Walter Smith III reunited with old Angeleno friends with a set at the Blue Whale that was impressive in that it reflected his growth not only as a composer, but as also a tenor sax player, as his sound and…
Category: Concert Reviews
Mike Stern/Dave Weckl Band@Catalina’s 12.13.18
The sparks were flying at Catalina’s Thursday night as the powerful front line provided by guitarist Mike Stern and drummer Dave Weckl gave the packed house 100 minutes of rocking modern jazz. Both gents are formidable leaders in their own…
Steve Gadd Band@Catalina’s 12.06.18
At 73 years young, drummer Steve Gadd continues to drink from the musical fountain of youth, as his band of Walter Fowler/tp-fh, Kevin Hays/key, Jimmy Johnson/b, Michael Landau/g and recent addition Duke Gadd/perc create music that brims over with fresh…
Dennis Quaid & The Sharks CD Release@The Village 12.04.18
While best known as an actor in many an acclaimed movie, Dennis Quaid showed that he’s also an adept travel agent, as he and his band The Sharks took the audience to the back roads of Louisiana Moose Lodges and…
America Salutes You Presents: Guitar Legends II @ The Novo 12.02.18
Using blues rockers as a means to drive up support and recognition for American veterans, firefighters and first responders, executive producer Bob Okun has put together a third annual fundraiser to give honor to our country’s true heroes. The 2+…
Luciana Souza@Royce Hall 12.01.18
Usually the mix of jazz and poetry conjures up images of beatniks reciting obscure lines with a background of freely improvised horns. As she demonstrated at Royce Hall Saturday night, vocalist Luciana Souza has completely transformed that concept, combining the…
The Jazz Bakery Presents Charles Lloyd & Gerald Clayton@The Moss Theater 11.24.18
Legendary Charles Lloyd and rising star Gerald Clayton proved that less can be a lot more, as the duo delivered a gorgeous 80 minute evening of post bop jazz sonatas that was the apotheosis of intimacy and musical conversation. The…
John Mayall@The Canyon Club 11.15.18
Most days, if you go hear an 85 year old musician play, it would probably be at the senior center or some nursing home, but last night at The Canyon Club the audience was treated to the legendary sounds of…
Elliot Deutch’s Big Band Cd Release Party@Vitello’s 11.06.18
It was fitting that local big band leader Elliot Deutsch chose to have his CD Release Party on Election Night, as the album title Make Big Band’s Great Again is a play on President Trump’s ubiquitous motto. Charming and enthused…
Pat Metheny@Royce Hall 10.26.18
If you’re a fan of jazz guitar, you’ve had quite a feast the past week plus, as the three major post-bop guitars have all come to town to display their own personal reasons for being such an influence to subsequent…