Today's Jazz Events

Blogger Dee Dee McNeil's latest article spotlights an upcoming Count Basie Orchestra release featuring several major jazz names.  Read Dee Dee's Jazz Diary and add your comments.  Meanwhile, SoCal jazz highlights this week include Steve Smith & Vital Information, The Hornets, Katisse Buckingham, Susan Krebs and Shogun Warrior.  Check out the latest edition of Tom Meek's About & Out for these and other shows.

Audiences can enjoy an array of music as interpreted by some of today's most acclaimed performers in the Orange County Performing Arts Center's 2009 - 2010 Jazz Series. As always, the Center has scheduled a season of musical events that features the world's top musicians, singers and renowned ensembles.  The Jazz Series includes Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; Esperanza Spalding; Herb Alpert and Lani Hall; Django 100; and Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour featuring Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Russell Malone and Kurt Elling.

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Chase Morrin, formed the Latin Jazz Connection Jazz Quintet one year ago when he was only 15 years old, recruiting talented teenagers from the San Diego area. Featuring Morrin's original arrangements, the band has brought its fresh Latin jazz sounds to the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival and the Reno Jazz Festival. The title track of their first CD, "Whitos Ninos - 2", won this year's national Down Beat magazine award for Best Latin Group. The CD will be released on Tuesday, July 7, when the band performs at 8pm at Catalina Bar and Grill as part of the Young Artists Jazz Series.

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The Warm Nights, Cool Sounds series at Descanso Gardens' Under the Oaks Theatre will feature Latin-flavored jazz from some of Southern California's finest Latin jazz artists this summer in La Canada/Flintridge. Opening the series on Thursday, July 23rd is the Robert Kyle Brazilian Trio. On Thursday, July 30th the Louie Cruz Beltran Latin Jazz Ensemble appears, and on Thursday, August 6th, Mitchell Long brings in a group performing authentic Brazilian jazz and originals. The concerts are from 5:30 to 7:00.

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The Monterey Jazz Festival has selected this year's Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, a 22-piece ensemble composed of the top high school students in the nation. This year, six members are from Southern California. Trombonist John Egizi, 16, is from Ventura; drummer Sam Miller, 17, is from Rolling Hills; guitarist Adam Moezina, 17, is from Van Nuys; saxophonist, clarinetist and flautist Max Zooi is from S. Pasadena; bass trombonist Emmanuel Rojas is from Downey; and bassist Mike Gurrola, 18, is from La Crescenta. The NGJO will go on a 10-day tour as well as performing at the Festival with this year's Artist in Residence, Wynton Marsalis. LAJazz.com congratulates these musicians on their accomplishments.