By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

- Dec. 8. (Tues.)  Dominick Farinacci.  Trumpeter Farinacci’s debut U.S. CD, Lovers, Tales and Dances, announced the arrival of an impressive new young jazz artist.  He makes one of his rare Southland appearances for one night only.  Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.    (310) 474-9400.

- Dec. 8. (Tues.) Charles Lloyd, Joshua Redman, Exene Cervenka, Michael McClure, Kurt Elling, others.  A compelling line-up of artists have been gathered together for one of the most intriguing evenings in the Philharmonic’s  West Coast, Left Coast series: A Night of the Beats. Disney Hall.

- Dec. 9. (Wed.)  The Irish Tenors. Holiday Show.  What better way to celebrate the holiday season than with the soaring voices of the three Irish tenors singing holiday songs.    The Cerritos Center.   (562) 916-8501.

Bebel Gilberto

- Dsec. 9. (Wed.)  Bebel Gilberto with DJ Lara Gerin.  The daughter of  Joao Gilberto — who virtually invented the sound and the rhythm of bossa nova — and singer Miucha,  Bebel Gilberto has carved out an impressive career in her own right, bringing her contemporary, Brazilian-tinted  vision to international pop music.   Music Box @ the Fonda. (323) 464-0808.

- Dec. 9. (Wed.)  Flexible Reality.  The instrumentation alone makes this a fascinating musical ensemble.  The players — Richard Todd, French Horn, Charlie Bisharat,  violin, Frank Marocco, accordion, Michael Valerio and Abraham Laboriel, basses and Alex Acuna, drums – make it even better.  Red Carpet Jazz Serries.  Upstairs at Vitellos. (818) 769-0905.

- Dec. 9 – 13. (Wed. – Sun.)  Roy Hargrove Quintet.  Versatile trumpter Hargrove, who’s been leading a big band lately, shows up this time with his briskly swinging quintet.   Catalina’s. Catalina Bar & Grill (323) 466-2210.

- Dec. 10. (Thurs.)  Alan Pasqua, Peter Erskine, Darek Oles, Bob Mintzer.  The Pasqua/Erskine trio with the late Dave Carpenter was one of the Southland’s finest jazz ensembles.  With the excellent bassist Oles now in the group, the tradition of world class jazz continues, this time with the sturdy tenor saxophone of Bob Mintzer.  Red Carpet Jazz Series Upstairs at Vitellos. (818) 769-0905.

- Dec. 11. (Fri.)  Scotty Barnhart.  Trumpeter /educator Barnhart, a veteran of the Count Basie band, takes a break from his academic chores to jam with  with John Heard, bass, Roy McCurdy, drums, Andy Langham, piano.  Charlie O’s.  (818) 989-3110.

Molly Ringwald

Dec. 11. (Fri.)  Molly Ringwald and Plus 4. Yes, it’s the same Molly Ringwald who you remember from Pretty in Pink and Secret Life of the American Teenager.  And, yes, she can sing, too, having started from an early age with her jazz pianist father, Bob Ringwald.  Spazio.  (818) 728-8400

- Dec. 11 & 12. (Sat. & Sun.)  C.A.B. World class fusion from the guys who do it best, with Frank Gambale, guitar, Otmaro Ruiz, keyboards, Bunny Brunel, bass, Tom Brechtlein, drums.  The Baked Potato. (818) 980-1615.

- Dec. 12. (Sat.)  Bruce Forman Quartet.  Guitarist Forman brings strikingly new perspectives to the contemporary art of jazz guitar.  He plays with  Joe Bagg, organ, Pat Senatore, bass, drums tbd.  Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.   (310) 474-9400.

- Dec. 12. (Sat.)  Jazz Compass.  Holiday Concert & Jazz Party from a collective of L.A.’s A-list players.  Featuring Larry Koonse, Clay Jenkins, Tom Warrington, Joe La Barbera, Bill Cunliffe.  Upstairs at Vitellos.  (818) 769-0905.

- Dec. 12. (Sat.)  Los Angeles Master Chorale.  Messiah Sing-along.   The annual must-do event for everyone who ever sang in a choir: the chance to join voices sith the extraordinary artists of the Master Chorale.  2 p.m.  Disney Hall. http://www.laphil.com

- Dec. 12 & 13. (Sat. & Sun.)  “Colors of Christmas” One of the annual holiday season’s most pleasant musical interludes, with Peabo Bryson, Sheena Easton, Jennifer Holiday and Maxi Priest.  The Cerritos Center.  (562) 916-8501.

Bill Holman

- Dec. 13. (Sun.) Marathon Jazz Party.  It’s an event to benefit the relocation of the L.A. Jazz Institute.  Three rooms of continuous music, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with dozens of musicians — including the big bands of Bill Holman, Steve  Huffsteter, Med Flory, Kim Richmond and others — as well as raffles, auctions, door prizes, CD sales, etc.    Los Angeles Jazz Institute. LAX Marriott. (562) 985.7065.

- Dec. 13. (Sun.)  Holiday Jazz Vespers Service.  Eric Kertes and Friends, with Aaron Hernandez’s hip hop commentary on today’s world.  Free will offering.  Bring a can, box or bag of food for donation to Food Pantry LAX to help those in need.  Welcoming people of all faiths, and those with no faith.  Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity. (310) 670.4777

San Francisco

- Dec. 8 & 9. (Tues. & Wed.)  Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks.  With special guest Bob Dorough.  “Holidaze in Hicksville”  Featuring Hicks’ holiday classics “My Main Man Santa,” “A Yule That’s Cool” and “Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Christmas Card.”  As well as Dorough’s “Blue Xmas” (written with Miles Davis.  (510) 238-9200.

- Dec. 10 – 13. (Thurs. – Sun.) Guitarist Mike Stern fronts a band of world class players, as adept with tradition as they are with fusion: trumpeter Randy Brecker, drummer Dave Weckl and bassist Tom Kennedy.  Yoshi’s Oakland. (510) 238-9200.

Ahmad Jamal

- Dec. 10 – 13. (Thurs. – Sun.)  Ahmad Jamal.  A unique jazz artist, pianist Jamal influenced Miles Davis’ view of phrasing, established himself as an iconic figure, and is still out there doing his thing.  Don’t miss the chance to hear and see him in action.  Yoshi’s San Francisco.   (415) 655-5600.

Chicago

-Dec. 10 (Thurs.)  The Chicago Jazz Ensemble and Jon Faddis continue the 11^th annual American Jazz Heritage Series with a program honoring the music of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Miles Davis.  Special guests David Sanchez and Steve Wilson.  The Harris Theatre.  The Chicago Jazz Ensemble.  (312) 369-6270.

New York

- Dec. 8 – 12. (Tues. – Sat.)  Lee Konitz, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian, Brad Mehldau. Several generations of great jazz improvisers in an adventurous search for common musical ground.  Birdland.   (212) 581-3080.

- Dec. 8 – 13. (Tues. – Sun.)  Eddie Palmieri y La Perfecta.  A 73^rd birthday celebration for the master keyboardist of Latin Jazz,  leading his irrepressible La Perfecta.  The Blue Note. (212) 475-8592.

- Dec. 8 – 13. (Tues. – Sun.)  Dave Douglas Quintet.  Trumpeter and musical explorer Douglas works with ensemble equally capable of journeying into new territory.  With Uri Caine, piano, Donny McCaslin, sax, James Genus, bass, Clarence Penn, drums.  Village Vanguard.   (212) 255-4037.

Dec. 10 – 12.  (Thurs. – Sat.)  Red Hot Holiday Stomp.  A New Orleans perspective on some classic holiday favorites.  With Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goines, Don Vappie, Herlin Riley.  Rose Theatre at Jazz at Lincoln Center.  (212) 258-9800.

