“I never thought I’d still be here after 40 years, but that’s another story,” joked legendary guitarist Al DiMeola, as his band delivered a 2 score anniversary celebration of the classic Elegant Gypsy album. The packed house was treated to…
Category: Concert Reviews
Kyle Eastwood Quintet@Blue Whale 09.09.17
While Kyle Eastwood may be better known for his composing skills, with movies like Gran Torino and Mystic River to his credit, what filled The Blue Whale was his allegiance to assertive hard bop, as he his long standing team…
Larry Calton@The Saban Theatre 09.03.17
You knew that the music was going to be heaven sent when the opening song was The Lord’s Prayer and the encore was composed by a guy who’s name means “holy.” Guitarist Larry Carlton returned to his musical hometown after…
Steve Winwood@Chumash Casino 09.01.17
Through a career that has spanned 50+ years in bands including The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith, Steve Winwood showed during his 110 minute show at the packed Chumash Casino that he is above all things, a jazzer…
Russell Malone Quartet@The Blue Whale 08.31.17
While it may have been about 104 degrees outside for the beginning of the Labor Day weekend, it was even hotter inside the Blue Whale, as guitarist Russell Malone turned up the Butanes and scorched the club with incendiary swinging…
John Mayall Trio@The Broad Stage 08.25.17
Halfway through the 2 hour concert, John Mayall summed up the recently played song as well as his 50+ year career as he exuded “That’s the blues, man!” The 4 score and 3 year Bluesbreaker has more energy than artists…
Ben Williams Presents “The Writers’ Block”@The Blue Whale 08.02.17
Bassist Ben Williams joked that his concept of “Writers’ Block” didn’t come from the inability to create new music. Far from it, said Pat Metheny’s bassist. “Think of this more like a Block Party for writers,” he explained, as almost…
J.D. Souther @ The Rose 07.27.17
While not technically a jazz musician per se, singer/songwriter J.D. Souther showed the audience at the richly acoustic Rose Theater that he has a jazzer’s heart. Growing up in Texas and imbibing the sounds of Big Band Swing and bebop,…
Buddy Guy & Quinn Sullivan@The Canyon Club 07.26.17
If the original 1957 Gunfight at OK Corral was only filmed a few miles away, the spirit of the gunslingers was in full force as the new Fastest Gun in the West, Quinn Sullivan, met up with the veteran 6…
Miles Mosley@Grammy Museum 07.20.17
At the Grammy Museum Thursday night, without saying so directly, Miles Mosley spent the evening in both conversation and music giving ample evidence that he is able to be the man that can bridge the gap between popular music and…