UCSD Jazz Camp begins June 25
If I were still playing and studying music, I don't think there would be a more intense place to spend a summer week than the 10th Annual UCSD Jazz Camp, which starts on June 25 and concludes on June 29. …
Crispell, Dresser, Hemingway "Play Braxton"
The merits of multi-instrumentalist, composer Anthony Braxton have been the source of much debate, and considerable derision in the jazz community for more than 40 years — but never in my house. To me, Braxton is an irrefutable genius and …
Joshua White Quintet returns to 98 Bottles, June 22
Piano virtuoso Joshua White is gearing up for a slew of gigs next week, starting with a free Father's Day concert tomorrow afternoon at the Scripps Ranch Library as a member of the Rob Thorsen Quartet. That group will also …
soundON Festival opens with Dresser, NOISE, & guests
Contrabass master Mark Dresser was the featured artist for the opening night of the soundON Festival, at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, produced in tandem with the San Diego New Music organization. Joining Dresser were the San Diego New …
Mimi Fox & Rob Thorsen at Jazz Live
KSDS kicked off their summer Jazz Live concert series with a bang last night, featuring smoking jazz guitarist Mimi Fox in an intimate duet with double bassist Rob Thorsen at the Saville Theatre. Fox is a critically acclaimed musician--having received …
Ensemble Off n On releases strong debut CD
The San Diego collective group known as Ensemble Off n On has just released their debut CD, and it's a wonderfully sloppy, yet virtuosic leap into the free-jazz world. Made up of guitarist Nate Jarrell, powerhouse drummer Jeanette Kangas and …
SRO crowd cheers Castellanos' Lee Morgan Tribute
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/10/25988/ Gilbert Castellanos, Teodross Avery by TOM HARTEN Trumpet virtuoso Gilbert Castellanos and the special quintet he assembled for last night's Lee Morgan tribute rocked the standing-room-only house at 98 Bottles with almost two hours of fire-breathing hard bop. Much …
Strong debut for SD Vocal Quartet
The pure joy of singing was celebrated last night at 98 Bottles when the San Diego Vocal Quartet made their concert debut. Organized by the soulful giant Leonard Patton the quartet also featured soprano Nina Flowers, alto Janet Hammer and …
John Reynolds Quintet plays Marsalis
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/08/25903/ John Reynolds Quintet by TOM HARTEN Last night, an assemblage of some of San Diego's lesser-known jazz musicians gathered, under the aegis of trumpeter John Reynolds for a concert showcasing the music of trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. Thankfully, Reynolds and …
Castellanos celebrates Lee Morgan June 9, @ 98 Bottles
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/07/25813/ "If I had my way, I'd do a Lee Morgan Tribute concert every day for a week," says SD trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos over the phone. "I listened to him every day in high school and my first few years …
Solo Percussion by David Shively
To many people, perhaps, the idea of a solo percussion concert might seem a bit daunting. For the full house of folks who showed up at Space4Art last night for David Shively's performance--it was as natural as breathing. Shively began …
More than the sum of its parts: TrioKinesis @ The Studio
Last night, the cooperative sounding venture known as TrioKinesis delivered two solid sets of post-Coltrane jazz to a small, but captivated audience at Athenaeum Jazz at the Studio. TrioKinesis proved to be the ultimate equilateral triangle of improvising dynamics. Although …
David Shively: Solo Percussion at Space4Art, June 4
Monday, June 4, experimental music promoter Bonnie Wright continues her cutting-edge concert series, Fresh Sound with a solo-percussion performance by NYC based musician David Shively at Space4Arts in the East Village. Wright, who studied music at UCSD--has always been interested …
TrioKinesis: Athenaeum Jazz at the Studio, June 2
Athenaeum Jazz at the Studio returns with what is sure to be a fascinating night of creative, boundary-pushing music this Saturday, June 2, with a performance by the New York–based TrioKinesis at 8 p.m. TrioKinesis is made up of saxophonist …
Castellanos & The Legends Live in P.B.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/28/25107/ McPherson, Castellanos & Lowe by TOM HARTEN A capacity house was on hand to celebrate trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos and his hand-picked San Diego Jazz Legends at Tango Del Rey last night. Featuring as many as eight musicians sharing the …
Sprague & Patton Light Up 98 Bottles
A small, but hip crowd showed up at 98 Bottles last night to take in the magic that happens when guitarist Peter Sprague teams up with his long-time associate, vocalist Leonard Patton. This wasn't the typical guitar + vocals gig. …
Kenny Barron's masterful solo recital
Athenaeum Jazz at the Neurosciences Institute concluded their spring concert series with another sold-out performance--this one by the understated, yet masterful pianist Kenny Barron. The evening was made doubly satisfying by the sonic purity of the constituent circumstances: one man, …
Peter Sprague / Leonard Patton @ 98 Bottles, May 25
Two of San Diego's finest musicians team up on Friday night, May 25, for a concert at 98 Bottles. Local guitar king Peter Sprague joins the soulful vocalist Leonard Patton for an intimate series of duets. Patton and Sprague go …
Castellanos brings Legends of Jazz to Tango Del Rey, May 27
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/22/24822/ This Sunday, May 27, local trumpet master Gilbert Castellanos will be assembling a special cadre of the area's most illustrious musicians--all of them bandleaders in their own right, for a concert at Tango Del Rey celebrating San Diego Legends …
Mundell Lowe Organ Quartet at Jazz Live
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/may/21/24745/ Jazz guitar icon Mundell Lowe turned 90 last month, and has been celebrating with a slew of gigs. Last Tuesday night, it was Jazz Live at City College with a quartet comprised of guitarist Ron Eschete, organist Bill Cunliffe …