I’m not going to publicly degrade any artist, but after watching a solo concert by Tony DeSare, I have to ask you in all honesty, why are people (and maybe even YOU) listening to that guy who’s last name rhymes…
Category: Concert Reviews
Brad Mehldau & Joshua Redman (or was it Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau)@ The Broad Stage 10.02.16
Now household worlds in the jazz scene, pianist Brad Mehldau and saxist Josh Redman have played with each other in a variety of concert and studio settings over the years. This reunion of sorts, documented on their luminous album Nearness,…
The Time Jumpers@Smothers Theatre 09.30.16
There’s nothing like a Western Swing band to show what’s wrong with both today’s Country Music and Jazz. As violinist Kenny Sears said at the beginning of the show, “We’re called the Time Jumpers because we play music that is…
David Sanborn & Dave Koz@Fred Kavli Theatre 08.21.16
Back in the day, Thousand Oaks used to be used as the background scenes for scores of TV and movie Westerns. On Sunday night at the Fred Kavli Theatre, Dave Koz and David Sanborn re-lived those golden moments with an…
Gipsy Kings & Galen Weston@The Greek Theatre 08.20.16
Under the stars, with guitars, guitars guitars… Acoustic or electric; six or twelve strings, nylon or wire, strummed or picked, the Greek had it for you Saturday night. Opening up the evening was Canadian guitarist Galen Weston delivering material from…
Jazz Bakery’s Movable Feast Presents: Paquito D’Rivera’s “Next Cuban Revolution” @ Zipper Hall 08.20.16
“There are three things Cubans can’t hide: coffee, money and jazz.” That was just a sample of the wise sayings that Paquito D’Rivera had to bestow on the audience during this night of musical education via lecture and sounds. A…
Chick Corea’s Elektric Band@Catalina’s 08.17.16
“Welcome to our first rehearsal!” So joked Chick Corea as he brought his all star Elektric Band to LA for only the second time. The week long gig is in celebration of the leader’s 75th birthday, and there was enough…
Quincy Jones Presents Alfredo Rodriguez@The Edye 08.12.16
As Quincy Jones stated before the concert, “Jazz got on the wrong track for awhile, but with Alfredo Rodriguez we’re taking it back to where it belongs.” If anyone knows how to make music connect with people, it’s the guy…
Jeff Beck@Chumash Casino 08.11.16
Jeff Beck is a wise man. At the Chumash Casino Thursday night, the 72 year old is following the best advice in keeping his mind, body and soul in shape. First, he’s slim and trim which keeps him flexible. In…
David Benoit@Scherr Theatre 08.04.16
Call it contemporary jazz, call it “smooth” call it “fusion,” but whatever you want to label it, David Benoit performed it, and performed it wonderfully during a solo piano concert at the acoustically adroit Scherr Theatre in Thousand Oaks. Jokingly…