All Your Jazz » Events

Sara Gazarek and Sachal Vasandani Make Their OCPAC Debuts To Start the 2010-2011 Jazz Series

drumminfabe — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:20:05 +0000

Sara Gazarek and Sachal Vasandani are two of today’s brightest young jazz artists, and they will combine their formidable talents to open the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s 2010-2011 Jazz Series September 24th and 25th in Samueli Theater. Each are creating jazz music that moves today’s generation.

Singer/songwriter Gazarek is known for seamlessly mingling her uniquely intimate style with the musical and improvisational elements of jazz while Vasandani is simply one of the hottest jazz vocalists/songwriters/bandleaders working today. Recently, Vasandani won the 2010 DownBeat Critics Poll for best Male Jazz Vocals in the Rising Star category. And Gazarek was voted one of the Best New Artists in the JazzTimes Readers Poll.

Sara Gazarek

Gazarek is a talented young artist on an amazing musical journey who has emerged as a strikingly original artist with limitless potential. In a follow up to Yours, Gazarek’s widely hailed 2005 debut focusing on American Songbook standards, she delivers a sensational sophomore effort with Return to You. Born and raised in Seattle, Gazarek grew up without much exposure to jazz.

Her preliminary jazz education started during high school and as a senior, she was awarded the first-ever Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation Outstanding Jazz Vocalist Award at the Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City.

She studied at the prestigious Thornton School of Music at USC. In 2003, Gazarek was awarded the 2003 Downbeat Student Music Award for Best Collegiate Vocalist. Shortly after the publication hit the press, she was asked to perform with Oleta Adams, Karrin Allyson, and Diane Schuur as the “as yet undiscovered talent” on the Concord Jazz Festival Tour. Simultaneously, Gazarek joined Barry Manilow, Allyson, and Schuur as a Stiletto Entertainment (management) client and was soon being booked by the industry giant, William Morris.

John Clayton, a mentor and teacher at USC, produced her first album, and insisted she develop the arrangements herself with the band she’d been performing with. She found musical soulmates in her group and the resulting record was a debut that was released to national and international rave reviews. It ranked in the Top 10 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Charts, Top 10 on the iTunes top Jazz Album Downloads (US, UK, Switzerland, and Belgium), No. 1 on the iTunes Top Jazz Album Downloads (Germany, France), No. 5 on the Jazz Week Radio Charts, No. 4 on the HMV (Japan) chart. In addition, Gazarek was voted the No. 3 Best New Artist in the JazzTimes Readers Poll. saragazarek.com

Sachal Vasandani

Vasandani’s sophomore CD, We Move, on Mack Avenue Records was produced with a team of top-flight studio sages (John Clayton, Doug Wamble and Al Pryor). We Move finds Vasandani (who also serves as a producer) maturing as songwriter, tune stylist and bandleader in the wake of his breakout 2007 debut, Eyes Wide Open (Mack Avenue Records).

Vasandani was born in Chicago and grew up in a household where all kinds of music was appreciated. In pursuing his love for music at the University of Michigan, he began to be recognized as a talent of the future, most notably by DownBeat magazine, which awarded him Collegiate Jazz Vocalist of the Year in 1999.

After moving to New York, Vasandani quickly became a part of the jazz scene, and made a musical home in storied clubs like the Zinc Bar. And after the release of his breakthrough debut recording, he toured extensively supporting Eyes Wide Open. He opened for such disparate artists from jazz trumpeter Chris Botti to pop singer Joan Osborne.

On We Move, Vasandani has ample support from his trio comprised of pianist Jeb Patton, bassist David Wong and drummer Quincy Davis. The band has been a group since 2001. Vasandani notes that in addition to their instrumental support, two band members also contributed songs, including Patton’s “Horizons” that is paired with the romping, upswing “Once in a While” (by Michael Edwards and Bud Green) and Davis composed the music on “Ring Road (Back to You).”

In addition to his originals, Vasandani puts his spin on songs from the jazz songbook and canon,including Rodgers & Hart’s “There’s a Small Hotel” with a Vasandani intro (“Escape”) that gives the standard a fresh feel. Also on the CD are “No More,” the Hubert Laws/Jon Hendricks ‘70s song; the Bloom/Kohler tune “Don’t Worry About Me;” “Poinciana;” “There Are Such Things” (by Stanley Adams, Abel Baer, George W. Meyer); “The River of St. Marie” by Joe Williams; and Thelonious Monk’s “Monk’s Dream” (with lyrics by Hendricks). sachalvasandani.com

Performance Info:

Date: September 24th-25th, 2010 (7:30 pm, 9:30 pm)

Location: Orange County Performing Arts Center (Samueli Theater)

Tickets: $49 – will go on sale August 22nd. They will be available online at OCPAC.org, at the Center’s Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling 714.556.2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts for 15 or more, call the Group Services office at 714.755.0236. The TTY number is 714.556.2746.

