Ravi Coltrane & Coltraxx at At SFJazz, Miner Auditorium
Ravi Coltrane’s acoustic quartet, Coltraxx, took the stage at San Francisco’s Miner Auditorium on July 27 and wove a tapestry of sound that honored jazz’s lineage while boldly pushing its boundaries. The quartet—Coltrane on saxophones, David Virelles on piano, Dezron Douglas on bass, and Jonathan Blake on drums—opened the evening with Coltrane coaxing a single, crystalline saxophone note into the hushed room.
Joshua Redman Group At Gates Concert Hall
A luminary of contemporary jazz, Joshua Redman graced Gates Concert Hall last Friday with his stellar group featuring Paul Cornish (piano), Philip Norris (bass), Nazir Ebo (drums), and the outstanding vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa.
The 100-minute sold-out performance relied heavily on songs from Redman's 2023 Blue Note Records debut where are we.
Emmet Cohen Trio At Gates Concert Hall
Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night will keep Emmet Cohen fans from coming out to see him and his trio perform in concert. That was the case last Saturday night at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts. Bundled up to brave the impact of a recent snowstorm, concertgoers showed up well before the doors opened. Swaddled in puffy jackets, they knocked the snow off their boots as they entered the building, while valiant senior citizens, some with hiking sticks, were eager to take their seats.
Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox At Paramount Theatre
It all beIn its cavalcade of top-flight performers giving their retro spin to songs that have a permanent residency in our brains, the Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ) concert is authentically one of a kind. At the risk of dating myself, imagine a hip Lawrence Welk Show line-up with tap dancing and throwback costumes, minus the champagne bubbles and accordionist Myron Floren, in front of a retro backdrop right out of Fritz Lang's Metropolis. gins with an idea.
The California Honeydrops At Mission Ballroom
On the last night of their 2023 "Bye, Bye, Baby" tour, The California Honeydrops gave a stellar performance at the grand Mission Ballroom last Friday. The only glitch in the show was the oddly placed opening act, the Sam Grisman Project, a tightly huddled quartet of acoustic bluegrass players, not the right choice for a packed and noisy crowd ready to dance, groove, and party to a hot horn band.
Jesse Cook At The Paramount Theatre
Flamenco fusion guitarist Jesse Cook had a rocky start to his tour of the Western States three weeks ago. "Yup! It finally got me. I thought I could avoid it, but almost four years after COVID arrived, it finally struck me down this past week," Cook told his social media followers. Coincidentally, the guitarist's latest release is titled Love in the Time of COVID.
Chris Botti Turns the Paramount Into a Cathedral of Sound
Chris Botti returned to Denver with a new album, an all-star ensemble and a crowd-pleasing set that transformed the Paramount Theatre into a lush, cathedral-like listening space.
Pat Metheny At The Paramount Theatre
Award-winning jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheny embarked on a 51-venue, 29-state solo tour supporting his 2023 Dream Box recording. At Denver’s Paramount Theatre, loyal fans lined up early for the sold-out show, and it was elbow-to-elbow for the next two hours in the 1800-seat venue.
Herb Alpert & Lani Hall At Gates Concert Hall
Last Saturday, jazz trumpet legend Herb Alpert accompanied Lani Hall, his wife of 50 years, for a sold-out show at the University of Denver's Newman Center, Gates Concert Hall. They've performed together since 2006. Their musical chemistry and shared love were fully displayed at this delightful concert, framed by a back screen showing Alpert's colorful abstract art and videos. "I love to play the horn at these concerts, paint, and sculpt, and I'm married to an angel—what more can I ask for?" declared Alpert. At 88, he's still touring and recording.
Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter At Boulder Theater
Supporting their latest collaboration album, SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree (Edition Records, 2023), jazz icon Kurt Elling and guitar maestro Charlie Hunter offered a high-energy performance on October 8th at the Boulder Theater. The incredible duo's band featured Julius Rodriguezon keyboards and Marcus Finnie on drums. Elling and company delivered a crowd-pleasing 90-minute set filled with funky originals, innovative covers, and a few surprises.
Herbie Hancock Turns Improvisation Into Communion at Chautauqua
At 83, Herbie Hancock fused funk, philosophy and fearless spontaneity in a sold-out Chautauqua Auditorium performance that felt both cosmic and deeply human.
Tab Benoit At The Boulder Theater
It may have been only a Thursday night in Boulder, CO, but Tab Benoit's concert made it feel like we were smack dab in New Orleans on a sultry Saturday evening. Helping create that Mardi Gras vibe was the opening act, The Rumble, featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.. Before they came out, the stage and mic stands were festooned with bayou moss and an eerie skull, placed on the front monitor, facing the crowd.
Stanley Jordan: The Two-Handed Tapper Returns
Last June, guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan brought his Jimi Hendrix tribute show to the Hilo Palace Theater, complete with full-throttle fretwork, ear-piercing notes, and wild attire to match the ‘60s icon's striking look. However, at Friday’s Honokaa People’s Theatre (HPT) concert, we experienced a completely different side of Jordan – the graceful solo artist.
California Transit Authority Brings Smile-Worthy Oldies Show
If you owned a radio in the last century, chances are, Chicago’s classic rock hits are still permeating your music memory banks. Danny Seraphine, founding member and original drummer for the band (1967-1990), brought his tribute ensemble, CTA (California Transit Authority), to the Kahilu Theatre last Friday as part of his Take Me Back To Chicago tour.
Swingin’ to the Jumpin’ Jive of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Around 1996, a full-bore swing revival on modern rock radio quickly spread to American concert halls. Leading the pack were horn-tooting bands like Squirrel Nut Zippers, Royal Crown Revue, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, which emerged from Ventura, California, in ‘93.
Julia Keefe Expands The Jazz Spectrum
Growing up on a reservation in Kamiah, Idaho, Julia Keefe’s journey into jazz began in her formative years. At four, she was captivated by Billie Holiday’s signature vocal style, especially the song “No More,” from her mother’s CD collection. Later, when Keefe began singing in the choir and at high school events, her family encouraged her to broaden her musical horizons.
Aaron Goldberg Trio Brings Jazz Back Post-COVID
The jazz drought is officially over at the Kahilu Theatre, thanks to the Aaron Goldberg Trio. Amid the pandemic, shutdowns, and canceled tours, it’s been years since local jazz fans have had a chance to experience a talented pianist like Christian Sands or Laurence Hobgood in person. Finally, Goldberg quenched our thirst at his Sunday matinee concert.
Lost in The Music with Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton
Being isolated on a rock in the Pacific, we’re lucky when we get top-notch entertainment that comes through our towns. Kahilu’s Artistic Director Chuck Gessert had the foresight to bring in the great vocalist Lisa Fischer last Friday. He’s been raving about her show for about a month and even screened the Oscar-winning documentary she stars in, 20 Feet from Stardom, to get folks excited, too. But all the pre-show hype and pre-recorded footage don’t even compare to seeing Lisa Fischer and her band Grand Baton live.
Howling Heavy Metal Bagpipes in Honokaa
A Celtica Pipes Rock (CPR) concert features rock music with a Celtic/Scottish twist. It has become a nearly annual tradition in Honokaa, thanks to promoter Les Hershorn, the band’s lively performances, and the loyal fans who fill the venues. Last Friday’s show marked their fourth appearance on the Big Island.