Pianist Jason Moran created a bona fide dance party at CSUN, even preparing a dance pit for the audience join in on the celebration of Fats Waller’s music Tuesday night. Opening with his trio of the snappy Charles Haynes/dr and…
Category: Concert Reviews
AMEN! The Jones Family Singers@Smothers Theatre 02.05.16
Well, the Smothers Theatre may not have been completely filled with people on Friday night, but it sure was filled with the Holy Spirit, as the Jones Family Gospel Singers came into town and created a mighty army that would…
Dave Weckl Acoustic Band@Catalina’s 01.28.16
The name of Dave Weckl’s band may be called “acoustic,” but the 100 minute set by the drummer’s team of Gary Meek/ts-ss, Makoto Ozone/p-B3 and Tom Kennedy/b sure didn’t seem lacking in electricity, as the band delivered material that swung…
Lee Ritenour@Catalina’s 01.21.16
About to embark on a European tour, legendary guitarist Lee Ritenour filled Catalina’s with a set that included material from his latest album A Twist Of Rit, which also summarized the attitude of the evening, as the leader mixed up…
Tommy Emmanuel@Smothers Theatre 01.19.16
Tommy Emmanuel’s latest album is called It’s Never Too Late, and the famed guitarist demonstrated how appropriate that title is, as he welcomed the packed Smothers Theatre into his world of music and worldview. The opening act, The Wisherkeepers was…
Jazz Bakery’s “Moveable Feast” Presents: Jeremy Pelt’s Power Quintet@Moss Theatre 01.10.16
Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt put the “POW” into his “Power Quintet” on a crisp Sunday night at the Moss Theatre. Promoting his upcoming album #JIVECULTURE, he delivered a sneak preview with the all star lineup of Steve Nelson/vib, Danny Grissett/p, Peter…
Gilad Hekselman Trio@ The Blue Whale 01.08.16
For guitar fans, Gilad Hekselman showed his bridge linking the past to the future of the six strings as he showed up with the simpatico team of Dave Robaire/b and Jonathan Pinson/dr to deliver material from his latest album Home…
Kirsten Edkins CD Release@The Blue Whale 12-28-15
You know it’s going to be a cozy night at The Blue Whale when the release of the debut album by saxist Kirsten Edkins has mom at the front door greeting each member of the audience and dad in the…
Jazz Bakery’s “Moveable Feast” Presents: Lionel Loueke Trio@Musician’s Institute 12.12.15
This concert was advertised stating that “this trio opens a powerful new Loueke chapter,” and it was truth in advertising on this crisp Advent night as guitarist Lionel Loueke performed material from his latest album Gaia with a new sound…
Steve Coleman Residency@The Blue Whale 12.09.15
The sign by the front door at the Blue Whale reads “Steve Coleman Advanced Intensive Workshop,” reflecting the goal of the famed alto saxist. This month Coleman has been donating his time and energies in Los Angeles going to schools…