when was the last time you saw couples dancing at a jazz gig? Yeah, that’s the point! One of the best features at The Grape Ventura is the once a month appearance of The Barrelhouse Wailers, and they pack…
Bob Reynolds@The Baked Potato 07.11.24
The thing that I always enjoy when going to see tenor saxist Bob Reynolds in concert is that I know that somewhere during the show he’s going to surprise me with something. Unlike many jazz musicians, Reynolds told me before…
Poncho Sanchez@The Lobero Theatre 06.28.24
This past week we’ve had two examples of how Latin music essentially saved jazz and modern music. At a time when today’s sounds seemingly desire to self destruct by inaccessible cacophony or cerebral naval gazing, last week’s show of Eliane…
John Escreet CD Release@ Sam First Bar 06.14.24
It was fitting that one of the songs during John Escreet’s 70 minute set at Sam First Bar included Andrew Hills, poetic and dreamy “Erato”. The impressionistic yet intricate theme, deftly breathed out by Mark Turner/ts , brushed by Damion…