Kim Burrell

- Dec. 10 – 13. (Thurs. – Sun.)  Tango Meets Jazz Festival.  The marriage of a pair of musical genres with a surprising number of common elements.  With pianist Pablo Ziegler and saxophonists Miguel Zenon (12/10 and 12/11) and  David Sanchez ((12/12 and 12/13).  The Jazz Standard. (212) 447-7733.

Dec. 11 – 12.  (Fri. & Sat.)  Kim Burrell, The divine diva of gospel brings the spirit of Christmas alive with her soulful, spiritual stylings.  The Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center. (212) 258-9800.

Restaurant Salud y Vida Continues to Grow After Over 13 Years in Business – The Owner’s Dream of Cultural Food Institute Becomes a Reality.

By Randall Richards
Hauraz, Peru

D. & G. Sanchez, Restaurant Salud Y Vida

David and Gracelia Sanchez started with a small vegetarian restaurant and a dream in Hauraz, Peru.  Hauraz is the climbing capital of Peru, and basecamp for climbers headed to Mt. Huascaran (the highest peak in Peru) or the Cordillera Huaywash (Scene of Joe Simpon’s Touching the Void).  Head cook Gracelia, learned about vegetarian cooking while attending an institute in Lima, Peru, and graduated with a diploma in whole cooking arts from the school. Since then, she and her husband have never looked back.  Salud y Vida means “Health and Life”. T

Their small restaurant, originally located on a  side street in Hauraz,  has been through a number of transformations and four or five location changes, only to come full circle back to its original location on Avenue Leonisa Lescano 632. Their new/old location is bigger than it was 12 years ago. They’ve added a second floor, a full professional kitchen and more seating. The second floor also doubles as a meeting and lecture space for David and Gracelia to deliver programs.

Their Cultural Food Institute is a lifelong dream which continues to morph. They cover topics from healthy eating and digestion to larger issues such as factory farming and its byproducts. They teach to the locals as well as visitors from Lima and other countries. David’s other job is a school teacher, and he loves to teach. His warm subtle teaching style is laced with subtle humor and a quick wit.  MSI’s blog will go into more details on Sanchez’s Institute in another entry. Stay tuned.

Joseph, Lisbeth, Kennedy, Kiara & David Sanchez

I first met the two with their *small family of six, (including my future God child, Joseph who’s now 11 years old), when they nursed me back to health after a serious bout of traveler’s bug. I ended up spending almost a month at their restaurant. We became good friends.  I and a traveling buddy were asked to be Godparents of their son, Joseph, which we gladly accepted. *The family now proudly numbers eight wonderful children, who all blend well together, the older girls helping with cooking and chores and some basic childcare.

Back then we talked about their opening an Institute to educate the public about good eating habits. Now it’s a reality.  Besides getting an education at Salud y Vida, Gracelia’s vegetarian fare can’t be beat. Don’t be fooled by the humble decor when you visit their restaurant – Gracelia is a master cook.  Her vegetarian tortilla de vedura (vegetable pancake) has been my favorite for over twelve years. Also try her homemade granola with yoghurt and fruit. I’m admittedly a little biased – they’re great friends, but if you’re headed to Huaraz, make sure you stop in and have some great food…..and say hi to my God child for me.

For more information on Restaurant Salud y Vida, or the Cultural Food Institute contact the author and the contact link at the right of this column.

]]> http://irom.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/picks-of-the-week-september-1-6/ Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:50:20 +0000 irom http://irom.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/picks-of-the-week-september-1-6/

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

- Sept. 1. (Tues.) Herb Alpert and Lani Hall. Trumpeter Alpert and vocalist Hall discuss their remarkable careers (individually and as a couple) and offer a few of the new slants on standards that make up the program in their impressive new live CD, “Anything Goes.” Grammy Museum.

- Sept. 1 & 2. (Tues. & Wed.) Tessa Souter. She’s not out on the West Coast very often, so fans of world class jazz vocalizing shouldn’t miss this opportunity to hear Souter’s unique ability to find new musical pleasures in familiar songs. Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210.

- Sept. 2. (Wed.) Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke & Lenny White. Chaka Khan, Jean Luc Ponty, Bill Connors. John Scofield and the Piety Street Band. Corea leads a trio that represents 3/4 of Return To Forever, but with a very different musical perspective. Khan, Ponty, Connors and Scofield add more diversity to one of the summer jazz series most intriguing events. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000.

- Sept. 3. (Thurs.) An Evening with Patti Smith. The Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier closes the 2009 season with an appearance by the pioneer poet of punk. Twilight Dance Series.  (310) 458-8901.

Highlight

- Sept. 3 – 6. (Thurs. – Sun.) The 15^th Annual West Coast Jazz Party. It’s always one of the don’t-miss musical events of the year, and this year is no exception. From the various indoor and outdoor venues at the Irvine Marriott to the delightful Sunday jazz cruise on the Hornblower Yacht Entertainer, it’s a great way to spend a holiday weekend. Featured performers include Ken Peplowski, the Four Freshmen and Five Trombones, Terry Gibbs, Ernie Andrews, Houston Person, Gary Foster, Peter Erskine, Larry Koonse, Tom Rainier, Byron Stripling, Paul Smith, Marilyn Maye, the Frank Capp Juggernaut Orchestra, and such special events as a Guitar Summitt (w. Mundell Lowe, Mimi Fox and Ron Eschete) and a Tribute to Rosemary Clooney with Debby Boone, Irvine Marriott Hotel and the Hornblower Yacht Entertainer. West Coast Jazz party. (949) 759-5003.

- Sept. 4 – 7. (Fri. – Mon.) The Sweet & Hot Music Festival. And here’s another don’t-miss holiday weekend jazz party. The title is right on target — tons of New Orleans, Swing, Mainstream and Straight Ahead jazz presented via virtually non-stop music in eight different venues. The performers include Yves Evans, Jack Sheldon, Gonzalo Bergara, Jennifer Leitham, Herb Jeffries, Banu Gibson, Night Blooming Jazzmen and Janet Klein (with many others), as well as as “Tribute to the King Sisters” (w. Marilyn King), “Prez Conference”, and “Tribute to Johnny Mandel,” plus nightly Midnight Jazz sets.   Too bad the West Coast Jazz Party and the Sweet & Hot Music Festival can’t scedule their equally fascinating productions on consecutive weekends.  The L.A.X. Marriott Hotel. Sweet & Hot Music Festival.   (909) 983-0106.

- Sept. 4. (Fri.) Gina Saputo. In a crowded field of young female jazz singers, Saputo’s soaring vocals and rhythmic lift suggest that she’s ready to step up from the pack. Steamers.  (714) 871-8800.

- Sept. 4. (Fri.) Denise Donatelli. A warm, seductive sound, the instincts of a true story teller, and the kind of swinging phrasing that stamps her as a true jazz artist — Donatelli’s the real deal. And no better place to hear her than in the laid back vibe of the Southland’s ultimate jazz bar and restaurant. Charlie O’s.  (818) 994-3058

- Sept. 4 – 6. (Fri. – Sun.) Mort Sahl and Dick Gregory. One of the most unusual bookings of this or any other season. But a jazz club’s the right place for them — Sahl and Gregory work with the sort of improvisatory spontaneity and rhythmic propulsion that are essential to the finest jazz. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.

Highlight

- Sept. 6 – 7. (Sun. & Mon.) Angel City Jazz Festival. The second installment of this adventurous Festival now takes place in the airy outdoor setting of the Ford Amphitheatre. And the line-up is an impressive collection of some of the contemporary jazz world’s most cutting edge artists and ensembles. The line up includes Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, Bennie Maupin and Dolphyana, Billy Childs Jazz Chamber Ensemble, Alex Cline’s Band of the Moment, Larry Goldings Trio, Wayne Horvitz’s Gravitas Quartet. Larry Karush, Dwight Trible, Satoko Fuji and more. Ford Amphitheatre. Angel City Jazz Festival. (323) 461-3673.

