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 2/8 - Jazz Jam Hosted By Kevin Kanner at Blue Whale
Drummer Kevin Kanner's Monday nights have for years been the most highly regarded mainstream jams in SoCal, and after a long stint at The Mint, have found a new home at Blue Whale in downtown L.A.. Kanner's house band is as good or better than ever here, with Josh Nelson on keys, Hamilton Price on bass, Walter Smith III on sax, and Charles Altura on guitar. Kirk Fletcher continues his Monday blues at Harvelle's, and Theo Saunders has a quartet at Charlie O's.
Tuesday 2/9 - TJ Helmerich Group at The Baked Potato
Guitarist TJ Helmerich is one of the more inventive guitarists anywhere in the world today, due in part to his unique 8-finger tapping style. Tuesday night he teams with long-time collaborator Joe Elliott on guitar, as well as bassist Ernest Tibbs (Allan Holdsworth) and superdrummer Virgil Donati (Planet X). The all-female (Jennifer) York Quartet including saxophonist Carol Chaikin is at Catalina.
Wednesday 2/10 - Greg Poree at Vitello's Upstairs
Guitarist Greg Poree makes his first appearance at Vitello's Upstairs with a quartet including the excellent young violinist Paul Cartwright. Jack Sheldon is at Charlie O's with his California Cool Quartet (also at Jax Thursday) and keyboardist George Whitty is at The Baked Potato in a trio featuring Ric Fierabracci on bass and Toss Panos on drums.
Thursday 2/11 - Emil Richards & Joe Porcaro Quartet featuring Abraham Laboriel, Sr. and Mike Lang at Charlie O's
Four L.A. veterans with a combined experience of two centuries team up at Charlie O's in Van Nuys Thursday night. The players here have studio resumes that could fill a book, including turns with notables including Frank Zappa. Other highlights Thursday include singer Anne Walsh at the Wokcano in Long Beach, Paul Kriebich at the Crowne Plaza LAX, Nancy Sanchez at Steamers, and San Francisco-based Garaj Mahal at The Baked Potato.
Friday 2/12 - Denise Donatelli Quartet at Spazio
Singer Denise Donatelli is an L.A. favorite with her silky delivery and demanding arrangements. Friday she's backed by a fine trio including Otmaro Ruiz on piano, Hamilton Price on bass, and Aaron Serfaty on drums (Donatelli also performs with the same group, but with Kevin Kanner on drums, Sunday evening at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel). Percussion wiz Alex Acuna (Weather Report) is at Vitello's Upstairs (also on Saturday), while Bob Sheppard has a trio at Blue Whale.
Saturday 2/13 - Pete Escovedo at Ventura High School
Latin jazz percussionist Pete Escovedo leads his Latin orchestra at a Saturday night performance as part of the annual Ventura Music Festival. Escovedo is a veteran of groups including Santana, Azteca and numerous others. Percussionist Brad Dutz is at Alvas in San Pedro, Marco Mendoza's El Trio is at The Baked Potato, and drummer Zach Harmon leads a trio at Blue Whale.
Sunday 2/14 - Janis Mann at Charlie O's
Singer Janis Mann fronts the John Heard Trio at Charlie O's in Van Nuys, including John Heard on bass and Roy McCurdy on drums. Elaine Miles appears At My Place in Corona, Patrice Quinn is at Spazio, Poncho Sanchez is at The Conga Room, and Anna Mjoll is at The Baked Potato.
What we play is life.
– Louis Armstrong
Q: What's the latest crime wave in New York City?
A: Drive-by trombone solos
