The LAJC is proud to debut in this funky Highland Park/Eagle Rock Nightspot. We consider this area to be our home turf, given that we have been holding meetings at the Coffee Table in Eagle Rock since our inception. We hope that this is the start of a good working relationship with this cool local establishment. We are also happy to have Matt Otto back for what is now unfortunately a rare appearance in Los Angeles. Please come out to see this great band!

…although it might not be funny unless you know the backstory.  Full post here, but the money quote:

Saturday Night, November 21st Austrian pianist and Thelonious Monk scholar, Hans Groiner, will play one set, followed by The Larry Goldings Quartet, Saturday November 21 from 8-11. Groiner, who will be making his west coast debut, says of the evening, “Das will be an honor to play opposite Larry Goldings, although I have never heard of him.” Groiner and Goldings played at Smalls Jazz Club in New York to a sold out/packed house so get your tickets early.

Reservations for this Saturdays “Double Bill” with Larry Goldings at 818-769-0905.

Many of you have by now read what I think is the definitive interview of Keith Jarrett by Bad Plus’s Ethan Iverson. Aside from being an incredible pianist, Iverson has one of the best jazz blogs around, with the influence to get a chance to interview some of the greatest names in jazz, backed up by an exhaustive grasp of jazz history and recordings and the intellect to know how to meet the artists on their terms.  Dude would have gotten along great with all the cats in the fifties and sixties, and in fact it seems like he does, at least with those who are still around.

His latest interview involves a long-time Los Angeles treasure, drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath.  I had the pleasure of doing a session with him a few months ago, what an incredible experience to play with such a legend.  Unfortunately I really felt the weight of history as I was talking to him on our break and wasn’t able to really ask the right questions.  Thankfully, Iverson knows how to do what I didn’t.

While you’re listening, check out Mr. Heath with Ethan Iverson and Ben Street at Smalls, recorded live back in March of this year.  The Smalls archives are awesome and deserving of their own post, coming soon.

By the way, on the Bad Plus blog there’s another fantastic interview (reprinted from Downbeat) with another of LA’s living legends, bassist Charlie Haden.  Anyone who went to CalArts needs to read it.

LAJC MEMBERS @ CAFE METROPOL THIS WEEKEND

FEATURING VERY KILLING SAXOPHONE PLAYERS FROM ELSEWHERE

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13

Eric Rasmussen’s Tristano Band

Eric Rasmussen alto sax
Jamie Rosenn guitar
Dave Ambrosio bass
Jason Harnell drums

Friday November 13th at Cafe Metropol
8-10 p.m.
Price: $10

performing music by Lennie Tristano and his famous pupils
Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14

Josh Nelson Quartet

Josh Nelson piano and keyboard
Dayna Stephens tenor sax
Dave Robaire bass
Dan Schnelle drums

Saturday November 14th at Cafe Metropol
8-10 p.m.
Price: $10

Cafe Metropol
923 E. 3rd. Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 613-1537
www.cafemetropol.com

This is shaping up to be a very cool event.  There are three days of music by outstanding Asian American and Asian artists, capped by a rare solo piano performance by Japanese jazz piano sensation Hiromi.  The festival has been getting lots of attention, with articles in Downbeat, Jazz Times, LA Weekly, LA Times, Rafu Shimpo, Angry Asian Man, etc.

Master schedule is posted below.  More information at www.asianamericanjazzfestival.com.

FRIDAY, OCT 30

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
IAN VO (Alto Sax)
Gary Fukushima (Piano)
Tom Altura (Bass)
Miles Senzaki (Drums)

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
SHARMILA GUHA (Vocals)
Gary Fukushima (Piano)
Eric Sittner (Bass)
Jens Kuross (Drums)

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
KENTON CHEN (Vocals)
Swati Pullela (Piano)
Eliana Athayde (Bass)
Kevin Yokota (Drums)

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
VICTOR NORIEGA (Piano)
JP Maramba (Bass)
Abe Lagrimas, Jr. (Drums)

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
ABE LAGRIMAS, JR. (Drums)
Yohei Nakamura (Guitar)
Victor Noriega (Piano)
Miko Espanol (Bass)