2nd Annual “Company of Heaven Jazz Festival” At Cornelia Street Cafe: Jan. 8th-10th

drumminfabe — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:58:06 +0000

Get ready to join in the fun at the 2nd Annual Company of Heaven Jazz Festival, hosted by Cornelia Street Cafe in New York City. The event is set to take place January 8th-10th, 2010, featuring some of the most exciting jazz artists New York City has to offer.

Cover charge is $10 for each individual set OR $25 cover charge for the entire night (3 sets). APAP Conference attendees with official badges get free admission for entire Jazz Festival. Additionally there is a $7 food/drink minimum per set. Reservations are highly recommended.

- Festival Details
- Venue Info

Festival Set List

Friday, January 8, 2010
8:30pm “R*Time” w/special guest Judith Insell(viola)
Reut Regev – trombone
David Phelps – electric guitar
Sean Conly – bass
Igal Foni – drums

9:45pm “The Other Quartet”
Ohad Talmor – tenor saxophone, clarinet
Russ Johnson – trumpet
Pete McCann – guitar
Mark Ferber – drums, percussion

11pm Mario Pavone’s “Totem”
Mario Pavone / bass
Peter Madsen / piano
Dave Ballou / trumpet , flugelhorn
Gerald Cleaver drums

Saturday, January 9, 2010
8:30pm “The Thirteenth Assembly”
Taylor Ho Bynum – cornet
Mary Halvorson – guitar
Jessica Pavone – viola
Tomas Fujiwara – drums

9:45pm Tony Malaby’s “Paloma Recio”
Tony Malaby, saxophone
Ben Monder, guitar
Eivind Opsik, bass
Nasheet Waits, drums

11pm Mark Helias’ “Open Loose”
Mark Helias – bass
Tony Malaby – tenor saxophone
Tom Rainey – drums

Sunday, January 10, 2010
8:30pm Michael Musillami’s Trio + 3
Michael Musillami – guitar
Joe Fonda – bass
George Schuller – drums
Marty Ehlich – Alto Sax
Matt Moran – Vibes
Ralph Alessi – trumpet

9:45pm George Schuller “Circle Wide”
George Schuller – drums, comp, arr
Peter Apfelbaum – tenor/soprano sax
Dave Ambrosio – bass
Tom Beckham – vibes
Brad Shepik – guitar

11pm Matt Darriau’s “Ballin’ the Jack”
Matt Darriau – alto/soprano sax, clarinet
Andy Laster – baritone sax, clarinet
Frank London – trumpet
Curtis Hasselbring – trombone
George Schuller – drums
Joe Fitzgerald – bass
Anthony Coleman – keyboard, piano

More Info can be found online at www.companyofheaven.com.

View Larger Map

Festival Location

Cornelia Street Cafe
29 Cornelia Street
Greenwich Village, NYC
(212) 989-9319
www.corneliastreetcafe.com

Shelia Anderson Presents Her Experience In Jazz At Harlem’s “Jazz For Curious Readers”

drumminfabe — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:45:33 +0000

Kick off the new year with the National Jazz Museum In Harlem for this week’s Jazz For Curious Readers. Join JFCR this week as Shelia Anderson, a.k.a. “The Queen of Hang” and author and WOBC jazz radio host, discusses her career in the jazz literary world. She will be presentin her work Monday, January 4th, 2010 at the NJMH Visitors Center in New York at 7:00pm. The event is FREE

Artist Info

As host-producer of a TV and a radio program on jazz in the New York City area, Shelia Anderson, author of The Quotable Musician: From Bach to Tupac, has met and interviewed musicians, composers, and other music industry professionals from all genres, classical to jazz.

For her latest book, How to Grow as a Musician: What All Musicians Must Know to Succeed (above, right), she put her connections to good use and culled the wisdom and personal experiences of 30 prominent musicians, including Grammy Award-winning performer Al Jarreau; Paula Kimper, a composer of opera, theater, film, and dance music; and Eric Reed, a jazz pianist who has played with the Wynton Marsalis Septet, Joe Henderson, Cassandra Wilson, and a multitude of other masters.

