The vocalist plays tribute to the French guitar hero and others at Dizzy's.

Vocalist Allison Adams Tucker creates a new twist on an old concept August 4 at the new Dizzy's (4275 Mission Bay Dr.) when she assembles a cast of local players to celebrate the music of Django Reinhardt and Le Hot …

Dennerlein did her best to make the huge outdoor pipe organ swing -- with mixed results.

I caught the first set of Barbara Dennerlein's concert at the Spreckles Organ Pavilion on July 29, my first experience listening to the much talked about outdoor pipe organ. Dennerlein, on the other hand, I've been enjoying since the early …

Onetime Steve Miller Band songwriter/guitarist recalls 1st meeting the late legend

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/29/50238/ "His debut LP Naturally was one of the finest collections of songs and perfect musicianship I ever heard," says longtime local guitar god Greg Douglass of the late JJ Cale, who passed away at the age of 74 on …

Brian Levy, Mikan Zlatkovich and Peter Sprague have a shared sense of propulsive chemistry.

On July 28, three improvisers met on common ground for a night of open-ended discourse conducted "in the moment" for a small, appreciative crowd at Dizzy's. Tenor saxophonist Brian Levy, pianist Mikan Zlatkovich and guitarist Peter Sprague opened up with …

San Diego sax legend teams up with Barbara Dennerlein tonight at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion for some organ combo jazz

“What are you doin’ Monday?” Daniel Jackson, the tenor sax man phoned over the weekend to talk about a special gig that in fact happens to be tonight. “I’m sitting in with Barbara Dennerlein, man. In Balboa Park. She’s gonna …

Tchaikovsky bitchifies Cui in a lopsided Russian affair.

Time to visit Russia again for another elimination round. In the first match Chesnokov knocked Kabalevsky out. The remaining Russian matches are: Tchaikovsky versus Cui Khachaturian versus Borodin Glinka versus Stravinsky Prokofiev versus Scriabin Shostakovich versus Glinka Rachmaninoff versus Balakirev …

Eric Clapton collaborator was 74.

Longtime local bluesman JJ Cale, who moved to Valley Center in Escondido in 1989, passed away on Friday, July 26, at Scripps Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He was 74 years old. “Cocaine” and “After Midnight” were among his …

An intense night of powerful, beautiful music.

The Joshua White Quintet performance on July 25, at the San Diego Museum of Art was standing room only -- and so powerful that some folks had to exit early. That's how I would define a success on all levels. …

Liquid Geometry shapes up another mystifying release from Saigon beatmaker

Local weirdbeat label Liquid Geometry just dropped another doozy from Maryland-born producer Uncon Sci. The five-song For Little Good sees the Saigon-based beatmaker building on the Eastern sounds of his Liquid G debut Tiger Mustache with notes of jazz, world …

Strange Stage Stories from San Diego Musicians: Thea Tochihara (Social Club), Sppike Mike Muellenberg (League of Liars), Lou Curtiss (Folk Arts Records), Joe Mendoza (The Spring Collection) and Paul Shaffer (Private Domain / Bratz)

Lou Curtiss (Folk music legend): “It wasn't exactly on stage but I was playing country music in a band one summer up in Weed, Ca., up by Mount Shasta. The owner of the club said to us when he hired …

It's Bobby Fernandez, the bass player from Symbolic on the phone, taking a break from band practice at their guitar player's home studio in Escondido. Escondido? "One of us commutes all the way from La Mesa," he says. That would …

Several great concerts coming up, but decisions will have to be made.

There is a lot coming up in the local jazz scene this week. Here are a few can't miss propositions: Joshua White Quintet: July 25, San Diego Museum of Art I saw this group a few weeks back at Dizzy's …

Republic of Letters drummer Nick Venti debuts solo electro pop project.

