So, how do you get into the Christmas spirit in Los Angeles? You could do a lot worse than hearing Gordon Goodwin who Tuesday night started the season off by bringing his Big Phat Band to Catalina’s and taking songs that cover both…
Category: Concert Reviews
Jazz Bakery’s Moveable Feast Presents: Randy Weston & Billy Harper@Nate Holden Performing Arts Center 11.22.13
It’s shows like these that should make you contact the Jazz Bakery and make a donation to speed up the construction of the new site, as only Ruth Price could get together a show so intimate, so wondrous and so…
Arturo Sandoval’s Big Band @ The Broad Stage 11.15.13
This is the third time I’ve seen Arturo Sandoval in a matter of little more than a year, and each concert has had a completely different feel. This one, at the acoustically wondrous Broad Stage in Santa Monica, had the…
Laurence Hobgood Quintet@The Blue Whale 11.09.13
Better known as the pianist & arranger for vocalist Kurt Elling, Laurence Hobgood occasionally steps out in front to perform his own material, and for good reason. His solo albums include a fascinating series of duets with bassist Charlie Haden…
Bill Holman’s Big Band@Vitello’s 11.08.13
“It’s very confusing, but what else are we here for?” So joked 87 year old bandleader Bill Holman about the music between songs at Vitello’s where he revisited the sounds from his 1997 Grammy winner album of wildly exciting big…
The Moody Blues@Nokia Theatre 11-01-13
They may sing a song that says that they’re “just singers in a rock and roll band,” but progressive rock band Moody Blues betrayed those lyrics during their two hour set before an appreciatively packed Nokia Theatre. (On a side…
ACS: Allen, Carrington, Spalding@The Broad Stage 10.27.13
The trio of Geri Allen/p, Terri Lyne Carrington/dr and Esperanza Spalding/b first got together in the summer as a tribute to jazz icon Wayne Shorter. Their Hollywood Bowl concert was quite impressive, and here at the tail end of their…
Mark Knopfler@The Wiltern 10.26.13
This review of Mark Knopfler has to begin with a disclaimer. He first became popular at a time that I had abandoned rock music in order to cross the Jordan for the Milk and Honey of jazz. Eschewing any type…
Jeff Beck & Brian Wilson@The Greek Theatre 10.20.13
Yes, you’re reading that right. Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck and Beach Boy singer/songwriter Brian Wilson found common ground with Baby Boomers and beyond during a 2 ½ love and song fest. Incongruous? So were ice cream and waffles at one…
Lorraine Feather CD Release Party@Vitellos 10.10.13
Before a packed crowd at the upstairs and upscale Vitellos, vocalist/songwriter Lorraine Feather delivered a concerto/advertisement for her latest album release Attachments. Teamed up with LA all stars Charlie Bisharat/violin, Russell Ferrante/p, Michael Shapiro/dr, Michael Valerio/b and Grant Geissman/g, Ms…