Todd Reynolds @ Space 4 Art
NYC based artist brought solo violin and electronics to the East Village.
Bonnie Wright's Fresh Sound concert series continued Tuesday night at Space 4 Art with a solo violin/electronics performance from NYC artist Todd Reynolds to an almost-packed house. Reynolds began "Trans America," by sputtering vocals into a microphone, which activated a …
SRO @ 7 Grand
A ton of fans and musicians made Castellanos's debut at the North Park venue a night to remember
San Diego trumpet master Gilbert Castellanos opened a new chapter in the local jam-session era last night with his premier performance at Seven Grand located at 3054 University in North Park. I am happy to report that by most tangible …
Reinventing Christmas music with the Matt Wilson Trio
Wilson's "Christmas Tree-O" put an entirely new spin on yuletide classics.
NYC-based drummer Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O landed in San Diego last night to deliver two sets of fractured Holiday classics that ranged from the hard swinging to blistering free jazz and comic-strip joviality, sometimes in the course of the same …
Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O: Dec. 7, Jazz at The Studio
Athenaeum Jazz's Dan Atkinson brings the explosive drummer to the Park Blvd. venue for an evening of Holiday classics like you've never heard.
Once again, jazz decisions must be made for Friday, Dec. 7. On one hand, the weekly series at the Westgate Hotel hosted by trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is always a "can't miss" proposition, especially when LA pianist Joe Bagg and the …
SRO for Joe Garrison & Night People
After being off the radar for five years, the composer returns to action with a soon-to-be released CD, and a sold out show featuring many of SD's finest improvisers.
Reclusive composer/pianist Joe Garrison staged a triumphant return to action last night with a sold-out, standing-room-only performance of his all-star San Diego ensemble Night People at the new Dizzy's. Opening with a delicious 5 horn sigh of dissonance, Night People …
Michael Dessen Trio: Resonating Abstractions @ Space4Art
Unveiling a new, seven-part suite, trombone virtuoso Dessen led his ace trio into a remarkable ebb and flow of organic intensity.
A less than voluminous audience gathered at Space4Art last night for the Michael Dessen Trio, perhaps because of competing options--who knows? It brought to mind George Foreman's observation that the problem with jazz is, "The better it gets, the less …
Review: JazzMikan+ / Preview: Leah Bowden D.M.A. recital
Zlatkovich and company delivered a blistering fusion set at Anthology; Drummer Leah Bowden will draw on music from Peter Brotzmann, Cecil Taylor and her own pen Sunday at UCSD.
Mikan Zlatkovitch brought his unique conception of "jazz-fusion" into Anthology last night for an evening of wide-ranging, virtuosic and rhythmically challenging music, fueled by the electric bass of Dave Curtis and the powerhouse drumming of Duncan Moore. Opening as a …
Zlatkovich brings fusion to Anthology, Nov.29
In addition to his expertise as a "pure" acoustic jazz pianist, Zlatkovich has an affinity for fusion music--look for tunes by Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin and other surprises.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/nov/28/36157/ Mikan Zlatkovich is coming to Anthology on Nov. 29, bringing his expanded fusion ensemble JazzMikan+3, which is comprised of electric bassist Dave Curtis, drummer Duncan Moore with flutist Lori Bell, violinist Jamie Shadowlight and vocalist Allison Adams Tucker. Zlatkovich …
Joe Garrison & Night People: Dec. 1, at the new Dizzy's
Garrison has been working with heavyweights like Castellanos, Rob Thorsen and Lynn Willard on a new recording--a slightly different lineup will appear in concert this weekend.
San Diego underground composer/pianist Joe Garrison surfaces on Dec. 1, at the new Dizzy's (4275 Mission Bay Dr.), to showcase music from a new album with a large ensemble of local musicians he calls Night People. Garrison has been at …
Top three jazz choices for Nov. 30
Gilbert Castellanos at the Westgate Hotel; Joshua White Quartet at the new Dizzy's; Michael Dessen Trio at Space4Art. I can't be in three places at once--so it's the Dessen Trio for me.