San Diego

- Sept. 3. (Thurs.) Alponse Mouzon. Drummer Mouzon leads his Jazz Project (with Eric Marienthal, Byron Miller, Dean Brown and John Beasley) in a benefit concert for Doctors Without Borders. Anthology Club & Restaurant. (618) 595-0300.

San Francisco

- Sept. 3 & 4.. (Thurs. & Fri.) The Blind Boys of Alabama. The multiple Grammy winn ers continue to be one a gospel act that never fails to bring soulful enlightenment to everything they sing. Yoshi’s Oakland.  (510) 238-9200.

Chicago

- Sept. 3. (Thurs.) Chicago Jazz Ensemble. Jon Faddis leads this always-compelling repertory ensemble in a tribute celebrating the Benny Goodman Centennial. Guest artist is Buddy DeFranco. the clarinetist who took the instrument from Goodman’s swing into the realm of bebop. Pritzker Pavilion, Millenium Park, Chicago.

Detroit

- Sept. 4 – 7. (Fri. – Mon.) Detroit International Jazz Festival. Detroit’s often minimized reputation as a long-time center for world class jazz is affirmed in the superlative line-up for this year’s festival. One of the featured elements is the inclusion of jazz families: Hank Jones, remembering Thad and Elvin; the Clayton brothers; Dave Brubeck and Brubeck brothers; John and Bucky Pizzarelli; Larry and Julian Coryell; the Heath brothers; Pete and Juan Escovedo; Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express; and T.S. Monk with “Monk on Monk.” But there’s much more — Wayne Shorter, Sheila Jordan, Chick Corea, Stefon Harris, Christian McBride, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gretchen Parlato, Bennie Maupin, Alfredo Rodriguez, Charles McPherson, the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Geri Allen, Janis Siegel and others. The Detroit Jazz Festival.

New York

- Sept. 1 – 5. (Sat.) John Surman Quartet. With Jack DeJohnette, drums, Drew Gess, bass, John Abercrombie, guitar. Surman’s duo performances with DeJohnette have been extraordinary experiences. The addition of Gess and Abercrombie should make the encounters even more fascinating. Birdland.  (212) 581-3080

- Sept. 1 – 6. (Tues. – Sun.) Kenny Werner Quintet. Here’s an all-star ensemble if there ever was one: Randy Brecker, David Sanchez, Scott Colley and Antonio Sanchez, no doubt proving Werner’s principles about the value of spontaneity. The Blue Note.  (212) 475-8592

- Sept. 4 – 6. (Fri. – Sun.) Dr. Lonnie Smith. It’s always a blues and jazz organ bonanza when Dr. Lonnie plays. But it’ll be even better this time, with the backing he’ll get from guitarist Dave Stryker and drummer Bill Stewart. The Jazz Standard.  (212) 576-2232

- Sept. 5. (Sat.) Roberta Piket. “Improvised Chamber Music” is what pianist Piket calls her music, careful to avoid any genre limitations. She performs with veteran avant-gardist Perry Robinson on clarinet, Lisle Ellis, bass and Peter Nilson, drums. Ibeam. Brooklyn.

White Plains, New York (The Weekly Vice) – David Sanchez, a 22-year-old New York psychiatric patient was sentenced to five years in prison after torturing his counselor girlfriend for hours in her car.
According to police, Sanchez beat a 25-year-old staff counselor he’d been dating so severely, she suffered a fractured eye socket, lost tooth, punctured eardrum and multiple facial injuries.
Investigators say the woman was held for more than six hours inside her car as blood splattered the vehicle’s interior and soaked her clothing.
The woman reportedly drifted in and out of consciousness as Sanchez pulled out clumps of her hair, burned her with cigarettes and beat her nearly unconscious.

Picks of the Week: Dec. 1 – 7.

Television

B.B. King

- Dec. 3. (Wed.) Grammy Nominations. The nominations for the 51^stannual Grammy Awards will be announced on live, prime time television for the first time (with the usual three hour delay for the West Coast). L L Cool J and Taylor Swift will host the hour-long show; scheduled performers include Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, B.B. King, John Mayer and others.  CBS-TV.  9 p.m.

Los Angeles

- Dec. 3. (Wed.),  Dec. 10. (Wed.)  and Dec. 17. (Wed.). Kevin Eubanks and the Tonight Show band. The Baked Potato. (818) 980-1615.  www.thebakedpotato.com.

- Dec. 4 & 5. (Thurs. & Fri.)  Chicago singer Brienn Perry has been praised by the Tribune for his “astounding talent,” his “warm presence” and his “sublime sophistication.”  And he plays trombone, too.  Backed by pianist Bobby Pierce, bassist Luther Hughes and drummer Paul Kreibich.  Thurs. in the Brasserie Lounge of the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel.  (310) 642-7500.  www.crowneplaza.com. Fri. in the Jazz in the Lobby Bar at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel.   (213)  488-3500.  www.Sheraton.com.

Maureen McGovern

- Dec. 4 – 6. (Thurs. – Sat.) A too rare appearance by Maureen McGovern, Ms. Versatility.  If there’s something she can’t sing, it’s probably not worth hearing.  Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210.  www.catalinajazzclub.com.

- Dec. 4 – 6. (Thurs. – St.)  John Beasley’s All-Star Jazz Quartet. No hyperbole here, “All-Star” definitely applies.  With saxophonist Benny Maupin, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. Jazz Bakery.   (310) 271-9039.  www.jazzbakery.com.

- Dec. 4 – 6. (Thurs. – Sat.) The Los Angeles Philharmonic The Phil’s charismatic new Music Director, Gustavo Dudamel conducts Kurtág (Stélé), Mozart (Piano Concerto No. 23), with pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, and Strauss (Alpine Symphony). Walt Disney Concert Hall. (323) 850-2000.  http://www.laphil.org

- Dec. 5 & 6. (Fri. & Sat.) Merry-Achi Christmas. With Sol de México de José Hernández Mariachi, America’s first all-female Mariachi – Reyna de Los Angeles – and the Ballet Folklorico del Pacifico. Cerritos Center.  (562) 467-8818  www.cerritoscenter.com

- Dec. 6. (Sat.)  Veteran guitarist Mundell Lowe makes a rare Valley appearance.  With bassist  John Giannelli and drummer Kendall Kay.   Giannelli Square.  (818) 772-1722.  www.giannellisquare.com.

- Dec. 7. (Sun.)  Ralph Alessi’s “This Against That.”  Trumpeter Alessi’s cutting edge jazz, with pianist Andy Milne, bassist Drew Gess, bass, saxophonist Tony Malaby and drummer Mark Ferber.  1160 Lounge, The Ramada Hollywood.  www.roccoinla.com.

- Dec. 7. (Sun. afternoon)  Versatile pianist Tamir Hendelman, with bassist Darek Oles and drummer Dean Koba, perform in a delightful Hollywood Hills setting.  A-Frame Jazz. (310) 659-9169.  www.aframejazz.com.

- Dec. 7. (Sun.)  Drummer Gerry Gibbs’ envelope-stretching  Electric Quartet with saxophonist/woodwind artist Katisse Buckingham.  Spazio. (818) 728-8400.  www.spazio.la/jazz.php.

Christian Scott

San Francisco

- Dec. 2 & 3. (Tues. & Wed.)  Christian Scott. The upcoming young trumpeter continues on his rising star path.  Yoshi’s Oakland. . (510) 238-9200.  www.yoshis.com.

Chris Botti

- Dec. 2 – 7.  (Tues. – Sun.)  Chris Botti.  There’s no better place to hear Chris Botti’s seductive trumpet in action than a club like Yoshi’s, where he can be heard, up-close, reaching down into the jazz roots that are the foundation of his art.  Yoshi’s San Francisco. (415) 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

- Dec. 5 – 7  (Fri. – Sun.)  Gato Barbieri. Celebrating 50 years in music, and no doubt featuring the theme from “Last Tango in Paris.”  Yoshi’s Oakland. . (510) 238-9200.  www.yoshis.com.

