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…
Category: Concert Reviews
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…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Owen Broder: Hodges-Front and Center Volume Two
Alto saxist Owen Broder continues to create albums in tribute to famed Ellingtonian Johnny Hodges, but this time focusing on two landmark small group albums Hodges was featured on, Back to Back and Side By Side. He’s joined by like…
Tedeschi Trucks Band and Little Feat @ The Greek 06.09.24
Two bands that are carrying on a legacy, one sticking to one’s lane, and the other looking for other worlds. Opening up things was the venerable and respected Little Feat, which has always been considered a “musician’s band” during its…
Lao Tizer Band@Triunfo Community Park 06.08.24
Yes, there is a local jazz scene, and there are local jazz artists for the Thousand Oaks area. In other words, the musical culture here does not only consist of tributes to Neil Diamond, Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac. One…