The discerning San Diego jazz fan will have some heavy decision-making to contend with this Friday night, November 30, as three excellent possibilities vie for an audience — all of them "can't miss" propositions. Gilbert Castellanos continues with his weekly …
The mastery of Daniel Jackson
There is a wisdom, and spirituality that Jackson sets in to motion every time he plays.
Tenor saxophonist Daniel Jackson is a monster musician, and has been for many years. His time in San Diego has seen him mentor dozens of the area's heaviest players, from Mark Dresser and Turiya Mareya, to Joshua White and Gilbert …
Geoffrey Keezer, Gilbert Castellanos, Rob Thorsen
Keezer is an amazing world-class pianist, who just so happens to live in North Park.
Gilbert Castellanos, and his weekly series at the Westgate Hotel, (every Friday), Some Of My Friends Are Piano Players is one of the best things to ever happen to the San Diego jazz scene. There are several factors that make …
Nathan Hubbard Passengers live at Space 4 Art
Hubbard, with 16 of his musical associates delivered his vision of minimalism "for people who can't skateboard."
Monday night's performance of the massive Nathan Hubbard Passengers group at Space 4 Art in the East Village was wildly ambitious and very creative. Passengers represents Hubbard's work in the field of minimalism, (think Steve Reich, Phillip Glass, etc), as …
Piano Summit part 2: Flores, White, Davis & Thompson
Each pianist displayed a personal mastery of the instrument before a packed audience at the new Dizzy's.
So, here is the rest of Piano Summit 2012. Irving Flores Flores is a monster Latin-jazz player with impressive credentials in the mainstream jazz field as well. He chose to focus on two originals in his short set, opening with …
Piano Summit part 1: Zlatkovich, Green, Finch & Jackson
The first set of the summit featured Mikan Zlatkovich, Danny Green, Barnaby Finch and Daniel Jackson. Tomorrow's review will feature Irving Flores, Joshua White, Anthony Davis and Richard Thompson.
The Baldwin grand at the new Dizzy's got a heavy workout last night at the 2012 Piano Summit, whereupon eight masters approached the instrument on their own terms for a fascinating look at the state of the eighty-eight keys in …
Double Trio concert at 98 Bottles
Pianist Danny Green and saxophonist Ian Tordella each brought a potent trio into The Back Room, and bassist Justin Grinnell was the MVP--as he laid down the bottom end for both groups.
98 Bottles held an intriguing concert last night of two local jazz groups: the Ian Tordella Trio, opening for the Danny Green Trio. Both units featured bassist Justin Grinnell with Tordella's band using Fernando Gomez on drums while Green employed …
Mahesh Balasooriya, Gilbert Castellanos, Marshall Hawkins
Castellanos continues to inspire with his weekly concert series featuring top flight trios connecting in the moment.
Every Friday night, at the downtown Westgate Hotel, trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is featuring a different world-class pianist with the bassist of their choice in a series titled, Some Of My Friends Are Piano Players. Last night it was LA phenomenon …
Piano Summit 2012: Nov. 18
Eight exemplary pianists perform Sunday at the new Dizzy's
I don't envy Chuck Perrin, who had to pare down a list of local pianists to just eight for the upcoming Piano Summit 2012 to be held at the new Dizzy's November 18 at 7 p.m. A lot of really …
Jazz Live : featuring Jaime Valle
The rock-solid jazz veteran assembled a killer group to fill in for NYC guitarist Mark Elf--sidelined by Hurricane Sandy.
Hurricane Sandy did a number on the KSDS Jazz Live program on Tuesday. A concert featuring guitarist Mark Elf had to be scrapped because of ongoing problems getting a flight out of NYC. Thankfully, local jazz veteran Jaime Valle was …
Ben Wanicur Quartet live at 3rd Space
Wanicur steps out as a leader to hone new original compositions before heading into recording studio.
I caught another encouraging glimpse at the future of the San Diego jazz scene last night when the Ben Wanicur Quartet played two sets at 3rd Space in University Heights. I've been tracking Wanicur pretty regularly since the bassist moved …