Celebrating 74 ½ years on earth and 50 of them in the “ministry of music,” multi Grammy winner Al Jarreau spent an evening at the Grammy Museum discussing his latest album My Old Friend and it’s inspiration, the musical and…
Category: Concert Reviews
Chick Corea & The Vigil @Catalina’s 08.12.14
When you take in a show by the inquisitive creativity and continuous musical exploration of an artist like 73 year old Chick Corea , you can’t help but wonder if he’s discovered either the fountain of youth or the wisdom…
Bobby Rush@Hollywood Park Casino 08.09.14
At 82 and change, Bobby Rush is one of the last great Chicago Blues singers around, and (believe it or not) because of living a clean life of no booze or drugs (are you SURE he’s a blues musician?!?) he’s…
Billy Joe Shaver@The Grammy Museum 08.07.14
Well, if the highest compliment you can say of a jazz soloist is that “he told a story,” then honky tonking singer songwriter Billy Joe Shaver is up there with Lester Young. Performing and answering questions in regards to his…
Ron Carter Trio@Catalina’s 07-24-14
The lost art of combining lyricism with improvisation and swing was on display like the a Renoir painting for all to appreciate when Ron Carter and his team of Donald Vega/p and Russell Malone/g gave the packed Hollywood club a…
Boz Scaggs/Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin/Eliane Elias@ The Hollywood Bowl 07.16.14
One of my best friends (who is a businessman) always says, “Everything is sales.” Once you think about it, he’s right; dating, raising kids, going to church and even playing music involve a degree of salesmanship. Wednesday on a perfect…
Tootie Heath’s Tempo Trio @ The Blue Whale 07.12.14
So, what do you get when you mix a 79 year old hard bop drumming pioneer like Tootie Heath with Ethan Iverson of the popular trio The Bad Plus? Well, along with bassist Ben Street, you get a cooking recent…
A Midsummer Night in New Orleans@Ford Theatre 07.05.14
(Ed note-we have a new guest writer! Welcome to Joy Childs) By Joy Childs Perfect night. Perfect backdrop. Add in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Dustbowl Revival band, the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on Sat., July 5, and nighttime…
The Spinners@The Del Mar Fair 06.26.14
Here’s the joy of summertime-going to music festivals and county fairs to see bands all together in one day. This lovely day by the beach in Del Mar, the Fair featured sets by a Beatles Tribute Band (The Fab Four-Not…
Johnny Rivers & Jimmy Webb@The Ford Theatre 06.21.14
Yes, I know that Johnny Rivers and Jimmy Webb were both recently reviewed here when they celebrated the 50th anniversary of the legendary opening of the Whisky A Go Go. This time around,the concert was a benefit to celebrate the…