Jazz Critic's Choice: Brothers and Other Mothers
By Kirk Silsbee
Trombonist Curtis Fuller, one of the last practitioners from the golden age of Blue Note Records, leads a quintet at the Jazz Bakery through Saturday. His frontline work on John Coltrane’s “Blue Trane” remains iconic, and Fuller’s tenures with the Jazz Messengers and Dizzy’s big band make him a valued veteran. Friday at the Metropol, keyboardist Steve Lockwood, flutist Ellen Burr, and guitarist Ken Rosser conjure an evening of improvised chamber music. The L.A. Latin Jazz Fest is a blockbuster show, Saturday at the Greek Theatre. The great composer/pianist Eddie Palmieri headlines, with a bouquet of virtuosi: flutist Dave Valentin, violinist Alfredo de la Fe, timbaléro Orestes Vilato. The Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars – competitive with any of the New York big bands – adds the tremendous Cuban conguero Francisco Aguabella for the night. In a Mother’s Day jam? Take mom to hear Janis Mann at Betty Hoover’s A Frame jazz salon (310-659-9169; 2-5 p.m.). She’s one of our best jazz vocalists and in the company of a stellar trio today: pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist Chuck Berghofer, drummer Peter Erskine. The subtle and swinging pianist/singer John Proulx serenades a Mother’s Day brunch at the Westin LAX (5400 W. Century Blvd., L.A., 310-216-5858; 11 a.m.). Monday at the Bakery, the gifted young composer/orchestrator Chris Walden leads his big band. Alto saxophonist Med Flory will reconstitute his Charlie Parker-inspired Supersax band, Monday at Charlie O’s. The recent passing of Supersax alumni Ray Reed will add poignancy to this gig.
For info, see Jazz, Blues, Latin listings.
Published: 05/07/2008
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