New York City

- Dec. 1 – 31. (Mon. – Wed.31).  Michael Feinstein takes over the stage for a month-long showcasing of “The Holiday Sinatra Project,” backed by a 17 piece big band. Feinstein’s at the Regency.  (212) 339-4095.    http://feinsteinsattheregency.com.

- Dec. 2 – 7. (Tues. – Sun.) Kenny Werner Quintet. With David Sanchez, Randy Brecker, Scott Colley and Antonio Sanchez. .  Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola.  www.jalc.org/dccc (212) 258-9595.

Garrison Keillor

- Dec. 7, 14, 21 and 28. (Sundays in December)   Garrison Keillor: “Man in Tux & Red Shoes with Piano.”   The Sage of Lake Woebegone sits on a nightclub stool, sings standards and tells a New York story or two.  Pianist Richard Dworsky accompanies.  Feinstein’s at the Regency.  (212) 339-4095.    http://feinsteinsattheregency.com.

David Sanchez : Tenor saxophone

Lage Lund : Electric guitar

Orlando Le Fleming  : Acoustic bass

Tony Escapa : Drums

This is a BBC recording from the recent London Jazz Festival and it’s great to hear the powerhouse Sanchez tenor roaring away in this little club, know by the local musos as the ‘Black Hole of Calcutta’.  I was delighted to hear that Lage Lund was to be on guitar, a real favourite of mine and one fifth of one of my all time top albums, ‘Way Out Willy’ by Seamus Blake which also features the one time London boy, Orlando Le Fleming. Nice!

Recorded direct from   http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/jazzon3/

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]]> http://beetlebabee.wordpress.com/2008/11/28/unions-dont-speak-for-teachers/ Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:13:50 +0000 beetlebabee http://beetlebabee.wordpress.com/2008/11/28/unions-dont-speak-for-teachers/

Union doesn’t speak for all state’s teachers

In an election season full of surprises and headline-grabbing stories, none may have been more polarizing than the $1 million donation that the California Teachers Association gave to the No on Proposition 8 campaign in October.

Proposition 8, which passed Nov. 4, will return the state to a place where only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized. The union had become concerned that the pro-8 forces were receiving more in donations and decided to rectify that situation.

While a prior $250,000 donation from the CTA to Equality for All (a coalition of gay advocacy groups which opposed Proposition got some media attention, the general response from the public was mild. However, something about the $1 million infusion seemed to galvanize many, especially teachers.

It seems that the public has awakened to the fact that teachers unions donate millions of dollars of their members’ dues to issues that have nothing to with education on a regular basis.

According to teachers union watchdog Mike Antonucci, the CTA spent up to $5 million on five of this year’s 12 state ballot measures, none of which had anything to do with education.

What makes all this even more egregious is that these monies come from members’ dues. The CTA does not poll its members on how it spends its political money; nor does it care that many of its members are outraged by its spending habits, which run consistently to the left.

The recent outpouring on this issue suggests that teachers think that the union has no business spending their dues on issues unrelated to education, but if they must, union political spending should at least reflect the diversity of its membership. And teachers are in fact all over the political landscape.

At the same time that teachers are angry, there are many who are angry at teachers. The public seems to think that it is teachers who gave the money to the Proposition 8 campaign. In a recent commercial, state Superintendent of Education Jack O’Connell said “California teachers and every major newspaper say no on Proposition 8.” Sounds as if the 335,000 teachers who make up the CTA are in lock step, when nothing could be further from the truth.

It’s the 800 members of the CTA State Council who make these political decisions. And, as a body, their politics run way to the left of the average teacher. So what is a teacher to do? Unbeknownst to many, there are options.

Most teachers in California are led to believe that they are forced to join a union when they are hired. Well, yes and no. While one can never fully escape the burden of living in a non-right-to-work state, the effects can be mitigated. In our state, a typical teacher has to fork over about $1,000 every year to the union. However, if a teacher applies for agency fee status, he or she will get a yearly rebate of about 30 percent, or $300 — the amount the union claims to spend on non-collective-bargaining-type (read “political”) issues. Hence, agency fee payers still have to pay the union $700 apiece for the right to teach in California, but they at least have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their dues are not going to support causes they are against. And there are other organizations they can join if they are concerned about any loss of protections typically offered by the union.

Those of us who have differences with our union can reclaim a part of the money taken from us and spend it as we choose, perhaps in ways that are in line with our moral, ethical and political beliefs.

Larry Sand is a veteran middle school teacher in Los Angeles and president of the California Teachers Empowerment Network.  www.ctenhome.org

moonlight and neon over the Place des Arts

Kenny Werner returned to the stage at the end of tonight’s show, saying “I’m doing the encore myself. No overtime tonight.” He dedicated the encore to “my favorite artist of all time, who also happens to be from Canada. Joni Mitchell. If you know her, please let her know I’d like to come over to her house and play together. And if she’s in another room painting, I’ll sit in her living room and play music for her. So much creative genius in one person I don’t know where it all comes from.” Smiling, he segued into the first soulful notes of Mitchell’s I Had A King. (When that left the audience standing, clapping for more, the full quintet did return to the stage for the second encore, Nat Adderley’s straight-ahead Work Song.)

The preceding set had dug deeply into the recent Lawnchair Society recording, most notably the satirical Inaugural Ball, written just after the 2004 Presidential election. “Because”, Werner said, “I felt like I had to do something.” He described the tune as speaking to the American public’s complacency and general lack of global awareness. The title comes from Werner creating a funky, changing-meter pastiche and imagining what it would be like for all of the 2004 inaugural ball attendees to dance it. That’s been my favorite number on the recording since I first heard it, but I appreciated its quirky humor, quick stop/starts, and rapidfire meter changes even more tonight with that new understanding of it.

Big mention here to each of the veteran band members, who took turns holding down the melody and flying face-first into the complexities of Werner’s collection of originals. Another  night of top talent on stage. Wow! I hope a new recording will be in the works soon.

Day two at the Festival concluding now. Tomorow’s plan: I’ll know when I get there!

(The Quintet: Antonio Sanchez, percussion; David Sanchez, tenor sax; Randy Brecker, trumpet; Scott Colley, bass; Kenny Werner, piano)

Wall art

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

- June 17. (Wed.) Zap Mama. Maria Daulne’s cross-cultural musical collective heads into town on the crest of their new, appropriately titled recording, “ReCreation.” El Rey. (323) 936-6400

- June 17 (Wed.) Ana Egge. The remarkable singer/songwriter is quickly establishing herself as one of the most uniquely adventurous voices in contemporary songwriting. Lucinda Williams calls her the “folk Nina Simone.” Hotel Café.

- June 17 – 20. (Wed. – Sat.) Christian McBride and Inside Straight. Bassisst McBride’s current band returns to the acoustic environment of straight ahead jazz on the new, eponymously titled album, “Inside Straight.” Expect to hear echoes of hard bop in a 21st century seting.. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.

Kathleen Grace

- June 18. (Thurs.) The Kathleen Grace Band with special guest Kristin Korb. Grace has been applying her melifluous sound and crisp phrasing to her own tunes lately. And the presence of Korb should trigger a few sounds from their Diva Den ensemble, as well. Steamers. (714) 871-8800

- June 18. (Thurs.) Frank Potenza. The versatile guitarist/educator takes a break from his duties as a Professor in USC’s Thornton School of Music to celebrate his latest CD, “Old, New, Borrowed and Blue.” He’s backed by Michael Carr on Hammond B-3 organ and Steve Barnes on drums, The Muckenthaler Cultural Center Jazz Festival. (866) 411-1212.

- June 19. (Fri.) Bill Cunliffe Latin Jazz Ensemble. Name a musical style and there’s a safe bet that Cunliffe can play and compose for it authentically – none more so than when he dips into his Latin grooves. Upstairs at Vitello’s (818) 769-0905.

