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
Monday 1/25 - Les Hooper Big Band At Typhoon
One of the West Coast's strongest big bands celebrates the release of a live CD recorded last year at Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport. Les Hooper's innovative arrangements and compositions have bee popular with big band fans for more than three decades. The many fine players in the band include names like Ron King, Bruce Babad, Bruce Otto, Kenny Wild and Sinclair Lott. The Saxtet is at Charlie O's.
Tuesday 1/26 - The Trio at Charlie O's
Three L.A. veterans make The Trio, with Terry Trotter on piano, Chuck Berghofer on bass, and the always tasteful Peter Erskine on drums Tuesday night at Charlie O's in Van Nuys. TV's "Family Guy" and more composer Ron Jones leads his Influence Jazz Orchestra at Spazio, one of the largest bands in L.A. featuring many area studio vets. John Pisano's Guitar Night moves upstairs at Vitello's for an evening featuring guitarists Jim Fox and Bob Bain.
Wednesday 1/27 - Django 100 at Catalina
2010 marks the 100th anniversary of legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt's birth, and French guitarist Dorado Schmitt leads a quartet of French gypsy jazz veterans, teamed with bassist Brian Torff, in a tribute to Django. The group appears for three nights at Catalina (Tuesday-Thursday), followed by two at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa (Friday-Saturday). Guitarist Bruce Forman is at Spazio with Larry Goldings on piano, Gabe Noel on bass, and Zach Harmon on drums.
Thursday 1/28 - Ignacio Berroa Quartet at The Baked Potato
Cuban drummer Ignacio Berroa (Dizzy Gillespie) makes a rare West Coast appearance, leading a quartet with Otmario Ruiz on keys, Ben Wendel on sax, and Rene Camacho on bass. Berroa also appears Friday night at Alvas in San Pedro. Pianist John Beasley (Miles Davis) leads his Jazz Circle band at Vitello's Upstairs, with Bob Sheppard handling saxes and flutes, Ian Martin on bass, and Oscar Seaton on drums. Vocalist Judy Wexler has an early evening gig at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, while sax veteran James Moody is at Spaghettini in Seal Beach.
Friday 1/29 - Ellis & Delfeayo Marsalis at Catalina
Marsalis family patriarch pianist Ellis Marsalis teams with son and trombonist Delfeayo for the first of three nights (Friday-Sunday) at Catalina in Hollywood. The pair are joined by John Clayton on bass and the always terrific Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums from Jay Leno/The Tonight Show. Other notable shows Friday include drummer Bernie Dresel's "Bern" at Spazio, vocalists Janis Mann at Charlie O's and Sony Holland at the Radisson L.A. Westside, and Katisse at The Baked Potato with Brenna Whitaker handling the vocal duties.
Saturday 1/30 - Christian Howes at Spazio
Guitarist Robben Ford (Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell) is a guest for violinist Christian Howe's group at Spazio, which also includes Bobby Floyd on organ, Tamir Hendelman on piano, Kevin Axt on bass and Joel Rosenblatt on drums. Pianist Josh Nelson leads a trio at Cafe Metropol with Hamilton Price on bass and Kevin Kanner on drums, while the Luckman Jazz Orchestra plays the music of Thelonious Monk at Cal State Los Angeles.
Sunday 1/31 - Michael Landau Group at The Baked Potato
Guitar wiz Michael Landau (James Taylor, Joni Mitchell) is one of the most peer-respected anywhere in the world, combining multiple stylings including blues, jazz, rock, country, fusion and more. This weekend marks a special one music-wise as Landau is joined by the Norwegian-based blues trio of Per Oystein Erstad on bass, Jon Reidar Furuland on drums, and the outstanding Iver Olav Erstad on organ, bringing a group that has toured in Scandinavia parts of the last two years to L.A. for shows at The Baked Potato Saturday and Sunday nights. Iver considers playing The Baked Potato the "Holy Grail" of his musical career, so expect the band to be in top form.
It's taken me all my life to learn what not to play.
– Dizzy Gillespie
D.C. al capone: you betta go back to the beginning, capiche?