SATURDAY, OCT 31

12:30 PM -1:30 PM
CELIA LA (Vocals)
Bill Cunliffe (Piano)
Brian Scanlon (Tenor Sax)
Tom Warrington (Bass)
Devin Kelly (Drums)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
HITOMI OBA (Tenor Sax)
Nick DePinna (Trombone)
Charles Altura (Guitar)
Tom Altura (Bass)
Zach Harmon (Drums)

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
MOTOKO HONDA (Electro-Acoustic Piano)
Bert Carl (Drums)
Anthony Shadduck (Bass)
Misuzu Kitazumi (Koto)
TBA (Shamisen)
Midori Makino (Japanese Flamenco Dance)

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
KAI KUROSAWA (Bear Trax Tap Guitar)
Gary Fukushima (Piano)
Abe Lagrimas (Drums)

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
GOH KUROSAWA (Guitar)
Kai Kurosawa (Bear Trax)
Nick Terry (Drums)

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
BRYAN WONG (Piano and Harmonica)
Hitomi Oba (Saxophone)
Wenschel Lan (Trombone)
Goh Kurosawa (Guitar)
Kai Kurosawa (Bass)
Miles Senzaki (Drums)

SUNDAY, NOV 1

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
GARY FUKUSHIMA (Piano)
JP Maramba (Bass)
Miles Senzaki (Drums)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
MON DAVID (Vocals)
Tateng Katindig (Piano)
Dominic Thiroux (Bass)
Abe Lagrimas (Drums)

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
PRELUDE (AAJF Headliner)
Heean Ko (Piano)
Richard Rho (Soprano Sax)
Jinbae Choi (Bass)
Abe Lagrimas (Drums)

—————————–
3-day pass: $100
General Admission: $46
Premium Seating: $60

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
AAJF Headliner
CHARMAINE CLAMOR (Vocals)
Tateng Katindig (Piano)
Dominic Thiroux (Bass)
Abe Lagrimas (Drums)

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
AAJF Headliner
HIROMI (Solo Piano)

This text just in from Justin Kirk:

Jim Rotondi, New York trumpet player and Criss Cross recording artist at Seven Grand Tonight at 7 Grand Street, Downtown LA. 10-1 NO COVER.

With: Doug Webb sax, Joe Bagg keys, Lyman Medeiros bass, Gerry Gibbs drums.

Should be awesome.

Check this article out!

http://www.jazziz.com/pageflip/issue/Coltrane_Fall_2009/

The article starts on page 44.  Enjoy!

It really is tonight, in the text of our newsletter we had it wrong.

9pm-midnight

Spazio
14755 Ventura Blvd., Suite D
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Charles Owens - woodwinds
Brian Swartz - trumpet
Peter Smith - piano
Louis Spears - bass
Kenny Elliot - drums

A nice piece in the LA Times outlining the “alternative” jazz venues.  Chris Barton has an overview of the handful of places where you can go to hear more adventurous music, most of the places I would think of, including Metropol, Open Gate, ResBox, MONA, even Vitello’s gets a nod as the new establishment of the “establishment” that still dares to feature more risky acts.  He even goes so far as to highlight a great series being put on by saxophonist (and LAJC member) Ken Kawamura down in Orange County.  Ken poignantly sums up the challenges of programming art music:

Attendance is an unfortunate concern for many “alternative” jazz venues. Driven by the frustration of commuting to L.A. for live music, Orange County saxophonist Ken Kawamura started his own self-sufficient incubator, the OC Creative Music Collective, and began staging monthly shows in the rent-free basement of a Santa Ana Episcopal church.

Kawamura is at times discouraged by the small crowds for his monthly concerts, which draw performers from San Diego, Long Beach and even Europe. In order to more effectively compete in an area that in his experience seems more attuned to smooth jazz or the more straightforward fare at the Fullerton club Steamers, he and the OCCMC eventually stopped charging admission.

“The whole thing operates on a loss, which is fine,” Kawamura admits. “We’re just promoting something, and we’re promoting something that’s not financially viable, really. In Orange County, at least.”

Thanks for doing this, Ken, though I don’t think it’s fine that you’ve been operating at a loss. Help him out by coming to his show this Sunday, featuring reknown composer/percussionist Andrea Centazzo, with an opener by the fabulous duo of Emily Hay (flute, vocals) and Motoko Honda (keys).

It looks like people aren’t going to rock shows as well.  That WSJ piece on the Demise of Jazz just continues to look worse.