- June 19. (Fri.) Brazilian Samba and Bossa Nova Party. Nobody gives a Brazilian party any better than Brazilian Nites. Their first major event of the summer features singer Diogo Nogueira, a Latin Grammy Nominee, and the innovative, jazz and bossa nova-tinged stylings of pianist Marcos Ariel. Ford Amphitheatre (818) 566-1111.

- June 19. (Fri.) Andre Rieu. You’ve seen him on PBS – dapper, smiling, leading his orchestra of elegantly garbed players in one memorable classical theme after another. Here’s the chance to experience it all live. Nokia Theater Live. Nokia Theatre. (213) 763-6030.

- June 19. (Fri.) Don Randi & Quest. The proprietor of the only jazz club ever founded upon a baked potato takes the stage at his own room. Beyond his entrepreneurship, keyboardist Randi’s been a staple of the L.A. music scene for nearly five decades. He leads a six piece band.. The Baked Potato. (818) 980-1615.

- June 19. (Fri.) Hollywood Bowl Opening Night 2009. And a grand night for singing, at that, with the voices of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Josh Groban, Trisha Yearwood, Angelique Kidjo, Frederica von Stade and Roger Daltrey on the program. Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000.

Goran Bregovic

- June 19 – 20. (Fri. – Sat.) Goran Bregovic’s Wedding and Funeral Orchestra. Well-known in the Balkans as a film composer and rock musician, Bregovic’s pet ensemble is this diverse band of musicians and singers, whose music roves freely across the many imaginative sounds and rhythms of the area. UCLA Royce Hall. Also Sunday at SFJAZZ. Herbst Theatre. (415) 398-5655.

- June 20 (Sat.) Janis Mann. The musically adventurous, lyrically evocative Mann performs with the sterling trio of pianist Tamir Hendelman, bassist Christoph Luty and drummer Roy McCurdy. Spazio. (818) 728-8400.

- June 20. (Sat.) The CJS Quintet. Chuck Johnson’s driving tenor saxophone leads the way in his quintet’s insistent determination to keep hard bop alive. The World Stage. (323) 293-2451.

- June 21. (Sun.) Chris Bennett. She may have had major visibility during her disco linkage with Girogio Moroder, and a different kind of attention as a smooth jazz queen. But Bennett also has a secret life as a convincing jazz singer. Hopefully it will reveal it self tonight. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.

- June 21. (Sun.) Femi Kuti & the Positive Force. The first KCRW World Festival event of the season opens with Afrobeat superstar Femi Kuti, his irresistibly rocking band and guest stars Santigold and Raphael Saadiq. Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000.

San Francisco

Bucky Pizzarelli

- June 16 – 17. (Tues. & Wed.) Bucky Pizzarelli and Benny Green. The master of the seven string guitar goes mano a mano with the pianist who loved Oscar Peterson. Yoshi’s Oakland. (510) 238-9200.

- June 18 – 21. (Thurs. – Sun.) Eddie Palmieri and the Pan-Caribbean All-Stars. Leave it to Palmieri to put together an all-star band that really does have all-stars – saxophonist David Sanchez, trumpeter Brian Lynch, conguero Giovanni Hidalgo, bassist Carlos Henriquez and drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez. Yoshi’s San Francisco. (415) 655-5600.

New York City

- June 15. (Mon.) Sophie Milman. The critically praised, Russian-born jazz singer celebrates the release of her new CD, “Take Love Easy.” The Blue Note. (212) 475-8592.

- June 16. (Tues.) “A Tribute to Oscar Peterson” With pianist Marian Petrescu, guitarist Andreas Oberg, bassist David Finck and drummer Adam Nussbaum. If anyone can offer a convincing Peterson tribute, it’s the Romanian keyboard wizard Petrescu. Jazz Standard (212) 576-2252.

- June 16 (Tues.) Arve Henriksen and Jan Bang. The two Norwegian musicians – with Henriksen playing trumpet and Bang providing live sampling and remixing – produce an array of sounds that challenge the imagination. Le Poisson Rouge.

Jane Monheit

- June 16 – 21. (Tues. – Sun.) Jane Monheit. Don’t let the sumptuous timbres of her voice fool you – Monheit has the heart, the rhythm and the spirit of a jazz singer. The Blue Note. (212) 475-8592.

- June 16 – 21. (Tues. – Sun.) Renee Rosnes Quartet. There’s a good reason why pianist Rosnes has been an A-list pianist for two decades, performing with, among others, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, J.J. Johnson, James Moody and more. And that reason will become apparent before she finishes her first number, backed by saxophonist Rich Perry, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Lewis Nash. The Village Vanguard. (212) 255-4037.

Why is it that every concert I attend in Madison ends with a standing ovation? Am I amazingly good at selecting great concerts or is something else going on?

The David Sanchez concert last Saturday night at the Memorial Union was a good concert. I enjoyed myself, but when the concert ended and people started sprouting up around me I was caught off guard. I shouldn’t have been since this happens at all Madison concerts, but nonetheless I was. As I said, I thought it was a good concert, but aren’t standing ovations supposed to be reserved for great performances? Well, what to do. When this happens I sometimes stay seated and refuse to go along with the crowd, but the collective pressure can be great, and being in the fourth row where the musicians could clearly see me I stood up.

What happened next was interesting. The band came out front, bowed, and left the stage. The lights came on, there was no encore, and the crowd quickly filed out without protest, or apparent disappointment. Outside I ran into people I knew and we exchanged impressions of the concert. I heard others around me doing the same thing, and the next day I talked to more people who had been there. Here’s the odd thing: not one person thought it was a great concert.

I liked the concert more than the other people I talked to, but I still had some of the same issues with it. A concert over 90 minutes long that includes only six songs, seven at most, will test even the most focused listeners. The songs tended towards longish intros, abstract themes, solos that were rhythmically interesting but not especially melodic, and ending vamps that were longer than the body of the song. To be fair, I often found the ending vamps more interesting than the rest of the song because of the spontaneity and group interplay.

By far the most interesting member of the group was the drummer, Henry Cole. Everyone I talked to volunteered an opinion. Most thought he was great, a few thought he overpowered the group, and everyone agreed he was hard to watch. Personally, I thought he was great; he laid down a tremendous wave of propulsive energy for the rest of the group to ride over. That energy is what sustained me through the 20 minute tunes.

As for being hard to watch, this brings up the topic of odd musician mannerisms, you know, the Joe Cocker type stuff. There’s at least one local musician that I like to say has his jaw bone connected to his music bone because his mouth gapes open in strange ways when he plays. Everyone loves his playing but it takes getting used to watching him. Same thing with this drummer; he’d turn his head, look right into the audience, and make very odd faces. A few times he seemed to be looking right at me and I had to look away. I’m sure he wasn’t seeing anyone in particular, more likely he was in a music-induced altered state. Still, those faces were creepy and I’d rather they not be directed at me.

Overall, I’m glad I heard David Sanchez and his band Saturday night. The songs were long but the group interplay and rhythmic drive made it worthwhile. Regarding those mandatory Madison standing ovations, maybe I just need an attitude adjustment. We’ve got grade inflation, why not ovation inflation too? After all, what’s wrong with giving all performances an “A?” It makes everyone happy and it’s harmless. Right?

David Sanchez : Tenor saxophone

Lage Lund : Electric guitar

Orlando LeFleming : Acoustic bass

Henry Cole : Drums

Yet another great recording from the guys at WBGO and another chance to hear this excellent young quartet following the other sets posted both here and over at Bogarts Jazz Tapes.  David and Lage are quite simply two of the very finest players on the scene right now and it’s a real treat to hear them in tandem. If you’re looking for something to splash some cash on this week then you could do a lot worse than either “Cultural Survival” or “Coral” which you’ll find under David’s name or the superb “Standards” CD under which is a Lage Lund album.

