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SoCal Jazz
Sometimes poignant.... sometimes humorous....always about jazz. The musings of a lifetime jazz listener in stories, concert reviews, profiles, interviews, and more.
Alan Pasqua: Keys That Unlock Many Doors
Recently, and just a few days before Thanksgiving (2019), I was thankful for the opportunity to have two separate conversations with renown pianist Alan Pasqua. As generous with his time and candid commentary as he is talented as a musician and composer, both conversations crashed the one-hour mark. For you non mathematicians, that is over two hours of discussing, recounting, and engaging into a wide range of topics. With that in mind I will keep this intro brief ...
read moreDouye: Live at LACMA
No doubt, LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) wanted to finish their jazz music series with a flourish. Reaching out to the enchantingly superb jazz vocalist Douye proved to be the right call. Jazz at LACMA is presented on Friday nights from April through November. In the past they have had performances from artists such as Wayne Shorter, Kenny Burrell, and Billy Childs. On this Friday evening, November 22nd, 2019, a quintet featuring Douye, pianist Aaron Provisor ...
read moreDavid Sanborn: The Curtain Rises on Sanborn Sessions
Listed alphabetically, as opposed to first, second, and third place, Cannonball Adderley, Charlie Parker, and David Sanborn are as good as it gets when discussing the best and most influential alto saxophone players of all-time. Now before you say what about Phil Woods or Kenny Garrett or any number of others, let me qualify that this is my list, my opinion. Not some carved in stone official list that has been sealed and notarized by some sort of imaginary Grand ...
read moreGarzone, Erskine, Pasqua, Oleskiewicz Live at Sam First
The venue in which you see and hear a performance has always mattered. Perhaps much more so than most people realize or even think about. Acoustics, ambiance, and comfort have always been important. In recent years you see more and more listening rooms popping up. Why? Well, neither acoustics nor talented musicians making great music matter much if the sound of people chatting turns a quartet into an unwanted sextet. Fortunately, venues such as Sam First in Los Angeles have ...
read moreBob Sheppard: The Clark Kent of Jazz
An unassuming bespectacled man in his mid-sixties walks on to the stage. In a band with stellar, famous, and maybe flashier musicians, one could be forgiven if they didn't even notice him right away. But as soon as Bob Sheppard presses a saxophone, clarinet, or flute onto his lips, he is super, man! An incredible musician and composer, Sheppard has long been revered by his peers. In addition to his own music, he has long been a first-call studio musician ...
read moreChick Corea Trio Live: Food For Thought
An all-you-can-listen-to two and a half-hour buffet was generously served up Wednesday night October 2nd, 2019 at the Balboa Theater in San Diego. Head chef Chick Corea prepared a tasty assortment of selections to be sampled and delightfully devoured throughout both courses of the evening. His sous chefs, Christian McBride and Brian Blade, brought their own seasonings and accoutrements to spice up the many decadent and sumptuous delicacies. Improvisational jazz requires no recipe. The Chick Corea Trio, instead, ...
read moreBob James, David Sanborn, and Marcus Miller: The Lost Tour
Backing a new record with a live tour is, of course, standard practice. So, a tour in support of Double Vision (Warner Brothers, 1986) would be nothing out of the ordinary. The Bob James and David Sanborn classic, that also features Marcus Miller and Steve Gadd, proved to be visionary in its scope and profound in its significance. So much so, that it won a Grammy for Best Improvisational Jazz Album in 1986. The tour seems like it was only ...
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