Shelia Anderson weaves together a comprehensive guide that reveals the fundamentals necessary for living a creative and successful life in music, with insights on getting started, developing as an artist, composing, recording, songwriting, preparing for performance, working with a manager, and signing contracts. She shares musicians’ candid and poignant advice on triumph and failure, self-evaluation, ego checks, and personal growth.

More Info

Event Details

Monday, January 4th, 2010
(7:00pm – 8:30pm)
Event is FREE!

Location:
Jazz Museum in Harlem Visitors Center
104 E. 126th Street (Suite 2C)
New York, NY 10035
(212) 348-8300
http://jazzmuseuminharlem.org

10th Annual Newport Beach Jazz Party: Feb. 11th-14th

drumminfabe — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:48:24 +0000

February 11th-14th, 2010Newport Beach for “Right Down The Middle And Straight Ahead” Jazz at the Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa. The party will again center on a large stage nightly at 7:00pm (Thursday at 8:00pm) with reserved seating providing a near perfect mix of concert conditions and intimacy of a club setting, all in the Grand Pacific Ballroom.

Highlights & Schedule

• Thursday’s Grand Opening Night will feature a stunning tribute to Frank Sinatra with the Patrick Williams’ Orchestra conducted by Terry Woodson, in SINATRLAND. Said one reviewer of the “10-star tribute to the Chairman” album- “If you like a well-disciplined big band sound, you gotta hear the Sinatraland Orchestra. You’ll love it!” Closing the evening will be a big band tribute to Benny Goodman with clarinet virtuoso- Ken Peplowski!

• Friday evening will kick off with Ken Peplowski, Gilbert Castellanos, Bill Cunliffe, Paul Keller and Lewis Nash in swinging set of the Great American Songbook, followed by the legendary Jimmy & Tootie Heath quartet featuring Cunliffe and Bob Magnusson. Jackie Ryan and the Tamir Hendelman Trio will follow and closing this second great night of straight ahead jazz will be famed drummer Jeff Hamilton and his Trio which features Tamir Hendelman and Christoph Luty!

• Saturday night will open with one of the most recorded drummers in jazz- Lewis Nash and his Friends, followed by trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling who will be joined by Dan Barrett, Paul Keller, Jeff Hamilton and Bill Cunliffe. Marlena Shaw and the Bill Cunliffe Trio will be next and closing the evening will be the Holly Hofmann Quartet with Strings in a tribute to Duke Ellington! Holly will feature Mike Wofford on piano, Christoph Luty on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drums, along with special guest- Byron Stripling.

• Sunday Evening will start by featuring one of the hottest young guitar players on today’s jazz scene- Graham Dechter who will be joined by veterans Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton and Tamir Hendelman. And continuing with
some comedy relief will be Dave Frishberg who is certain to perform many of his classic hits including “Peel Me a Grape”. Byron Stripling and Marlena Shaw will team up for the first time and bringing the weekend to a swinging
close will be the renowned Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

More Info

Details

Tickets are now available for the complete four night, three-day package including one Jazz Brunch. Prices are $350/375. Individual reserved seats are priced at $65/$70 for evening performances and $40/50 for the Grand Opening Sessions, $30 each for “Friday, Saturday & Sunday By the Pool” and $50 for each Jazz Brunch. For tickets to the 10th Annual Newport Beach Jazz Party, call the Jazzline at 949.759.5003 or for complete artist appearance times and an order form visit our website at newportbeachjazzparty.com.

Those wishing to have a weekend getaway may also enjoy the Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa special rate of $154 per night for a standard room, $164 for Pool/Music View, $174 for Ocean Music View and $179 for Concierge. For hotel reservations call Marriott at 949.640.4000 and ask for the Newport Beach Jazz Party rate.

Free self-parking will also be available for attendees.

The Newport Beach Marriott
900 Newport Center Dr.
Newport Beach, CA
newportbeachjazzparty.com

Sammy Figueroa Does Tribute To Cal Tjader At Iridium Jazz Club: Jan. 8th

drumminfabe — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 08:56:07 +0000

Reknowned percussionist Sammy Figueroa will bring his Cal Tjader tribute band, ‘Sally’s Tomato’ to the Iridium Jazz Club on Friday, January 8th 2009 for a special midnight show.

This performance coincides with the opening of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference at the New York Hilton, which has put a special focus on jazz this year. For those who love the lilting, tropical sounds of vibraphonist Cal Tjader this evening will be a hot ticket.