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OR

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=F5RY0CM5

FONTE

Sabato 21 marzo 2009, Cittaslow ospite Castelnovo Ne’ Monti (Reggio Emilia). Ultimo appuntamento dll’edizione 2009

Ultimo appuntamento, sabato 21 marzo presso “La Penisola” sul Lago di Corbara, per l’undicesima edizione di Cittaslow-Dinner Music, che conferma la formula vincente della scorsa edizione che ha visto il felice connubio tra la musica d’autore e i saperi e i sapori delle Cittaslow italiane.

Il programma di sabato 21 marzo presenta il concerto con  lo straordinario duo  composto  da  Fabrizio Bosso, uno dei migliori trombettisti della nuova generazione che incontra il chitarrista brasiliano Irio De Paula. Consolidato, timbricamente insolito, geograficamente una scommessa. Il duo formato da Irio De Paula, chitarra, e Fabrizio Bosso, tromba, colpisce per inventiva, logica strutturale, sentimento, lirismo, capacità di raccogliere tutto ciò che la storia e lo studio ha messo a loro disposizione.

I due si sono incontrati casualmente, dando vita ad un album, “Once I Loved” (Philology 2003) che restituisce la magia del jazz: prima non si conoscevano, dopo si sono amati.

“Un vero talento anche dal punto di vista umano”.

Irio De Paula adora Bosso. E dal vivo, ancor più che in studio, lo sostiene, armonicamente e ritmicamente, con quel piglio tutto brasiliano. Nell’alternarsi continuo tra cadenze popolari – di matrice brasiliana – ed approccio jazz, il duo sviluppa una ricerca musicale sofisticata, senza cadere nella trappola dell’eccesso di manierismo che sovente accompagna chi si prodiga al di fuori dei propri confini di genere. Il repertorio si risolve tra riletture obbligatoriamente originali di standard, musica popolare brasiliana di Antonio Carlos Jobim, Marcos Valle e molto spazio, naturalmente, all’improvvisazione e all’interpretazione istantanea. Irio e Fabrizio hanno registrato anche un altro disco, “Four For Jazz”, realizzato in quartetto con Moriconi e Manzi.

Fabrizio Bosso, consacrato come uno dei migliori trombettisti contemporanei, è un leader carismatico, dotato di una tecnica ineccepibile e di un linguaggio unico e personale. E’ stato protagonista sul palco del Festival di Sanremo 2008 con Sergio Cammariere, con cui stabilmente è in tour ed ha già inciso due CD’s, inoltre, con il suo gruppo gli High Five, Bosso ha inciso il brano di successo mondiale “This is what you are” con Mario Biondi, e collabora con tutti i più grandi artisti del panorama musicale, quali Claudio Baglioni, Stefano Di Battista, Gabriele Mirabassi, Tullio De Piscopo, Randy Brecker, Enrico Rava, Gianluca Petrella, Slide Hampton, Bob Mintzer, Gegè Telesforo e altri. Irio De Paula è un chitarrista straordinario dotato di una grande tecnica e capacità espressiva, un maestro della musica brasiliana, definito dalla critica “il più affascinante dei chitarristi brasiliani”, un vero virtuoso dello strumento, ed è inoltre, uno dei migliori suonatori al mondo di cavaquinho (piccola chitarra con quattro corde,strumento tipico brasiliano).De Paula ha suonato ed inciso con Armando Trovajoli, Ennio Morricone e Chico Barque ed è stato ospite nei principali programmi musicali della Rai e Mediaset ed inoltre come solista, ha suonato con l’Orchestra Sinfonica di San Remo e Modigliani di Toscana oltre a quelle di Lecce e Palermo, nonchè, ha suonato e cantato il brano “A criança” nella colonna sonora del film-cult “L’ultima neve di primavera” e a NY, si è esibito al “Birdland” sia da solo che come ospite del trombettista brasiliano Claudio Roditi e con David Sanchez, inoltre è richiestissimo anche nell’ambito jazz da artisti come Gato Barbieri, Toots Thielemans, Buster Williams, Phil Woods, Bobby Durham, Jimmy Cobb, Lee Konitz, Renato Sellani, Gianni Basso, Cidinho Teixeira, F.Cerri.

Fabrizio Bosso è un artista tecnicamente impeccabile, dotato di una grafia personale, in cui il colore e la dinamica del suono non sono mai scontati, il senso dello swing è spinto agli eccessi, la tensione creativa è costante anche nell’interpretazione di standard. Oltre ad aver svolto attività concertistica sotto la direzione di George Russell, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Carla Bley e Steve Coleman, è stato ultimamente reclutato da Charlie Haden per alcune tappe del tour promozionale del nuovo album della Liberation Music Orchestra. Nel 1999 viene votato come “Miglior Nuovo Talento” del jazz italiano dal referendum della rivista “Musica Jazz”, e collabora stabilmente nei gruppi di Giovanni Mazzarino, Salvatore Bonafede ed Enrico Pieranunzi. Fonda, assieme a Scannapieco, gli High Five, suona in duo con Rossano Sportiello in un omaggio ad Armstrong, in trio con D’Andrea e Petrella, nel suo quartetto con Mannutza, Bulgarelli e Tucci, ed incide diversi progetti come leader e co-leader. Fortunata anche la collaborazione al fianco di artisti confinanti con l’estetica jazz come Sergio Cammariere, Mario Biondi e Nicola Conte.
www.fabriziobosso.com

Irio De Paula è nato a Rio De Janeiro ed è uno straordinario chitarrista, dotato di tecnica e feeling trascendenti che lo fanno ritenere un maestro, o meglio, ” il Maestro ” da parte di tutti i musicisti (non solo chitarristi) che “lavorano” nel genere brasiliano. Tutta la sua musica (stile strumentale, senso del ritmo, composizione) proviene dalle più pure ed autentiche origini brasiliane. Irio è uso venare di jazz la musica popolare del suo paese natale confrontandosi anche con altri patrimoni folcloristici in cui la tradizione afroamericana e quella sudamericana si incontrano e crescono insieme, infatti, letteralmente giganteggia nella bossa, nella samba, nelle ballads e nei brani di sua composizione toccando ogni brano con passione e con stile raffinato, rendendo particolari anche i brani più abusati come quelli di Jobim e Lobo, imprimendo il marchio della sua personalità, esprimendo nei tempi più mossi, con contagiosa efficacia, la sua irrefrenabile gioia di vivere e, in quelli lenti, il suo mondo introspettivo e malinconico. Irio si è avvicinato alla chitarra molto presto, legandosi a personaggi della musica popolare brasiliana come Paulo Moura, Baden Powell, Rauzinho, Eumir Deodato, Juarez ed esibendosi spesso al fianco di Astrud Gilberto e Chico Buarque con i quali ha esplorato la samba, la bossa nova e il folclore del suo paese. In ambito jazz vanta una cospicua discografia come leader ed ha partecipato ad incisioni di Sal Nistico, Steve Grossman, Dannie Richmond, Archie Shepp, Ray Mantilla e molti altri.
www.iriodepaula.com

La Cittàslow ospite è  CASTELNOVO NE’ MONTI (Re)Presidio Slow Food:  Parmigiano  Reggiano delle Vacche Rosse. Chef: Mirca PignedoliAntipasto:ANTIPASTO DI SALUMI E PECORINO A LATTE CRUDO. Primo:CANNELLONI DI VERDURA .Secondo:ARROSTO IN VENTAGLIO.Contorno:CONTORNO RUSTICO. Dolce:TORTA DI LIMONE TORTA DI AMARETTI.Vini bianchi e rossi di Orvieto Cantina Cardeto

Si ricorda inoltre che è aperta la Bottega del Gusto in P.zza S. Andrea di Orvieto, sabato e domenica dove si potranno acquistare i prodotti  presidiati Slow Food: Parmigiano  Reggiano delle Vacche Rosse.

