SoCal Jazz

Daily articles carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. Read our popular and future articles.

Sometimes poignant.... sometimes humorous....always about jazz. The musings of a lifetime jazz listener in stories, concert reviews, profiles, interviews, and more.

SOCAL JAZZ September 8, 2020

Randy Brecker & Eric Marienthal: Aces

By Jim Worsley

Randy Brecker certainly needs no introduction. Neither does Eric Marienthal. But the fact that they have joined forces on a new record is something to talk about. That's exactly what we did, and then some. We went deep into the record, when we weren't busy having a laugh or two. Then there were memories of Michael Brecker and a glorious time past. My gratitude to them both for this fun and enlightening conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much ...

SOCAL JAZZ August 14, 2020

Steve Khan: A Rich Discography and A Priceless Left Hand

By Jim Worsley

The life and times of guitarist extraordinaire Steve Khan stretch through a high volume of evolving chapters that fuse together like the passages of a finely crafted arrangement. An expansive conversation with Khan touched on a variety of memories. Still, this is perhaps the Reader's Digest version of the seventy-three years old musician and composer's remarkable journey. The fusion turned Latin guitarist has recorded over twenty studio albums and appears on nearly one hundred more records with other ...

SOCAL JAZZ June 23, 2020

Catalina Jazz Club: Landmark Jazz Haven Forges Onward

By Jim Worsley

While west-coasters long to go to the Blue Note in jny: New York City, east-coasters have their sights set on the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. The family-owned and operated jazz hot spot has seen and heard from all the jazz legends over the past thirty-four years. The supper club has fine dining and even finer up close and personal jazz performances. Having been there many times myself and seen/heard legends such as Ron Carter, Steve Gadd, Marcus Miller, and ...

SOCAL JAZZ June 12, 2020

Tamir Hendelman: The Many Colors and Cultures of Tamir

By Jim Worsley

With so many talented jazz pianists over the years, it can be a challenge to make your own mark or carve out your own identity. Many fine musicians have simply blended into the scene, seemingly unnoticed, due to a lack of singularity that sets them apart. Tamir Hendelman crashes that barrier with a signature sound that embraces jazz, Brazilian, spirituality, the American Songbook, and more. With Israelia roots and American tradition, Hendelman has shared the stage and/or recording studio with ...

SOCAL JAZZ June 7, 2020

Leni Stern: A Special Spirit

By Jim Worsley

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Leni Stern and I spoke about the pandemic, and her experiences with such, during her many travels to Africa. Because this conversation was prior to the senseless murder on May 25th, that incident is not mentioned. This wasn't my first dance with the incomparable Leni Stern so I knew what to expect. Always gracious, personable, and positive, as quick to laugh as she is to deliver sincerity with heartfelt prose. Our last “official" conversation, Leni Stern: ...

SOCAL JAZZ May 7, 2020

Frank Tiberi: The Thundering is Still Heard

By Jim Worsley

The term “ninety-two years young" is a bit cliché, but if the shoe fits (oops, another cliché). Saxophonist Frank Tiberi (pictured above playing with saxophonist and long time friend George Garzone to the left) spoke with the verve and energy of a much younger man. He got excited, as if being back in the moment, when telling stories of as far back as the 1930s. We laughed, and I learned, in a conversation that covered a lot of ground.

SOCAL JAZZ April 20, 2020

Alice Soyer: A Tale of Two Wings

By Jim Worsley

To think of Alice Soyer is to immediately get in touch with your feelings. Soyer is a most accomplished composer, pianist, and vocalist, who also brilliantly shares her distinct impressions through her drawings and paintings. Born and raised just outside of jny: Paris, Soyer's art, in any form, denotes the cherished moments and adventures of her life in a personal and often poignant manner. Her career path was altered significantly by Bob James and David Sanborn. Musically for ...