Picks of the Week: Mar. 16 - 22

March 15, 2009 — irom

Los Angeles

- Mar. 16 & 17. (Mon. & Tues.)  Uri Caine Trio. Caine’s crossover blends of jazz and classical music are among the wonders of contemporary music.  Jazz Bakery. Jazz Bakery  (310) 271-9039.0-317-4292 310-317-4292

- Mar. 17. (Tues.)  Josh Nelson Trio.  Nelson has quickly moved from the position of emerging young talent to a solid role as one of the Southland’s adventurous, always compelling jazz artists.  He performs with the solid support of bassist Pat Senatore and drummer Mark Ferber. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.  

- Mar. 18. (Wed.)  Mike Lang Trio.  Pianist Lang’s credits range eclectically from work with Ray Charles, John Lennon, Lee Konitz, Barbra Streisand and Frank Zappa to film recording with John Williams, Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein and more.  But the best way to hear him is on his own, fronting a trio with  Mike Valerio, bass, Joel Taylor, drums, with special guest, David Paich, on keyboards.  Catalina’s.  Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210. 

Mariza

- Mar. 18. (Wed.)  Mariza.  The dynamic, Portuguese fadista brings the classic fado style fully into the 21^st century.. Walt Disney Concert Hall. (323) 850-2000. 

- Mar. 19. (Thurs.)  Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band.  With Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett and Vinnie Colaiuta in the Band, expect state of the art contemporary  jazz.  Five Piece (or Peace) groups don’t get much better than this. UCLA Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101.

- Mar. 19 & 20.. (Thurs. & Fri.)  Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The Grammy winning South African choral ensemble makes a pair of Southland appearances.  Thurs. at The Conga Room. (213) 749-0162 .   Friday at CSUN’s Plaza del Sol Performance Hall. (818) 677-2488. 

- Mar. 20 (Fri.)  Ernie Watts with the John Heard Trio. Player for all seasons Watts is the first call saxophonist on everyone’s list, bringing everything he touches to life.  Here he has a chance to do it up front on  his own terms. Charlie O’s.  Charlie O’s.  (818) 994-3058.  .

Tuck & Patti

- Mar. 20 - 22. (Fri. - Sun.)  Tuck & Patti. The ultimate voice and guitar jazz duo showcase selections from their latest CD, “I Remember You,” in typically rememorable fashion. Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210. 

- Mar. 20.  (Fri.)  Susie Hansen Latin Jazz Band. Susie’s high -energy electric violin and the surging rhythms of her always buoyant musicians keep the body moving and the feet tapping.  (714) 871-8800 

- Mar. 22. (Sun.)  Wycliffe Gordon, Rickey Woodard, John Beasley, Trevor Ware, Clayton Cameron.  Trombonist Gordon and saxophonist Woodard front a quintet of L.A.’s finest.  A-Frame Jazz. (310) 659-9169. 

- Mar. 22. (Sun.)  The Peterson Family.  Three generations of Minnesota’s amazing Peterson family - from matriarch jazz pianist Jeanne Arland Peterson to the second generation’s Linda, Patty, Billy, Ricky and Paul to grandsons Jason Peterson De Laire - make another welcome return to L.A. There’ll be lots of sibling revelry. The Jazz Bakery  (310) 271-9039. 

San Francisco

- Mar 19 - 22. (Thurs. - Sun.)  Bela Fleck and Toumani Diabete.  The eclectic banjo virtuoso and the Malian master kora player find common creative ground.  Yoshi’s Oakland. . (510) 238-9200. 

- Mar. 21. (Sat.)  Googoosh. The iconic singer from Iran celebrates Nooroz (the Iranian New Year) with the first performance in her Memory Lane Tour.  One of the world’s most charismatic artists, her rare appearances in the U.S. should not be missed, The Paramount Theatre, Oakland. (510) 465-6400.

- Mar. 21 - April 2.   The Jewish Music Festival.  Andy Statman Trio, Ernest Bloch Celebration, Kosher Gospel, The Sisters of Sheynville, Daniel Kahn & Painted Bird, and others.  Locations in San Francisco, Berkeley and the Bay area. (800) 838-3006.  

New York City

- Mar. 18. (Wed.)  George Avakian’s 90^th Birthday Celebration. With music by David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Centennial Band.  Name an important development in the history of recorded music, and George Avakian, has probably been involved - from the creation of the first record album and the emergence of the LP to the great Columbia jazz recordings of the ’50s.  Birdland.  (212) 581-3080. 

- Mar. 19 - 22. (Thurs. - Sun,.)  Charles Tolliver Big Band.  Tolliver celebrates the release of his adventurous big band’s new release on Half Note records. Blue Note.  (212) 475-8592.

Savannah, Georgia

- Mar. 19 - April 5.  The Savannah Music Festival.  Savannah may not seem to be a power center for contemporary music, but this year’s Festival includes an impressive gathering of major jazz and world music talent.  Scheduled artists include the Chick Corea/John McLaughlin Five Peace Band, Marcus Printup, Mariza, Bela Fleck, Toumani Diabate, Vusi Mahlasela, Zakir Hussain, Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Ellis Marsalis Quartet, Eddie Palmieri, the Clayton Brothers, Savion Glover, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Garrick Ohlsson, Neko Case, Eddie Palmieri, Mike Marshall and Darol Anger, Andrea Marcovicci and dozens of others.  At locations around Savannah. (912) 234.3378

By: Don Heckman