Jeopardy Answer: "Hotter than July"

If you answered with the question: "What is Stevie Wonder's 1980 release?" you'd be partially right. However, the answer I was looking for is, "How is the summer jazz calendar shaping up?".


This year's Southern California jazz has been awesome and this month is no exception. But before I get started listing my picks for the month, let me backtrack and highlight two recent shows.


Friday, June 22: A bunch of us (Mark Heimbigner, Holly Bower, Christy Luna, Ted Kane and myself) went to LACMA on a Friday night after work to hear the Charles Owens quartet. Charles is money in the bank when it comes to fantastic jazz, and the courtyard was FULL of people with a cool demographic. If LACMA is on your radar for Friday night jazz, you'll do yourself a disservice if you don't try to make it. And the five of us had so much fun, both at the show and afterwards for nosh at The Spanish Kitchen.

Friday, June 29: Tanya Finks, Angela Webb and I caught Malcolm-Jamal Warner's one man show, "Love and Other Social Issues". (Yes, MJW is "the artist formerly known as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show".) I'm including this in a jazz blog posting because the show includes music by his jazz-ish funk band, Miles Long. While I have a propensity to seek out mostly straight-ahead jazz, I really liked the integration of spoken word into some standard jazz riffs. This show is not for kids, but it was so entertaining that I actually went to see it again. And I might try for one more time before it closes next weekend. Any takers?

Me & Malcolm-Jamal Warner

(if I had an iPhone, bet this photo would be clear)

And now, without further ado, July's Jazz picks courtesy of yours truly:

Sunday, July 1: Ro sham bo to decide whether to take in:
Charles Owens Quartet at Charlie O's in Van Nuys - fabulous reed player and genuinely kind human being
-or-
Onaje Murray at Hal's Bar & Grill in Venice - Vibraphone player who I've only heard once but have been anxious to hear again...


Wednesday, July 11: Queen Latifah at the Hollywood Bowl. I've been curious to hear QL perform live after hearing the buzz about her latest jazz endeavors. And for those who don't know, the Hollywood Bowl is one of my very favorite places on this entire planet (although not necessarily as a jazz venue, but let's not split hairs...) Tickets range from a billion dollars to like $3, and you can bring your own food / wine. What's not to like?


Friday, July 13: Another ro sham bo opportunity!
VR & Putter Smith at Cafe 322 in Sierra Madre - Great old school jazzers and a fun, low key venue.
-OR-
Bill Cunliffe at Pasadena Jazz Institute in Pasadena (der) - A brilliant pianist / composer / arranger who always puts on an entertaining show.



Tuesday, July 17: Poncho Sanchez at Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood. The free summer series outside with snackies and wine is always a must-do, and Poncho always puts on a great show.


Thursday, July 19 (plus more dates): Ravi Coltrane at Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood. Yes, this is John and Alice Coltrane's sax playing son. I heard him last September in Long Beach and have been jonesing to hear him again.



Tuesday, July 24: Cedar Walton at Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood. Another jazz legend doing a free (?!?!?) concert. Why would we miss this? Why???? (Happy 30th Birthday, Danielle!! xoxo)


Wednesday, July 25: Javier Vergara quartet at Cafe 322, Sierra Madre. Javier plays reeds for Poncho Sanchez and the Banda Brothers and this gig as a bandleader should be a great opportunity for him to really cut loose.


Saturday / Sunday, July 28-29: Jeff Hamilton with Atsuko Hashimoto and Ron Eschete at Pasadena Jazz Institute, Pasadena. OK chickadees. Listen up. I heard Jeff and Atsuko with Houston Person last August and I am not exaggerating when I say it was some of the most amazing music I have ever heard in my life. And I have heard a LOT of music. My stepmother Esther, from the deep south, heard Atsuko play the Hammond B-3 organ and said, "She is a soul brother reincarnated!". All I can say here is, do NOT miss this show. There are a couple of other dates coming up in August with Houston Person on tenor instead of Ron Eschete's guitar, so stay tuned...


AND AN AUGUST SNEAK PEEK


Sunday, August 5: Thurman Green Scholarship Brunch at Catalina Jazz Club, Hollywood. Featuring Barbara Morrison and the Phil Ranelin Jazz Ensemble, this event will raise funds for scholarships for aspiring young jazz trombonists. Gloria Green, a friend of mine and the wife of trombonist Thurman Green, is coordinating this amazing event - don't miss it!!!


There you have it - July's jazz picks. Be sure to post a comment to this entry if you have other jazz shows to flag. See you out there!!