Wilson, Cheathams, Masekela Headline Music Center Series

Gerald Wilson’s Orchestra of the ‘90s, Jimmy and Jeannie Cheatham’s Sweet Baby Blues Band and Hugh Masekela are the headliners for Jazz at the Music Center, three jazz concerts to be offered at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion this summer.

The series--subtitled “Three Finger Poppin’ Fridays at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion”--will be held July 19, July 26 and Aug. 2 and will be presented by Associated Presentations, with assistance by the California Institute of the Arts.

The programs are under the aegis of the Music Center Operating Co., which manages the downtown Los Angeles facility housing the Pavilion, the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theater.

The shows constitute a modest beginning for a major-league jazz event at the Music Center. It’s a plus that the focus of the concerts is on musicians from Southern California, but many of these players can be regularly heard in area nightclubs, and new compositions were not commissioned from such artists as Wilson, one of jazz’s most compelling writers, according to producer Michael O’Daniel. Additionally, the inclusion of Masekela is questionable: The South African trumpeter is by no means strictly a jazz artist, and his shows have a definite pop tinge.

“Our point of view is to have musical balance, with enjoyable, well-structured programs at a moderate price,” said O’Daniel, who is producing the concerts for Associated, which often presents shows at the Music Center. All seats for the concerts are $17.50. A series ticket costs $45.

The July 19 concert features Wilson, the Cal Arts Jazz Ensemble directed by James Newton and Les McCann and his Magic Band, featuring tenor saxophonist Keith Henderson. The Cheathams, the Woody Herman Orchestra directed by Frank Tiberi and Buddy Collette’s sextet are on tap July 26, and Masekela, an all-star octet led by Teddy Edwards and the L.A. Jazz Choir perform Aug. 2. Singer Ernie Andrews will emcee all three concerts.

The programs at the Music Center had been in the planning stages for some time, but announcement of similar jazz programs at New York’s Lincoln Center earlier this year made jazz a priority for the MCOC. Plans went into the developmental stages in late May, at which point O’Daniel was brought in as a consultant.

“We were so impressed with his ideas that we asked him to put on the show,” said MCOC’s president Sandra Kimberling of the organization’s selection of O’Daniel, who--in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s in New York--managed such jazz artists as Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie.

One of O’Daniel’s ideas was to utilize the talents of Collette as musical adviser. “I wanted artistic involvement from a musician,” said O’Daniel, “and Buddy is a person who has the respect of the jazz musicians of this city, has great taste and is well connected.”

Kimberling is committed to extending the programs beyond this summer.

Information: (213) 972-7211.