Jack is Jack and That’s Noteworthy
Still. For better or worse. There was an unfortunate email that went out, to a lot of names, that said Jack Neworth was suffering from early dementia. Unless rooting full on for the Lakers and the Dodgers is proof of that, I would disagree with that diagnosis. Not made by a doctor, as far as I know. I have dealt with family members who have experienced that dreaded disease, and in all my phone calls with Jack recently, I have detected nothing of that sort. If anything, against all odds, he seems more upbeat and coherent than usual.
It still seems like a good idea to swamp Jack with notes of appreciation for his many years of loving Santa Monica and hating all that Drumpf stands for, maybe short notes or postcards (53c). He should eventually receive them at this address:
Jack Neworth
2700 Neilson Way
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Highly Recommended
La Traviata, LA Opera – The LA Opera is back! Hallelujah (Chorus)! With one of the most enduring tragedies of them all, and star soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen. What’s a poor glittering star of Parisian nightlife to do when she wants to settle down but her following won’t let her? This is one of those operas everyone has heard of, for a reason. Don’t miss it. Sat 7:30pm, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, LA, $89-399.
Springsteen – Did you see his show here a couple days ago? No? I have friends who bought their tickets months ago. Well, lucky you, you have this last chance, and then you would have to buy a plane ticket and hotel room, and maybe have to wait a long time. You live in LA, use it. His famous-in-their-own-right E Street Band looks a little different for losses and additions since the early ‘70s, but that’s a rare half century-long continuity, and most of the original bangers are there and they are essential to the sound and the experience. Does he still do three to four hour shows? Gawd I hope not. For his sake. We want him to stay with us, don’t we? Sun 7:30pm, Kia Forum, Inglewood, $120-2,453.
Hot Club of Los Angeles – You can go to the Cinema Bar any Monday, 9–11:30pm, for more than a decade now, and hear these hot players run through Django Reinhart-style ‘30s jazz. They should have copies of their new album Nova there for sale. This amazing ensemble is a treasure, just over the border from SM. Mon 9pm, Cinema Bar, Culver City, no cover.
Recommended
Ethan Iverson Trio with Peter Erskine, Darek Oles – Years ago, I saw The Bad Plus and liked them, jazz sort of, but that’s just one of Iveron’s many musical persona over a long career. A thread seems to be bending and merging styles and even genres. But I recommend this show on that small knowledge of him because of the other two musicians, with whom I'm very familiar. Local legend drummer Peter Erskine is simply the best, and he has been playing with master bassist Darek Oles for some 30 years. Wherever Iverson takes this performance, you can be assured the rhythm section will keep it sounding superb. Fri, Sat 7:30, 10:30pm, Sam First, LAX, $30.
Donald Harrison – His moniker "Big Chief" is a nod to his New Orleans upbringing, and at age 19 he composed a modern jazz version of the traditional NOLA second line. A few years later he created his Nouveau Swing, and since 2000 he has been examining music through the lens of quantum physics. He played with Art Blakey, McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Ron Carter, and The Notorious BIG. His latest album, The Art of Passion, takes the same composition and presents it multiple ways, different genres. Sun 7pm, Jazz Bakery, Santa Monica, $35.
Toledo Diamond – Unique, riveting, first class act. There’s nothing like it, it is high performance art and great decadent fun. Degeneracy is rarely so well disciplined. And the band is smokin’! Don’t. Miss. Toledo Diamond. Sun 9:30pm, Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $12.
Coming Attractions (all Recommended): Toledo Diamond, Harvelle’s, 4/7, 14, 21, 28; Hot Club of Los Angeles, Cinema Bar, 4/8, 15, 22, 29; La Traviata, LA Opera, 4/6, 14, 18, 21, 24, 27; Springsteen, Kia Forum, 4/7; Saint-Saens, Organ Symphony, LA Phil, Disney Hall, 4/12, 13, 14; Library Girl, Ruskin Theatre, 4/14; Mavis Staples 85th Bd, YouTube Theater, 4/18; Albert Lee, Mccabe’s, 4/19; Herbie Hancock, Disney Hall, 4/20; Academy of St. Martin in The Fields, The Soraya, 4/21; Rhiannon Giddens, Theatre at Ace Hotel, 4/25; Jacky Terrasson Trio, Jazz Bakery, 5/5; Kraftwerk, Disney Hall, 5/21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30; John Mceuen, Mccabe’s, 5/24; Chris Stapleton, Hollywood Bowl, 6/26, 27; Rolling Stones, Sofi Stadium, 7/10, 13.
Charles Andrews has lived in Santa Monica for 38 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else.
