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…
Category: Concert Reviews
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…
Spencer Day & Jake Simpson w/ the Budman/Levy Orchestra 12.08.15
If there is a just and fair God in this world (and I believe there is), then something’s gotta be done about the fact that crooners like Spencer Day and Jake Simpson are not as well known as Mike Bubbles,…
Steve Gadd Band@Catalina’s 12-03-15
If it’s the groove that makes you move, then nothing will make you as glad as Gadd. Drummer Steve Gadd, who’s ridden the reigns for everyone from Steely Dan to Eric Clapton, brought his own swinging team of Michael Landau/g,…
John Pisano’s Guitar Night@Cody’s 12.01.15
You know it’s going to be a good jam session with LA guitar icon John Pisano when he’s with fellow picker Barry Zweig, and they don’t suggest songs to each other but only keys. Such was the evening at Viva…
The Anderson-Ponty Band@The Saban Theatre 11.20.15
During this time of people debating over what marriage actually is, it was refreshing to see a renewal of wedding vows between jazz and rock at the Saban that included the traditional old, new, borrowed and blue. Vocalist Jon Anderson,…