Tom Meek, a Los Angeles-area native, grew up in Ohio with a father who was a noted regional swing drummer and a library of thousands of jazz and popular recordings. He began working in radio at 11, as a coffee house DJ at 13, and as a commercial television producer at 15. In the late 1960's Meek began listening to rock and jazz fusion with pioneering artists including Don Ellis, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, and The Mahavishnu Orchestra, and has remained a jazz, fusion and music aficionado since, with an emphasis on virtuosity. In the 1970's, Tom began producing what eventually became dozens of radio, television and video segments featuring live recordings and musician interviews, and expanded that to newspapers over the past decade. Meek began a television consulting practice in the mid-1980s, which has expanded to include other high-tech and IT areas with clients worldwide. In the mid-1990's Meek began exploring the possibilities of music and information distribution via the Internet. He has gone on to develop various Web sites, written extensively for Wikipedia and blogs about fusion and jazz music and musicians, and serves as a audio/video producer and consultant for musicians and events. Tom is also the editor of the Greatest Fusion Lists and Forums at DigitalDreamDoor.com. He is currently working on a music-related book and various music, production and consulting projects. Meek comes to LAJazz.com with an emphasis on what's happening live and locally, and is a frequent attendee at clubs and venues around Southern California, along with many people who travel here from locations worldwide, to see some of the best music being made nightly anywhere on the planet. Tom can be reached via e-mail at fusion07mp3@gmail.com, or visit his site at: www.myspace.com/fusion07mp3
What's Hot - The Week Of January 11, 2009
It's NAMM Week in SoCal, with tens of thousands of musicians and music industry professionals in town for the annual music tradeshow in Anaheim. This is often the busiest week of the year for jazz venues around SoCal, so expect to arrive early and see plenty of full houses.
Monday, 1/11 - Frank Macchia at Vitello's Upstairs
Sax/woodwind player and composer Frank Macchia celebrates the release of his new CD "Folk Songs For Jazzers" at Vitello's Upstairs in Studio City. Among the stellar cast assembled for the event are Peter Erskine on drums, Bob Sheppard on reeds, Grant Geissman on guitar and many others. Other gigs of note Monday include pianist Theo Saunders' sextet at Spazio, trumpeter Ron King at the Oyster House, and blues guitar monster Kirk Fletcher at Harvelle's.
Tuesday 1/12 - John Pisano's Guitar Night at Vitello's Upstairs
Guitarist John Pisano brings his long-running Guitar Night series to its new home of Vitello's Upstairs Tuesday night. Frank Potenza is the featured guest, but expect many other local and world guitarists in the house for the event that will also feature the last guitar played by the legendary Joe Pass through the evening. This one will be guaranteed SRO, so plan accordingly.
Wednesday 1/13 - Anne Farnsworth Trio at Spazio
Spazio in Sherman Oaks plays host to a trio of rarely seen players Wednesday night. Pianist Anne Farnsworth is joined by bassist Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report) and Leon Ndugu Chancler (Miles Davis) on drums. A good early evening bet is saxophonist Bruce Babad's quartet at Sangria in Hermosa Beach.
Thursday 1/14 - Denise Donatelli Quartet at Charlie O's
Silky singer Denise Donatelli is featured Thursday night at Charlie O's in Van Nuys. Donatelli's arrangements are some of the most challenging around, and she's backed here by the very able trio of Bill Cunliffe on piano, Hamilton Price on bass, and Aaron Serfaty on drums. Tool drummer Danny Carey's fusion/jam project Volto! is at The Baked Potato with John Ziegler on guitar, Lance Morrison on bass, and Kirk Covington on keys and drums.
Friday 1/15 - Scott Henderson Trio at The Baked Potato
Fusion/jazz/blues guitar wiz Scott Henderson leads his trio Friday night at The Baked Potato in Studio City. Henderson is joined by his regular trio cast here with John Humphrey on bass and Allan Hertz on drums. Saxophonist Tim Reis' quartet at Spazio features Larry Goldings on piano, Bernard Fowler on vocals and Darryl Jones (The Rolling Stones/Sting/Miles Davis) on bass, while the Blue Laguna in Laguna Beach has drummer Marko Djordjevic's trio with Jeff Ellwood on sax and Janek Gwizdala on bass. Actress/singer Jill Schoelen debuts a new CD at Vitello's Upstairs with John Beasley on piano and Larry Koonse on guitar.
Saturday 1/16 - Turcio, Minnemann, Machacek & Fierabracci at Alvas Showroom
Alvas Showroom in San Pedro plays host to a group of heavyweight players from around the world Saturday night in San Pedro. Keyboardist Phil Turcio is joined by Marco Minnemann on drums, Alex Machacek on guitar, and Ric Fierabracci on bass. The Jazz Ministry is at The Baked Potato, featuring the keyboard/organ duo of Scott Kinsey and Greg Mathieson, backed by the father/son duo of Abraham Laboriel, Sr. on bass and Abe Jr. on drums.
Sunday 1/17 - Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers at Catalina
Bass wiz Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck) brings brothers Regi (guitar) and Joseph (keyboards) for the first of a four-night (Sunday-Wednesday) Wooten family stay at Catalina in Hollywood. Drums on this gig will be handled by Derico Watson. Long-time SoCal drumming favorite Jeff Hamilton leads a trio at Spazio. Pianist John Beasley's quartet plays for a champagne brunch at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, while organist Joey DeFrancesco is at Steamers in Fullerton on Sunday night.
What we play is life.
– Louis Armstrong
Q: What do clarinetists use for birth control?
A: Their personalities