Performance Background

Sammy Figueroa

Cal Tjader, who recorded almost 80 albums in his long career, and collaborated with Eddie Palmieri, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and many others, was one of the great innovators of Latin jazz. His sound, combining the celestial quality of the vibraphone with the intricate swinging rhythms of mambo and salsa, helped establish Latin Jazz as a genre and is considered to be the foundation of “cool jazz” and acid jazz.

- Other Jazz Styles

Artist Info

A classic tribute band , “Sally’s Tomato” strives to capture every nuance of Cal Tjader’s “Willy Bobo” period and is perhaps the first genuine Latin tribute band (as opposed to a ‘cover’ band). The group’s name, “Sally’s Tomato” (from a song that Tjader composed and recorded for the film “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”), reflects the playfulness and lightness of the music. The band will perform Tjader classics such as The Continental, Soul Sauce, Mambo Terrifico, Cuban Fantasy, Alonso and Tu Creas Que.

‘Sally’s Tomato’, formed in November 2008, debuted at the Miami Book Fair and was an instant success, obtaining an enthusiastic following and the blessings of Cal Tjader’s children. Sammy Figueroa, who has been living in South Florida since 2001, gathered together some great musicians for this special project, among them Richard Bravo on timbales, Brian Potts on vibraphone, Alexander Hoyt on piano and Freddy Lugo on bongos. The band will be joined by New York-based bassist Waldo Chavez.

Performance Details

When:
Friday, January 8th, 2010
(Midnight)

Cover:
$20 admission $10 for pre-reservations
Free admission for APAP badgeholders

Location:
Iridium Jazz Club
1650 Broadway (51st St.)
New York, NY 10019
(212) 582-2121
www.iridiumjazzclub.com

Al Williams Jazz Society Plays At Spaghettini: Dec. 26th

drumminfabe — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:19:19 +0000

The Al Williams Jazz Society is booked to play at LA’s Spaghettini Italian Grill & Jazz Club December 26th, 2009. The Al Williams Jazz Society is a quintet composed of some of the finest musicians in Southern California. High in energy, melodically sensitive, they are bebop specialists who also perform a variety of contemporary sounds—blues, ballads, Latin rhythms, smooth jazz, etc. Whether it’s the Al Williams Jazz Society or the Al Williams Trio performing, there is always a loyal following of fans who can count on the unique artistry of his bands, bands that always included musicians whose backgrounds are rich in experience and achievement. The show starts at 8:00pm, and you can reserve tickets for $20.

Make Reservations

Background

Al Williams—drummer, entrepreneur and promoter of jazz—has a well-earned reputation as a musical mover and shaker. Williams was born in Pasadena, California, and his love affair with music began at the age of eight when he began studying the clarinet. During high school, he played in the school band, the Boys’ Club Concert Band, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Youth Band. At the age of seventeen, he finally convinced his parents to let him pursue and develop his interest in playing drums, which has continued to be his main musical love.

While in college, Williams organized his first band, The Modern Jazz Majors, and their enthusiastically-received performances at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach launched him into the beginnings of a music career, a career that ultimately branched off into two directions—an entrepreneurial /promotional direction, and, of course, the development of his own musical artistry as a drummer and band leader.

As a band leader, he has three well-received recordings to his credit. Sandance and Let’s Celebrate, bring together international favorites like Grammy Winner Poncho Sanchez, Roy Ayers, The Jazz Crusaders’ Wayne Henderson, and vocalist Barbara Morrison, and his latest Meeting At The Crossroads.

Location:
Spaghettini Grill & Jazz Club
3005 Old Ranch Parkway,
Seal Beach, California 90740
(562) 596-2199
www.spaghettini.com

Jerry Vivino Quartet Plays At Vitello’s In Studio City, CA: New Years Eve

drumminfabe — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:39:45 +0000

If you ever watched the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, you may have noticed that they have a pretty good band backing the vibrant host. For those that are not familiar, the Tonight Show Band has some members that have started their own group, namely the Jerry Vivino Quartet, and they are visiting Vitello’s in Studio City on New Years Eve. Seating packages start at $50, and seating is limited. Sets begin at 7:00pm and 10:00pm.

More Info

The Group

These amazing musicians, all members of the new Tonight Show Band with Conan O’Brien, are sure to wow the captive and enthralled audience with their energized and exuberant show. The Jerry Vivino Quartet – featuring Jerry Vivino (sax, flute, and vocals), Mike Merritt (bass), James Wormworth (drums), and Scotty Healy (piano) – are not only among the most talented musicians in the scene today, but are also considered the most entertaining.

