It sure feels nice to sit at a jazz club again and take in the scene. We fans are not alone, as tenor saxist Bob Reynolds identified with the audience by telling us “It’s a special moment for us as…
Category: Concert Reviews
THE BAKED POTATO OPENS UP!! Mike Miller Group@The Baked Potato 04.23.21
“It’s nice to see everybody. Hey, it’s nice to see ANYBODY!” While guitarist and leader Mike Miller joked these words as he played a jazz gig in LA for the first time in over a year, truer words were never…
YES! A JAZZ GIG!!! Melissa Morgan Quartet@SamFirst Bar 04.15.21
“I’m Melissa Morgan and I’m fully vaccinated!” So opened LA-based vocalist Melissa Morgan, mask-less and confident with her team of Sam Hirsh/p, Luca Alemanno/b and Kevin Kanner/dr for a streaming concert at SamFirst Bar. With all attendees either vaccinated or…
Tamir Hendelman@Streaming “Live” 08.01.20
While there are still no clubs in order to hear the great sounds of jazz artists, creative performers like pianist Tamir Hendelman provides us the best alternative with a series of solo “streaming” concerts in the privacy of his home.…
Steve Smith’s Vital Information @ Catalina’s 03.07.20
Steve Smith demonstrated to the enthusiastic crowd at Catalina’s and showed them why Modern Drummer magazine has voted him the “Best All Around Drummer” for the past five years. He and his band Vital Information delivered a 90 minute set…
Stacey Kent@Catalina’s 03.01.20
It’s been a gap of 14 albums and 17 years since Stacey Kent has grace the LA jazz scene, and the packed house with lines out to Sunset Blvd for both sets on Sunday night proved that she has been…
Gregory Porter@Royce Hall 02.07.20
In an age of acrimony and anger, it is refreshing to hear the baritone voice of Gregory Porter bringing messages reconciliation and hope that can only come from a worldview inculcated by his church background, as both his music and…
The Jazz Bakery Presents: Jeff Denson Trio w/ Brian Blade @ Moss Theater 02.05.20
After a week of political turmoil and acrimony that included impeachments and tearing up of The State of the Union address, it was refreshing to take in some harmonious sounds and symbiotic musical interplay by bassist Jeff Denson, as his…
Steve Gadd Band@Catalina’s 01.30.20
Legendary drummer Steve Gadd has had his band of Mike Landau/g, Jimmy Johnson/b, Kevin Hays/keys and Walt Fowler together for almost a decade (when they aren’t touring with James Taylor), and they have been p laying like a well tuned…
Larry Bernstein/Larry Goldings/Bill Stewart Trio @ Dazzle Jazz Club 01.23.20
The team of guitarist Larry Bernstein, B3er Larry Goldings and drummer Bill Stewart showed the packed Dazzle jazz club that there are major benefits to long term relationships. These three gents have been recording and performing together for three decades,…