HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
HOT CLUB OF LOS ANGELES — You can go to the Cinema Bar any Monday night, 9-11:30, for more than a decade now, and hear these hot players run through Django Reinhart-style ‘30s jazz. This amazing ensemble is a treasure. Don’t take them for granted and put your rolickin’ Monday night off. Mon 9 p.m., Cinema Bar, Culver City, free.
RECOMMENDED:
Tonight -"KOOZA," CIRQUE DU SOLEIL – This is a good bet HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and hopefully I will be able to report back on that, but a couple of friends gave it high marks. No one else really does what they do, on this scale. They invented it. I’ve only seen a few of their shows but they seem to have retained their high standards all these years, ever since I saw their first one also here on SM Beach, by the Pier, 37 years ago, that launched them to great international success. I think they know they have a rep to maintain with Santa Monicans. Thurs, Fri, Sat, next Thurs 8 p.m., Sat 4:30 p.m., Sun 2, 5:30 p.m., Santa Monica Pier, $69-310.
THE WEST COAST JAZZ HOUR BIG BAND "Celebrates the Double Centennial of TERRY GIBBS and SHORTY ROGERS" – at the Culver City Jazz Festival. That’s a mouthful, but both musicians were born in 1924 and met while with Woody Herman’s band, and became close friends. They transformed West Coast jazz, Rogers as an "architect" in so many areas and Gibbs became a world-renowned vibraphonist ("Downbeat" winner five years running), and he is still with us. (Rogers died 20 years ago.) The WCJHBB is a 17-piece big band with some big names, like Chuck Berghofer, Sal Lozano, Bob Sheppard, Larry Koonse, Rusty Higgins, led by pianist Josh Nelson and drummer Kevin van den Elzen. (Personnel subject to change, of course.) Looks like empresaria Ruth Price of Santa Monica’s Jazz Bakery has snagged another extraordinary show. What a treat and a bargain this has been! Every Sunday in October, at the beautiful Kirk Douglas Theatre, don’t miss this last one! There is free covered parking for three hours at the Culver City Hall with ticket validation. Sun 7 p.m., Kirk Douglas Theatre, Culver City, $10-20.
RICK HOLMSTROM BAND, DAVID HIDALGO – So many great shows, especially coming out of our own McCabe’s, but eventually I will catch the Holmstrom Band that everyone raves about. And no wonder with our own Steve Mugalian usually sitting behind the drum kit of this tight ensemble. This would be the one. They always invite a guest musician of the highest caliber, this time Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo. So every one of their shows is unique. Sun 8 p.m., McCabe’s, Santa Monica, sold out but, you know, go beg.
JEFF LYNNE’S E.L.O. – The last time they cruised through town I thought -- eh. But then I read the absolute rave reviews from those who went, and when you think about it they had quite a few really good songs, and the large ensemble did not rely on an all-star cast, just original ELO co-founder Jeff Lynne, so this seems like a really good bet. Especially since it’s called the Over and Out tour. Fri, Sat Kia Forum, Inglewood, $36-685.
TOLEDO DIAMOND – No, he didn’t give up his decades-long Sunday night residency at our oldest blues bar in LA, Harvelle’s – somehow he slipped out of my listings and I just now noticed it. Toledo heads up a unique show, a blend of ‘50s hipster jazz and his dancing dames and a most modern smokin’ hot band that gets better all the time. Every Sunday, 9:30 p.m., $12.
"NOSFERATU": A Symphony in Horror , Halloween Organ, Film & Music – It’s over by 9:30, you’ll still have plenty of time for your personal spooking, or this may just be enough Halloween for you, the 1922 F.W. Murnau German Expressionist silent vampire classic but served up thunderously in Disney Hall with the scariest fries you’ve ever seen or heard that didn’t have the McDonald Mango’s stubby fingers attached, next Thurs, Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA, $95.
COMING ATTRACTIONS (also recommended): "KOOZA," CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, Santa Monica Pier, 10/24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 11/1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30; , WEST COAST JAZZ HOUR BIG BAND, Jazz Bakery/Culver City Jazz Festival, 10/27; TOLEDO DIAMOND, Harvelle’s, 10/27, 11/3, 10, 17, 24; HOT CLUB OF LOS ANGELES, Cinema Bar, 10/28, 11/4, 11, 18, 25; JEFF LYNNE’S E.L.O., Kia Forum, 10/25, 26; RICK HOLMSTROM BAND, DAVID HIDALGO, McCabe’s, 10/27; Halloween Organ, Film & Music: "Nosferatu," Disney Hall, 10/31; LA SANTA CECILIA, Wiltern, 10/31; MICHAEL MAYO, Jazz Bakery, 11/9; JON COHERD-JOHN PATITUCCI-BRIAN BLADE, Jazz Bakery, 11/10; CARLA OLSEN GENE CLARK TRIBUTE, McCabe’s, 11/16.
<span style='background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)'><i>Charles Andrews has listened to a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 3,000 live shows. He has lived in Santa Monica for 38 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or hate mail to:</i></span> <a href='mailto:therealmrmusic@gmail.com'><i>therealmrmusic@gmail.com</i></a>
