One of the few artists to keep together a viable big band for almost a quarter century, Gordon Goodwin showed that he’s still going strong, having recently recorded a clever album of material by Raymond Scott and recently getting nominated…
Category: Concert Reviews
Richard Bona@Catalina’s 10-27-23
Friday night at Catalina’s, bassist and singer Richard Bona gave the packed house a concert evidenced by his West African culture. Unlike Americans, who worship the “now” and “present”, Bona comes from a worldview that sees his life as a…
Veronica Swift@Smothers Theatre 10.17.23
It was fitting (in more ways than one) that vocalist Veronica Swift came on stage wearing what looked like an outfit for a trapeze artist for her 90 minute concert at Pepperdine’s Smothers Theatre. The attire fitted her attitude towards…
Azar Lawrence Experience@The Grape 10.14.23
If you’re a jazz fan and feeling lonesome with all of the clubs that have recently closed down, you’re in for a treat, especially if you’re tired of fighting the LA traffic. I’ve been hearing about The Grape in Ventura…
Marcus Miller@Catalina’s 10.08.23
I try to never miss a Marcus Miller gig at Catalina’s, because the famed bassist/producer always brings some sort of surprise singer into the show, and he always mixes up the grooves and moods to cover his richly hued career.…
Snarky Puppy @ The Orpheum 09.24.23
Due to the COVID lockdown, it’s been four years since Snarky Puppy as been in town. If nothing else, this recent concert confirmed my belief that Michael League’s vision of a musical worldview is what is going to keep jazz…
Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival 09.23.23
So, did anyone else notice that Eric Clapton wore blue bell bottoms the first day of the Crossroads Guitar Festival on Saturday? For the seventh installment of raising support for the Crossroads Centre in Antigua (which provides treatment and education…
Albert Lee@The Write-Off Room 09.20.23
So, Eric Clapton is in town this weekend playing before 18,000 people. His long time guitarist, Albert Lee, is packing the 100 person capacity Write-Off Room. Which one is the “gig to see”? Well, here I am! The guitarist’s guitarist,…
Raymond Scott Reimagined with Gordon Goodwin and the Quartet San Francisco@The Write-Off Room 09.16.23
“What’s Up, Doc?” Be vewwy qwuite…I’m going to tell you about a place and musical event you need to know about. There’s a new venue that just opened in the Valley, called The Write-Off Room. Not only do they have…
Catalina’s 37th Anniversary New Sign Reveal 09.12.23
As Master of Ceremonies, Dave Damiani told stories of various jazz greats he’d seen through the decades, peppered between crooning standards and interviewing the likes of producer Chris Isaacson and Catalina herself. “This is my family,” Catalina confessed as she…