It wasn’t too long ago the Jerry Vivino got his first gig out in L.A., and it was also at Vitello’s for the Red Carpet Jazz Series. They received rave reviews from various sources, including the LA Jazz Scene, commenting that “they put on one hell of a show, not to be missed.”

What better way to bring in the new year than with a spectacular group of musicians who just love to play together. Join in the fun at Vitello’s on New Years Eve.

Performance Details

Thursday, December 31st, 2009
(7:00pm, 10:00pm)

The Jerry Vivino Quartet
w/ Mike Merritt, James Wormworth & Scott Healy

Sets:
Early show $50 includes Italian buffet or pre-fixe menu. Late show $75 includes dancy party, Italian buffet, party favors and champagne toast. All are members of the Tonight Show Band.
Reservations are Recommended.

Location:
Vitello’s Jazz Upstairs
4349 Tujunga Ave.
Studio City, CA
(818) 769-0905
http://www.vitellosrestaurant.com

Arturo Sandoval All-Star Band To Play Yoshi’s In Oakland: Dec. 26th-28th

drumminfabe — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:47:44 +0000

Arturo Sandoval All-Star Band will perform at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square in Oakland on Saturday, December 26th through Monday, December 28th with sets at 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Arturo Sandoval is a truly legendary trumpeter. He is known for his versatile mix of jazz, classical, and traditional Cuban music.

This new All-Star band features Arturo Sandoval on trumpet Horatio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez on drums, percussionist Giovanni ‘Mañenguito’ Hidalgo, pianist Rebeca Mauleón, Joe Cohen on saxophone and Dewayne Pate on bass. Cuban trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval has won five Grammy Awards, six Billboard Awards and an Emmy Award. Rumba Palace is Sandoval’s 28th recording was awarded a Latin Grammy in the category of Best Latin Jazz Album by the Latin Recording.

Background

Arturo Sandoval was a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning group Irakere, whose explosive mixture of jazz, classical, rock and traditional Cuban music caused a sensation throughout the entertainment world. In 1981, he left Irakere to form his own band, which garnered enthusiastic praise from critics and audiences all over the world. Sandoval was voted Cuba’s Best Instrumentalist from 1982 to 1990.

Arturo Sandoval has been awarded 4 Grammy Awards, 6 Billboard Awards and an Emmy Award. The latter for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, “For Love or Country” starring Andy Garcia. He is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time, and has recently been seen by millions in the Grammy Awards performing with pop-phenomenon Justin Timberlake as well as on the Latin Billboard Awards with the gifted Alicia Keys, where he was awarded his 6th Billboard Awards for Best Latin Jazz Album.

Performance Details

December 26th – 28th, 2009
(8:00pm, 10:00pm)
Cover: $30

Yoshi’s Jazz Club
510 Embarcadero West
Oakland, CA
(510) 238-9200
http://www.yoshis.com

Bring In The New Year With The Tessa Souter Group: Jan. 2nd

drumminfabe — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:11:52 +0000

The Tessa Souter Group will make an appearance in New York at Joe’s Pub. Only performing one set at 7:30pm on January 2nd, 2010, the group is promoting their latest release Obsession (Motema Music, 2009)

On her stunning third recording, Obsession (Motema Music), London-born (of Trinidadian and English parents), New York-based Tessa Souter (soo-ter) presents a multicultural banquet that reflects her conjoined African, Indian, and English bloodlines. Her first CD, Listen Love, won critical raves for her “crystal clear voice and diamond cut phrasing” (Philadelphia Inquirer) and “direct, soulful sound”(Village Voice).

Her sophomore CD, Night of Key Largo, on Japanese audiophile label, Venus – with all-stars Kenny Werner, Billy Drummond, Jay Leonhart, Joel Frahm, and Romero Lubambo – won the coveted Gold Disc review in January 2009’s Swing Journal, which said of her, “there are traces of Billie Holiday and Carmen McRae in her phrasing, and Julie London and Peggie Lee in her delicate breathing, which harbors a touch of sorrow.”

