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Mack Avenue Records Takeover with Alfredo Rodriguez and Cameron Graves Trios, Mr. Musichead Gallery
December 12, 2018
What a monster night last Wednesday with the Mack Avenue Records Takeover of Mr. Musichead Gallery. Featuring two richly textured and completely energized piano trios. The new to me Alfredo Rodriguez was lyrical and joyful,…
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Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Wiltern Theatre
November 8, 2018
A quick interweb search shows more than 500(!) Dead influenced or tribute bands. Yup, the reach of the Dead is just staggering, whether the generation is golden or newly spawned. To whit, “songs are like fairy tales,”…
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Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown, Greek Theatre, Los Angeles
September 15, 2018
My handy wiktionary tells me “throw down” is “to accomplish or produce something in a grand, respectable, or successful manner; to "represent"”. Well, when it comes to the travelling New Orleans road show billed…
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Hot Tuna (Electric), El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles
September 6, 2018
Birthed of the 60s, the Haight, ingestibles and another time, before jam bands became a thing, there was the Jefferson Airplane. A band I was too young to see live, but burrowed into me, nonetheless. I soared on…
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Newport Jazz Festival 2018, Fort Adams, Rhode Island
Music keeps you young. One didn’t have to look further than 92-year old George Wein introducing 80 year-old Charles Lloyd on Saturday to figure that out. Wein, co-founder and patriarch of all things Newport Jazz, was delighted when Lloyd wanted…
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Newport Folk Festival 2018, Fort Adams, Rhode Island
July 27-29, 2018
In a recent podcast, producer Jay Sweet reflected on Newport Folk this way “if this festival for you is about the headliners, I don’t think this is your festival”. Not that the headliners were too shabby.…
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Newport Jazz Fest inspires young pianist Joshua Hill
The Newport Jazz Festival has its share of discoveries. This year, mine was not on any the Fort stages (yet), but you can bet that won't last long. I heard Joshua Hill sit in with trumpeter Doug Woolverton last Monday at The Fifth Element on…
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Photo Recap: Dead & Company, July 7, 2018, Dodger Stadium
This is Dead & Co.'s strongest tour yet, and personally combined the band that impacted my life the most with the temple I have been attending since I was 8 - Dodger Stadium. Opening with a Playing in the Band that pretty much dropped the…
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Arroyo Seco Weekend, Brookside Golf Course, Pasadena
June 23-24, 2018
Arroyo Seco Weekend is not fussy. The beer is thick with local crafts, the something for everyone eats abundant with vegetarian options, and, yes, it felt like a day in the park with a rich soundtrack. The inclusive, relaxed…
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Reflections and Musings of a Jazz Fest Photographer – 2018 Edition
April 27 - May 6, 2018
Best Jazz Fest ever? It’s a tie between the last one and the next one. Jazz Fest 49 was no exception. Seven Fest days and 30 minutes of rain. Unheard of. Unexpected discoveries? Check. Food I’m still working off?…