Nick Venti of melodic rock outfit Republic of Letters recently debuted his solo-project Nicky Venus. The bulk of the Nicky Venus EP was written while Venti was visiting a friend in Japan last year. “It was cherry blossom season and …

Filmaker Denny Tedesco's informative and hilarious celebration of the unknown LA studio musicians who created much of what we call pop-music.

I was among the lucky few of approximately 500 music lovers who took advantage of the opportunity to take in one of the two screenings of The Wrecking Crew documentary on July 20 at San Diego City College, a presentation …

Holy hotpics, here's the last batch of Gaslamp giggles...

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Tosca stabs Scarpia before he sticks her.

Does sexual attraction count for love when we’re adding depth to opera characters? Yes! Remember that the first guidepost is relationship. Let's take a look at a scene where we might not expect to find love. The scene I'm thinking …

Guitarist Wayne Riker has put together a new Beatles tribute show, set to debut on July 28 at Swedenborg Hall.

Acclaimed guitarist Wayne Riker has put together a new Beatles tribute show, set to debut on July 28 at Swedenborg Hall. The concert will consist solely of Riker with his Stonebridge acoustic/electric guitar. “Don't let that fool you,” he says. …

Eighties hitmakers the Fixx performed at Birch Aquarium on July 17. Bushwalla opened.

On July 17, New wave hitmakers, the Fixx, performed at Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Part of the eighth annual Green Flash Concert series, held the third Wednesday of each month from May to September, proceeds from …

Getting yer Gaslamp geek on again

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/20/49715/ http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/20/49677/ Sure, they're cute, but my eyes keep going back to that Devil's Panties booth... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/20/49678/ C'mon, that's how Grace Jones dresses EVERY day! http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/20/49679/ It's not paint. I think I have lead poisoning... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/20/49685/ He's not supposed to …

Lots of music related ways to spend time and money at Comic Con International 2013, from an artist who records on wax cylinder to new Beatle plush toys. 21 photos.

While Comic Con International is certainly based around the trilogy of comics, science fiction and motion pictures/television, it’s not hard to find music at the convention. It starts on arrival downtown, before you get to the convention center itself, with …

"Jazz meets Star Wars"? Gilbert Castellanos made it happen.

Gilbert Castellanos' "Jazz Meets Star Wars," concert on July 19 at Dizzy's could not have been more successful -- both from a musical standpoint as well as a commercial one. The show was well attended -- so much so, that …

When it comes to opera we've got to see the love everywhere.

Have you ever seen a movie or a play and thought the characters were superficial and lacking depth? Let me think of an example. Here we go, pick any character from Star Wars and I think you’ll get the idea. …

More gutbusting guffaws from the Gaslamp

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/19/49555/ Parking is so scarce downtown, homeless guys are scalping open spaces... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/19/49556/ Wait, aren't those just Madison High cheerleaders?? http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/19/49557/ Uh oh, looks like that lynch mob caught up to Mayor Sanders! http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/19/49553/ Who knew jackalopes had such huge …

The always surprising pianist led an inspired quartet through his distinctive take on classic material.

The rewards of experiencing pianist Joshua White live as often as possible can not be exaggerated. Jazz, in its purest form is music created in the moment, and as such, every time White approaches the piano different things happen. On …

Great googly wooglies, a gaggle of Gaslamp giggles

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/18/49401/ Okay, I'm ready to clean the Convention Center men's room now. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/18/49402/ He's okay, he just had a little too much Laffy Taffy. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/18/49403/ Batman's got his utility belt, but I carry my own robin perch! http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/18/49404/ When Underachievers …

Progressive world outfit plays Voz Alta with Afrojazziacs.

Drawing inspiration from the Son Jarocho folk tradition pioneered by Mexican luminaries such as Doña Elena Ramírez, Don Arcadio Hidalgo, and Don Andrés Vega, Sonex combines indigenous sounds from their hometown of Xalapa, Veracruz with African rhythms, Afro-Peruvian music, Venezuelan …

Goofy gags from geektastic Gaslamp gathering...