Info e prenotazioni:

Tutte le cene sono con servizio al tavolo

con inizio puntuale alle ore 21.00

cui seguirà il concerto del gruppo previsto dalle

ore 22.15

La prenotazione è consigliata contattando

laPenisola SS 448 loc. Lago di Corbara

Baschi -TR- tel 0744 950521

www.albergolapenisola.it, info@albergolapenisola.it

www.cittaslowinfestival.it, info@cittaslowinfestival.it

I menù saranno costituiti da: antipasto, primo piatto, secondo piatto, contorno, dessert, caffè , vini ed acqua minerale.

Costo a persona cena e concerto  40 euro

Possibilità di soggiorno direttamente presso il country resort and restaurant laPenisola

Prezzo per persona in camera doppia: un concerto (comprensivo di cena) e un pernottamento

(con prima colazione) a partire da 80  euro.

Supplemento per camera doppia uso singola  20 euro.

Ogni giorno in più con sistemazione in mezza pensione, a partire da 58 euro.

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

- Mar. 9. (Mon.)  Bill Holman Big Band.  Holman is arguably one of the great, innovative arranger’composers of his – or of any – generation.  With big band nights becoming difficult to maintain in the current economy, here’s a rare opportunity to hear Holman’s amazing charts up close and personal. Charlie O’s.  (818) 994-3058.  www.charlieos.com

- Mar. 11. (Wed.)  Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette.  Twenty-five years together, and this trio of jazz veterans continues to find new wonders in the piano trio format.  UCLA Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101. www.uclalive.org.  Also Saturday, Mar. 14 at U.C. Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall.

Denise Donatelli

- Mar. 12 (Thurs.)  Denise Donatelli.  A dark, enchanting voice, an intuitive ability to tell a musical story, and ineffable rhythmic drive.  All the qualities one looks for in a fine jazz vocalist.  Charlie O’s.  (818) 994-3058.  www.charlieos.com

- Mar. 12 – 15. (Thurs.- Sun.)  David Sanchez. Puerto Rican-born tenor saxophonist Sanchez is arguably one of his instrument’s top creative players.  Jazz Bakery. Jazz Bakery  (310) 271-9039.  www.jazzbakery.com.

- Mar. 13 – 14. (Fri. & Sat.)  Nnenna Freelon.  The six-time Grammy nominated Freelon sings with what the L.A. Times has described as “exquisite musicality and an unerring sense of swing.”  Pepperdine Center for the Arts, Smothers Theatre. (310) 506-4522  http://arts.pepperdine.edu.  .

- Mar. 13 – 14.  (Fri. & Sat.)  Patrice Rushen & Ndugu Chancler. Versatile pianist Rushen and drummer-for-all-seasons Chancler partner with tenor saxophonist Justo Almario and bassist Tony Dumas in an evening of jazz classics.  Spazio. (818) 728-8400.  www.spazio.la/jazz.php

SFJAZZ Collective

- Mar. 13 – 15. (Fri. – Sun.)  SFJAZZ Collective.  Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Stefon Harris, Miguel Zenon, Robin Eubanks, Renee Rosnes, Mat Penman, Eric Harland.  An impressive collection of all-stars – including alto saxophonist and MacArthur genius award winner Zenon – provide the best possible representation for the San Farnicsco Jazz Festival’s far-ranging programming.  Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210.  www.catalinajazzclub.com.

- Mar. 14. (Sat.)  Dave Mackay, Peter Erskine, John Giannelli.  Pianist Mackay’s resume reaches from Sonny Stitt and Bobby Hackett to Don Ellis and Chet Baker.  Working with bassist Giannelli and drummer Erskine opens the possibility for hard swinging post bop, tempered by lyrical balladry.  Giannelli Square.  (818) 772-1722.  www.giannellisquare.com..

Mike Melvoin

- Mar. 15. (Sun.)  Mike Melvoin Trio. In a week rich with piano trio gigs, don’t overlook Melvoin, working with bassist Tony Dumas and drummer Ralph Penland.  Melvoin’s skills, reaching from jazz and pop through classical music, are extraordinary.  But his most unique gift is an ability to bring creative authenticity to everything he plays.  Spazio. (818) 728-8400.  www.spazio.la/jazz.php

- Mar. 15 & 16. (Sun. & Mon.)  Rhiannon, Otmaro Ruiz, Abraham Laboriel, Alex Acuna.  Live Recording.  Bay area vocal artist is – like Bobby McFerrin – an ever-curious adventurer in every area of vocal expression.  Her appearances in L.A. are far too rare, making this two-night session of live recording a not-to-be-missed musical event.  L.A. Sound Gallery, Burbank. (310) 317-4292.  jazz@thevicforjazz.com.

San Francisco

- Mar. 10 & 11. (Tues. & Wed.)  David Sanchez.  Yoshi’s Oakland. Yoshi’s Oakland. . (510) 238-9200.  www.yoshis.com.  Also at the Jazz Bakery, Mar. 12 – 15. (See above)

John Zorn

- Mar. 10 – 15. (Tues. – Sun.)  John Zorn.  Saxophonist, composer and MacArthur fellow Zorn conducts a five night residency at Yoshi’s San Francisco.  Each night features different ensembles performing Zorn’s works.  Among the participants – the Masada String Trio, guitarist Marc Ribot, cellist Erik Friedlander, percussionist Cyro Baptista, drummer Joey Baron and others.  And there’s a Special Offer, too:  Buy tickets for any John Zorn show using the password: zorn and receive a gift certificat of equal value good for tickets at either Yoshi’s.   Yoshi’s San Francisco.  (415) 655-5600.  www.yoshis.com

Mar. 14 (Sat.)  Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette.  U.C. Berkley Zellerbach Hall.    (510) 642-9988.  http://www.calperfs.berkeley.edu.

New York City

- Mar. 10 & 11. (Tues. & Wed.)  Denny Zeitlin Trio with Buster Williams, bass and Matt Wilson, drums.  Zeitlin’s career as a psychiatrist hasn’t minimized his five decades as a consistently envelope-stretching pianist, still seeking and finding new areas of expression within the piano trio format. Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. (212) 258-9595. (www.jalc.org/dccc

- Mar. 11 – 14. (Wed. – Sat.).  Steve Kuhn, Eddie Gomez and Al Foster.  There’s not much in the world of jazz that hasn’t been seen, experienced or played by this trio of veteran jazz artists.  Kuhn’s piano playing has evolved over the years from youthful hard bop through avant-garde jazz, while always maintaining his own voice – a voice that has matured into strikingly imaginative musical mastery.  Birdland.  (212) 581-3080.  www.birdlandjazz.com.

Phil Woods

-  Mar. 12 – 15. (Thurs. – Sun.)  Phil Woods Quintet. Classic bebop still lives in the effervescent playing of alto saxophonist Woods.  He performs with the stellar companionship of Brian Lynch, trumpet; Bill Mays, piano; Steve Gilmore, bass; Bill Goodwin, drums. Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola  www.jalc.org/dccc

- Mar. 12 – 15. (Thurs. – Sun.)  The Odean Pope Saxophone Choir featuring James Carter.  Pope’s nine saxophone choir produces one of contemporary jazz’s most extraordinary sounds.  Add saxophone master Carter to the mix and the multi-reed banquet becomes even more delectable.  Blue Note.  (212) 475-8592. http://www.bluenote.net/newyork/index.shtml.

Estimad@s amig@s,

estamos de celebración por estos lares, con la llegada de dos verdaderos cracks al blog: David Sánchez y Ainhoa Lete, listos para encandilarnos con sus experiencias acerca del papel de las emociones en sus vidas y proyectos empresariales. Podéis conocer un poquito más acerca de ellos en la página de Autores.

