Carlton, Ritenour Join Forces at JVC Fest

It sounded like a match made in contemporary guitar heaven: Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour teaming up to make an album, “Larry & Lee” (GRP), and to tour extensively.

“(We) . . . kept getting letters,” said Carlton, “many from Japan, saying, ‘ . . . When are we going to hear Lee and Larry together?’ ”

Last year, both felt that the time was right, Carlton said, and the result was an 11-song album, released in May, and subsequent tours of Japan and the United States.

The pair--who are backed by Rick Jackson (keyboards), Melvin Davis (bass) and Land Richards (drums)--appear Sunday at the JVC Jazz Festival, being held at the Hollywood Bowl from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Also on tap are keyboardists George Duke and David Benoit and guitarists Ali Farka Toure, the Grammy-winning world music star from Mali, and Norman Brown.

For “Larry & Lee,” Ritenour and Carlton each wrote, arranged and produced selections in a mode that combines elements of jazz, pop, rock and blues.

In person, the guitarists, who also play Monday at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, offer everything “from be-bop to blues and we both do a couple of solo numbers,” said Ritenour.

Information: (213) 850-2000.

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Brazil at Bowl: Though headliner Joao Gilberto has unexpectedly canceled for Wednesday’s “With Love to Jobim,” a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim at the Hollywood Bowl, his replacements are solid.

The remarkable songwriter-singer Ivan Lins, who has written such classics as “Velas” and “Antes Que Seja Tarde,” and the splendid vocal quartet Boca Livre have been added. Both will offer tunes by Jobim, the most acclaimed of Brazilian popular songwriters (“One Note Samba,” “Girl From Ipanema,” “Corcovado,” “Dindi” and so many others), who died last December of heart failure.

The tribute also spotlights singer Gal Costa and great tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, whose latest Verve album, “Double Rainbow,” features only Jobim’s music. Other surprise guests are also expected.

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Branford’s Back: Ex-”Tonight Show” band leader-saxman Branford Marsalis makes a quick visit to Southern California, leading his Buckshot LeFonque funk-rap-jazz band tonight at 8 at “L.A. a la Carte.” The event, which also features James Brown, Tom Scott, Justo Almario, Jeff Lorber and Craig Chaquico, is a music and food festival held through Sunday at Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue in Westwood.

Marsalis says that Buckshot has changed a lot since the eponymous-titled album came in January. “People are amazed because the tunes are almost totally different,” he said from his home in New York. “We’re not married to song forms, so that though numbers have the same beginnings and ending, everything in the middle is negotiable.” Information: (800) 517-2360.

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Hubbard Watch: Though he didn’t play last Friday at Legends of Hollywood, as scheduled, Freddie Hubbard did show up Saturday at the Studio City club, and thrilled fans, according to both club owner/drummer Bob Marks and occasional Hubbard saxman Doug Webb, who sat in that night. “He played with a lot of energy,” said Marks. Hubbard is due to return tonight and Saturday and again on Aug. 25-26. Information: (818) 760-6631.

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Riding the Jazzwaves: Herbie Hancock’s “Brazilian Celebration” can be seen Thursday at 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Bravo . . . The late bassist Jaco Pastorius appears in concert on BET’s Jazz Central, Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. . . . The music of Thelonious Monk will be played on “Jazz From Lincoln Center,” airing Monday, 10 p.m., on radio’s KPCC-FM (89.3).

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No Cover: Bassist Richard Simon’s quartet with Buddy Collette plays Saturday, 1:30 to 4 p.m., at Pedrini Music in Alhambra, (213) 283-1932 . . . The African Marketplace, Rancho Cienega Park, La Brea and Rodeo Boulevard, hosts Phil Wright on Saturday at 3 p.m., and on Sunday, bassist Nedra Wheeler (noon), keyboardist Freddie Ravel (3 p.m.), and bassist Art Davis’ quintet with Doug Webb and Phil Vieux (4 p.m.), (213) 734-1164 . . . The Elders with Tootie Heath and John Heard play on Thursday, 5:30 p.m., at the Museum of Contemporary Art, (213) 621-1749 . . . Pianist Mario Grigorov’s trio works tonight, 5:30 p.m., at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Bill Berry’s big band is there on Sunday at 1:30 p.m., (213) 857-6000 . . . