The vocalist plays tribute to the French guitar hero and others at Dizzy's.

Vocalist Allison Adams Tucker creates a new twist on an old concept August 4 at the new Dizzy's (4275 Mission Bay Dr.) when she assembles a cast of local players to celebrate the music of Django Reinhardt and Le Hot …

Dennerlein did her best to make the huge outdoor pipe organ swing -- with mixed results.

I caught the first set of Barbara Dennerlein's concert at the Spreckles Organ Pavilion on July 29, my first experience listening to the much talked about outdoor pipe organ. Dennerlein, on the other hand, I've been enjoying since the early …

Brian Levy, Mikan Zlatkovich and Peter Sprague have a shared sense of propulsive chemistry.

On July 28, three improvisers met on common ground for a night of open-ended discourse conducted "in the moment" for a small, appreciative crowd at Dizzy's. Tenor saxophonist Brian Levy, pianist Mikan Zlatkovich and guitarist Peter Sprague opened up with …

An intense night of powerful, beautiful music.

The Joshua White Quintet performance on July 25, at the San Diego Museum of Art was standing room only -- and so powerful that some folks had to exit early. That's how I would define a success on all levels. …

Several great concerts coming up, but decisions will have to be made.

There is a lot coming up in the local jazz scene this week. Here are a few can't miss propositions: Joshua White Quintet: July 25, San Diego Museum of Art I saw this group a few weeks back at Dizzy's …

Filmaker Denny Tedesco's informative and hilarious celebration of the unknown LA studio musicians who created much of what we call pop-music.

I was among the lucky few of approximately 500 music lovers who took advantage of the opportunity to take in one of the two screenings of The Wrecking Crew documentary on July 20 at San Diego City College, a presentation …

"Jazz meets Star Wars"? Gilbert Castellanos made it happen.

Gilbert Castellanos' "Jazz Meets Star Wars," concert on July 19 at Dizzy's could not have been more successful -- both from a musical standpoint as well as a commercial one. The show was well attended -- so much so, that …

The always surprising pianist led an inspired quartet through his distinctive take on classic material.

The rewards of experiencing pianist Joshua White live as often as possible can not be exaggerated. Jazz, in its purest form is music created in the moment, and as such, every time White approaches the piano different things happen. On …

Gilbert Castellanos applies his jazz magic to the John Williams soundtrack themes in honor of Comic-Con.

"I'm a total Star Wars nerd," admits local trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos, who is planning an extravagant "Jazz meets Star Wars," concert series this weekend in celebration of Comic-Con coming to town. On Friday, July 19, Castellanos, with tenor saxophonist Brian …

Celebrating the music of John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner with Mikan Zlatkovich, Hamilton Price and Kevin Higuchi.

The music of jazz titan John Coltrane will forever serve as a touchstone for me, so it was with great anticipation that the July 13, Brian Levy Music of John Coltrane & McCoy Tyner tribute at Dizzy's surfaced on my …

With special guest trumpeter Hugh Ragin, White's music took transformative turns.

The July 11 performance of the Joshua White Quintet at Dizzy's exceeded expectations by almost every metric one could imagine. For nearly two hours, music of the highest nature cascaded from the bandstand into the brainwaves of the listener in …

Veteran drummer Barry Farrar led the band in a tribute to Art Blakey.

In a kind of "home-grown" affair, the Jazz 88 All Stars appeared at City College on July 9, for the bi-monthly Jazz Live performance sponsored by KSDS. The band, in various incarnations, has been around for years, and is directed …

White's quintet draws players from LA and Colorado.

Joshua White Quintet gigs are always something to look forward to, and the July 11 hit at Dizzy's has been circled on my calendar for months. White's got a new version of the Quintet cued up for this performance -- …

Gilbert Castellanos and Brian Lynch locked into a friendly trumpet "cutting-contest" that raised the roof in the Pacific Beach venue. Special guest Charles McPherson blew it completely off.

Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos brought fellow horn-man Brian Lynch into town on July 7, for Night of the Cookers, Vol. III, alongside an LA rhythm section of Katie Thiroux on bass, Dan Schnelle on drums, with Mikan Zlatkovich on piano, and …

An inspired combination of local jazz heavyweights.

The San Diego jazz all-star aggregation known as Bop Moderno took the stage in The Back Room at 98 Bottles like conquering heroes and proceeded to lay it down for a sold-out house of enthusiastic supporters on July 6 -- …

Boasting an unusual sonic lineup, Occidentia reached for different sounds.

Tenor saxophonist Ben Schachter isn't just an excellent improviser -- he's also quite the conceptualist, a fact very much in evidence throughout his July 5 concert at Dizzy's leading a band he calls Occidentia. Featuring Dave Marr on acoustic bass, …

There's something for just about every musical taste happening.

The holiday weekend is looking busy for jazz fans, with excellent shows on the 5th, 6th and 7th. Ben Schachter's Occidentia: July 5 Schachter has been turning heads ever since he arrived last year from Philadelphia with his big tone, …

Two screenings of this film about legendary LA studio musicians happen on July 20, at the Saville Theatre at City College, courtesy KSDS Jazz 88.

Music fans of all stripes (especially those who can remember the 1960s), have an incredible opportunity coming their way: on July 20, KSDS Jazz 88 presents 2 showings of The Wrecking Crew, a new documentary film by Danny Tedesco about …

Everything Wofford plays has a purity of expression.

Piano master Mike Wofford has lived such a storybook career that it's easy to get lost in the long maze of his past accomplishments and forget about what a vital force he is right now. Fortunately, Dan Atkinson and the …

This is a great space to catch creative music.

San Diego piano virtuoso Joshua White continues to evolve at a dizzying pace, well evidenced by his debut performance at the Museum of Art on June 27, with a quartet featuring saxophonist Ben Schachter, LA bassist Hamilton Price and drummer …