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/17/49304/ What costume? I found these in my mattress at the hotel! http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/17/49306/ That's no whip, Emerald Areola, I'm just happy to see you! http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/17/49305/ When hoary met sultry... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/17/49308/ Wanna catch a ride with Little Red from the Hood? …

The educator Kabalevsky versus the choral master Chesnokov.

The Russians didn’t really participate in the Renaissance or the Baroque periods of music in the same way the rest of Europe did. During the Renaissance, Russia was dealing with the Golden Horde of the Mongols. During the Baroque they …

Gilbert Castellanos applies his jazz magic to the John Williams soundtrack themes in honor of Comic-Con.

"I'm a total Star Wars nerd," admits local trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos, who is planning an extravagant "Jazz meets Star Wars," concert series this weekend in celebration of Comic-Con coming to town. On Friday, July 19, Castellanos, with tenor saxophonist Brian …

Celebrating the music of John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner with Mikan Zlatkovich, Hamilton Price and Kevin Higuchi.

The music of jazz titan John Coltrane will forever serve as a touchstone for me, so it was with great anticipation that the July 13, Brian Levy Music of John Coltrane & McCoy Tyner tribute at Dizzy's surfaced on my …

Russia has a deeper field of competitors than we might have expected.

Before we get to the Russians let’s recap what has happened so far in the World Cup of Composers. The French sent eight composers to the second round of their national tournament: Ravel, Berlioz, Bizet, Gounod, Debussy, Massenet, Saint- Saëns, …

San Diego's own Total Request Live teams up with Static for a Comic-Con party.

A pair of local music lovers recently kicked off ListenSD, a multimedia outlet highlighting San Diego music with videos, interviews, reviews, and special events. Host Rachel Frank likens the project (for better or worse) to MTV’s Total Request Live, “where …

With special guest trumpeter Hugh Ragin, White's music took transformative turns.

The July 11 performance of the Joshua White Quintet at Dizzy's exceeded expectations by almost every metric one could imagine. For nearly two hours, music of the highest nature cascaded from the bandstand into the brainwaves of the listener in …

Oddball art rockers spread the jams.

Some fresh juju from behind the pink curtain. First, this spooky goth exotica number, “Valentina,” sounds like it could be the soundtrack to a Bollywood flick directed by Jodorowsky (which, come to think of it, really should exist already). Vaginals’ …

Bel canto composers square off in the final match of round one in Italy.

Now for the square off of the bel canto specialists, Donizetti vs. Bellini. The bel canto style of Italian Opera came after Rossini and before Verdi although the style did stain a lot of Verdi’s work, especially before Verdi succumed …

Veteran drummer Barry Farrar led the band in a tribute to Art Blakey.

In a kind of "home-grown" affair, the Jazz 88 All Stars appeared at City College on July 9, for the bi-monthly Jazz Live performance sponsored by KSDS. The band, in various incarnations, has been around for years, and is directed …

White's quintet draws players from LA and Colorado.

Joshua White Quintet gigs are always something to look forward to, and the July 11 hit at Dizzy's has been circled on my calendar for months. White's got a new version of the Quintet cued up for this performance -- …

'Kaos Cut Loose in San Diego' hopes to expand on Kaos Tom's past romance with local rockers

“I’m getting ready to gear back up. I want to do this.” Kaos Kut Loose in San Diego is what Tom Romano, aka Kaos Tom is planning to launch. He explains how this will be different than what he's done …

Piano playing singer-songwriter Chris Carpenter celebrates the release of his debut solo album, with a show at Lestat’s Coffeehouse on July 14. His band includes Roni Lee, Jamie Shadowlight and Haley Allen.

Piano playing singer-songwriter Chris Carpenter celebrates the release of his debut solo album, Up All Night, with a show at Lestat’s Coffeehouse on July 14. While Carpenter has self released various tracks in the past, these recordings are his first …

Gilbert Castellanos and Brian Lynch locked into a friendly trumpet "cutting-contest" that raised the roof in the Pacific Beach venue. Special guest Charles McPherson blew it completely off.

Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos brought fellow horn-man Brian Lynch into town on July 7, for Night of the Cookers, Vol. III, alongside an LA rhythm section of Katie Thiroux on bass, Dan Schnelle on drums, with Mikan Zlatkovich on piano, and …

Proggy instrumental quarter celebrates sophomore album at Tin Can Ale House in Bankers Hill.

Not unlike the archaic piece of punctuation from which they take their name, Interrobang invites both excitement and intrigue on their second full-length, A Tale of Two Interrobangs. The instrumental quartet (make click here to read about a house party …

Verdi squashes Monteverdi in the most lopsided match thus far.

Since we’ve got Puccini done, let’s look at the other two important Italian verismo composers Mascagni and Leoncavallo. Mascagni has Cavalleria Rusticana and L’amico Fritz. L’amico Fritz only has traction because of the fantastic recording with a young Pavarotti and …

"Even in the eigth grade, I blew most everybody away." -- Matt Holmen

Years ago, while interviewing blues guitarist Walter Trout in the minutes before his set at a Street Scene concert, we talked about the rising youth factor in blues music, about the sudden crop of dazzlingly competent kids with electric guitars. …

Accused metal frontman discusses his Christianity and "What I Can Talk About"

As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis posted a blog on his Tumblr page over the weekend addressing his arrest for allegedly trying to hire someone to kill his wife. The blog, titled "What I Can Talk About," was taken …

On July 7 Raising the Roof: A Benefit Concert for the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, featured performances from 15 different artists, including Earl Thomas, Rockola, Joey Harris, Sara Petite, Gregory Page, Lisa Sanders and Eve Selis.

On July 7 the Belly Up Tavern was the site of Raising the Roof: A Benefit Concert for the Blues Hall of Fame Museum. The event was organized by blues singer Earl Thomas, with proceeds going to the Blues Foundation, …

An inspired combination of local jazz heavyweights.

The San Diego jazz all-star aggregation known as Bop Moderno took the stage in The Back Room at 98 Bottles like conquering heroes and proceeded to lay it down for a sold-out house of enthusiastic supporters on July 6 -- …

Puccini, Rossini, and Vivaldi headline the opening day of the Italian campaign.

With Cavalleria Rusticana still fresh, let’s get the Italian competition started for the World Cup of Composers. The first pairing is Vivaldi versus Pergolesi. Both these composers were prolific but ended up being “one hit wonders”. Pergolesi was an important …

Boasting an unusual sonic lineup, Occidentia reached for different sounds.

Tenor saxophonist Ben Schachter isn't just an excellent improviser -- he's also quite the conceptualist, a fact very much in evidence throughout his July 5 concert at Dizzy's leading a band he calls Occidentia. Featuring Dave Marr on acoustic bass, …

There's something for just about every musical taste happening.

The holiday weekend is looking busy for jazz fans, with excellent shows on the 5th, 6th and 7th. Ben Schachter's Occidentia: July 5 Schachter has been turning heads ever since he arrived last year from Philadelphia with his big tone, …

The Pacific Lyric Association production had a fresh approach and the cookie coupons.

Let’s talk a little bit about the Cavalleria Rusticana I went to on June 30th in Poway. You could feel the love in this production. While the singing was inconsistent from time to time, the dedication was at a hundred …

Two screenings of this film about legendary LA studio musicians happen on July 20, at the Saville Theatre at City College, courtesy KSDS Jazz 88.

Music fans of all stripes (especially those who can remember the 1960s), have an incredible opportunity coming their way: on July 20, KSDS Jazz 88 presents 2 showings of The Wrecking Crew, a new documentary film by Danny Tedesco about …

Everything Wofford plays has a purity of expression.

Piano master Mike Wofford has lived such a storybook career that it's easy to get lost in the long maze of his past accomplishments and forget about what a vital force he is right now. Fortunately, Dan Atkinson and the …