“A true jazz singer, she employs her voice as a musical instrument and as the member
of an ensemble … [bringing] … this approach [on Obsession] to … a collection of jazz
tunes by the likes of Kenny Barron, Freddie Hubbard and Milton Nascimento along with
jazz versions of Nick Drake’s “River Man,” Cream’s “White Room” and the Beatles’
“Eleanor Rigby.” In doing so, she creates a kind of modern Great Anglo-American
Songbook.” [Berkshire Living magazine]

Background

After moving to New York in 1996, Souter started sitting in at jazz jams, before winning a scholarship to New York’s Manhattan School of Music in 1998. She left to study with jazz vocal legend Mark Murphy, her mentor for four years, who says of her, “She is a true musician …. extraordinary and very moving.” Since then, Souter has developed into a phenomenal live performer, “… completely captivating her audience”[Mark Murphy] — singing to sold out houses all over the world, from the Blue Note, New York to the Samara Philharmonic, Russia.

To quote a recent live review [of her sold out return to the Rochester International Jazz Festival, 2009]:

“To say Souter enchanted the audience would be an understatement ….. The capacity
crowd seemed transfixed by Souter’s gorgeous voice and wonderful personality.”
(Rochester City Paper).

“Better still, she delivers it with a wit and a wink worthy of the toniest joints in town.”
(Time Out New York).

More Artist Info

Performance Details

Janurary 2nd, 2010
(7:30pm)
Cover: $15 pre-sale; $18 at the door

Joe’s Pub
425 Lafayette St
New York, NY 10003-7021
(212) 539-8777
www.joespub.com

Mike Stern To Play Catalina’s In Hollywood: Dec. 19th-20th, 2009

drumminfabe — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:36:41 +0000

In a career that spans three decades and a discography that includes more than a dozen eclectic and innovative recordings, five-time Grammy nominee Mike Stern has established himself as one of the premier jazz and jazz-fusion guitarists and composers of his generation. The Mike Sern Quartet featuring drummer Dave Weckl, Randy Brecker on trumpet and Tom Kenedy on bass will perform on December 19th – December 20th at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood.

Get Tickets

Artist Info & Albums

Mike Stern got his start as a guitar player with Blood, Sweat & Tears at age 22. He moved to New York City, where he was recruited by Miles Davis to play in Miles’ celebrated comeback band of 1981. During his three-year period with Miles, Stern appeared on three recordings with the jazz maestro – Man with the Horn, Star People and the live We Want Miles. He toured with Jaco Pastorius’ Word of Mouth Band from 1983 through 1985 and returned to Miles’ lineup for a second tour of duty that lasted close to a year.

In 1985, Stern recorded Neesh, his first recording as a leader, for the Japan-based Trio label. A year later, he made his debut on Atlantic with Upside Downside, featuring such celebrated colleagues as David Sanborn, Jaco Pastorius, saxophonist Bob Berg, bassists Mark Egan and Jeff Andrews, keyboardist Mitch Forman and drummers Dave Weckl and Steve Jordan. Over the next two years, Stern was a member of Michael Brecker’s potent quintet, appearing on Don’t Try This At Home.

The 90’s was a good time for Stern, producing many of his most classic and favorite albums still being enjoyed today. His acclaimed 1993 release, Standards, earned him the pick of Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year by the readers and critics of Guitar Player magazine. He followed that up with two hard hitting offerings – Is What It Is (1994) and Between The Lines (1996) – both of which scored Grammy nominations. In 1997, he recorded Give And Take with bassist John Patitucci, drummer Jack DeJohnette, percussionist Don Alias and special guests Michael Brecker and David Sanborn.

Stern’s ninth release for Atlantic was a six-string summit with colleagues Bill Frisell and John Scofield that was appropriately titled Play. His Voices (2001) release, his first foray into vocal music, was also another Grammy nominee. Stern received his 4th Grammy nomination for the 2006 release Who Let The Cats Out?. Stern joined the renowned Yellowjackets for Lifecycle, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2008.

In August 2009, Stern released his most recent album, Big Neighborhood. Aiding him in this latest chapter in his never-ending quest for the new and better groove is a long list of talented guests: guitarists Steve Vai and Eric Johnson; bassist-vocalists Esperanza Spalding and Richard Bona; jamband godfathers Medeski Martin & Wood; drummers Dave Weckl, Terri Lyne Carrington, Cindy Blackman and Lionel Cordew; bassists Chris Minh Doky and Lincoln Goines, saxophonists Bob Franceschini and Bob Malach, trumpeter Randy Brecker and keyboardist/producer Jim Beard.

More Artist Info

Performance Details

December 19th (8:00pm, 10:00pm)
December 20th (7:30pm, 9:30pm)

Cover: $20-$30, depending on day

Get Tickets

Location:
Catalina Bar & Grill
6725 West Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood California 90028
Phone: (323) 466-2210
http://www.catalinajazzclub.com