Quiero dar las gracias de corazón a los dos por desear compartir conmigo y los seguidores de este blog sus experiencias, conocimientos y emociones. En unos días dispondremos de los enlaces en el Widget de Autores, pero mientras tanto, os dejo con sus primeras reflexiones… ¡bienvenidos a Connecting Time chicos!.

OK GO

“We want this campaign to strike an emotional chord with Banana Republic customers,” said Peter DeLuca, Chief Marketing Officer for Banana Republic. “By tapping into their passion for music, the campaign brings to life Banana Republic’s tradition of city style along with a level of inspiration and optimism that is as refreshing as Spring should be.”

I’m thoroughly impressed with Banana Republic’s “City Stories” Campaign. Cheers to smart and creative advertising! It’s interesting to witness the ways in which the music industry is changing and the increasing role of music in advertisements (and I don’t mean jingles). In this case, it’s not just an exciting new song bringing life to a particular product in a commercial (like Yael Naim’s “New Soul” in the MacBook Air commercial). The musician and their respective image or brand is equally as important in portraying the eclectic side of Banana Republic. 

 The new ads feature nine Grammy-nominated artist/performers (David Garrett, Liz Phair, Chris Carrabba, Tommy Torres, David Sanchez, OK GO, Esperanza Spalding, Ayo and Sara Bareilles), each photographed in BR’s spring and summer 2009 apparel, with New York City as the backdrop.

 City Stories is meant to reflect Banana Republic’s modern look and enduring style while highlighting the vibrant energy of the city. The “eclectic pool of musical talent “who “echo the multicultural richness of the city” share their unique, creative experiences with a city of their choosing. Each artist is featured on the Banana Republic website, with a biography, behind-the-scenes interview, unplugged performance, free music download and streaming music sample. 

iTunes gift cards were given to customers with purchase from February 17 to 26, redeemable for a free compilation of songs by the participating artists. From March 1st through June 31, 2009, Banana Republic’s “City Stories” will be available on RED, Virgin America’s in-flight entertainment system, as the first-ever branded channel.

It’s obviously an incredible opportunity for the artists involved as the exposure is tremendous and potentially expands their target audience into new demographics. OK Go gets to be exposed to financially stable individuals- the Banana Republic customer, the young and self-expressive professional. In turn, Banana Republic seems a little more hip and may appeal to a younger, creative crowd (the type that may not a wear suit to work).

The campaign speaks volumes about the power of music and it’s ability to elicit an emotional reaction/connection. It also shows that the artist or band’s brand is a key factor in cutting through the clutter and competition of mass media and establishing a deeper emotional connection with a target audience.

Check out this great article about music in advertising, the jingle — but one created by a superstar musician: http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/55359750

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

Dominick Farinacci

- Mar. 3. (Tues.)  Dominick Farinacci. The much-heralded young trumpet prodigy has just released his first album, “Lovers, Tales & Dances.”  Already a featured performer at Lincoln Center, where he has studied with Wynton Marsalis, the 25 year old Julliard graduate has the chops, the imagination and the presence to be a breakout artist.  Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210.  www.catalinajazzclub.com.

- Mar. 3. (Tues.)  Julie Kelly Trio. The imaginative jazz singer features selections from her recently released CD, “Everything I Love.”  Charlie O’s.  (818) 994-3058.  www.charlieos.com

- Mar. 5. (Thurs.)  Bill Cunliffe.  Pianist/composer Cunliffe fronts a seven piece ensemble performing material from “Blues and the Abstract Truth: Take 2,” his re-imagining of the 1961Oliver Nelson classic. Vitello’s Restaurant.  (818) 769-0905.  www.vitellosrestaurant.com

- Mar. 5. (Thurs.)  The Klezmatics.  Twenty years together, the Grammy-winning Klezmatics have expanded the definitions of traditional klezmer, bringing it into the vanguard of contemporary music.  UCLA Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101.  www.uclalive.org.   Also Mar. 3 at Yoshi’s San Francisco.  (415) 655-5600.  www.yoshis.com.

Lynda Carter

- Mr. 5 – 7. (Thurs. – Sat.)  Lynda Carter. Forget about Wonder Woman.  Carter’s jazz cabaret singing proves that her creative skills reach well beyond the simulation of comic book characters.  Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210.  www.catalinajazzclub.com.

- Mar. 5 – 7. (Thurs. – Sat.)  Pharoah Sanders Quartet. The Coltrane legacy lives, transformed into a uniquely personal expression by one of jazz’s most intriguing musical veterans.  Jazz Bakery  (310) 271-9039.  www.jazzbakery.com.

- Mar. 6. (Fri.)  Anthony Wilson Septet.  He’s everybody’s guitarist of choice, as well as a sterling player in his own right.  And some of his most fascinating music takes place via the charts he writes for his Septet.  Steamers.  (714) 871-8800  www.steamersjazzcafe.com.

- Mar. 6. (Fri.)  The Bad Plus and Wendy Lewis.  The iconoclastic nu-jazz trio perform selections from their new CD, “For All I Care,” their first album featuring vocals. The Mint.   (323) 954-9400.

Ernie Andrews

- Mar. 6. (Fri.)  Ernie Andrews and  Llew Matthews. Combine the inimitable singing of Andrews with the dynamic piano work of Matthews, and expect to share the joy of straight ahead jazz and blues.  Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel.  (310) 642-7500.  www.CrownePlaza.com.

- Mar. 7. (Sat.)  Music and Conversation.  An eclectic evening of music.  The opening portion features violinist Nancy Wu, cellist John Walz, clarinetist Josh Ranz and pianist Delores Stevens performing music by Subotnick, J.S. Bach and Schumann.  The second half showcases a jazz set with pianist Alan Broadbent, saxophonists Gary Foster and bassist Putter Smith.  The Goldman Performance Space. Mt. Washington. (310) 453-6278.  http://www.musicandconversations.org.

San Francisco

- Mar. 2.(Mon.)  Amina Figarova.  The Azerbaijani jazz pianist/composer continues hor West Coast tour.  Yoshi’s Oakland. . (510) 238-9200.  www.yoshis.com.  Also Mar. 3 at Jazz Bakery  (310) 271-9039.  www.jazzbakery.com.

- Mar. 6 – 8 (Fril. – Sun.)  Stanley Clarke Acoustic. Calling all bass players.  Stop by Yoshi’s this week for an object lesson in what your instrument can really do. Yoshi’s Oakland. . (510) 238-9200.  www.yoshis.com.

- Mar. 7 and 8. (Sat. & Sun.)  SFJAZZ kicks off its 10^th Spring Season with performances by Albino! on Saturday and Jenny Scheinman on Sunday at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum.(866) 920-5299.  http://www.sfjazz.org.

San Diego

- Mar. 7. (Sat.)  David Sanchez.  The Grammy-winning, Puerto Rican tenor saxophonist affirms his position in the top echelon of cutting edge, contemporary jazz.  San Diego Atheneum. (858) 454-5872 www.ljathenaeum.org.

New York City

Michel Legrand

- Mar. 3 – 8. (Tues. – Sun.)  Michel Legrand. The French pianist/composer makes a rare club appearance in program titled “Romance…with Strings Attached, featuring Legrand’s trio with string quartet and harpist. Not to be missed.  Birdland.  (212) 581-3080.  www.birdlandjazz.com.

- Mar. 3 – 8. (Tues. – Sun.)  Cyrus Chestnut and Eric Reed. A pair of the jazz world’s most unique pianists have an improvisational encounter.  With Dezron Douglas, bass and Willie Jones III, drums.  Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. (212) 258-9595.  www.jalc.org/dccc.

- Mar. 5 – 8. (Thurs. – Sun.) ” Dexter Calling.” A Dexter Gordon Celebration.  With Dave Liebman (Thurs. & Fri.), Randy Brecker (Sat. & Sun.), Eric Alexander, George Cables, Lonnie Plaxico and Billy Drummond.  Iridium Jazz Club.  (212) 582-2121.  http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com.

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