Drummer Antonio Sanchez’s two hour concert at the intimate Great Hall at the Saraya showed that one doesn’t need to use speeches to get social messages across. His Migration band of John Escreet/key, Matt Brewer/b, Chase Baird/ts-ewi and Thana Alexa/voc…
Category: Concert Reviews
Martin Barre Band @ Bogies 03.10.19
Since leaving Jethro Tull and carving his own niche, famed guitarist Martin Barre showed (to play with the lines from one of the evening’s songs) that it was a old day, yesterday, but a new day now. Barre, with his…
Jazz Bakery Presents: Kenny Werner & Gregoire Maret’s Salute to Toots Thielemans @ Moss Theater 02.01.19
The sensitive souls of pianist Kenny Werner and harmonica player Gregoire Maret gave a 110 minute tribute to the legendary Toots Thielemans Friday night that mixed rich sounds, playful improvisations and an irresistible lyricism. Werner joked that Maret was Thielemans’…
Van Morrison @ The Wiltern 02.05.19
At 73, Van Morrison is going through a musical renaissance, and like the original Renaissance, he is accomplishing it by returning to the foundations and “first love” of his musical civilization, the jump blues of the 50s. With a swinging…
The Wrecking Crew Remembers Glen Campbell @ Bogie’s Bar 01.27.19
“Usually, we travel to go and see history. How often does a piece of history come to see you? Apt was the introduction by Bogie’s Bar owner Ken Greene as he set the tone for the 90 minute tribute to…
Gilad Hekselman Trio @ The Blue Whale 01.25.19
Guitarist Gilad Hekselman’s returned from over a year absence from The Blue Whale, using the occasion to celebrate the release of his latest album Ask For Chaos. Teamed with bassist Dave Robaire and album-mate drummer Jonathan Pinson, Hekselman showed the…
George Garzone w/ Peter Erskine Trio@Sam First 01.18.19
It’s not often that you get to witness the creator of a style of music, but the packed house at Sam First got the opportunity to hear Boston-based tenor saxist and educator George Garzone, the initiator of the “Triadic Chromatic”…
Daniel Rotem Ensemble featuring John Beasley@The Blue Whale 01.11.19
With two new albums recently released, local tenor saxist Daniel Rotem refuses to sit still. He demonstrated the fertile ground of the local LA jazz scene Friday night by presenting a whole fresh batch of material and a new group…
Denny Seiwell Trio@Bogies Bar 01.08.19
“It’s magic when we play together” So gleamed drummer and leader Denny Seiwell, best known for his work with Paul McCartney’s Wings as he brought together his jazz organ combo of guitarist John Chiodini and Hammond man Joe Bagg for…
John Legend’s “Legendary Christmas” @ Microsoft Theater 12.23.18
So, my 29 year old daughter reprimands me, “Dad, you’ve got to get out of your narrow horizons and check out John Legend. He’s like a perfect combination of Nat “King” Cole and Marvin Gaye, with a dash of Sam…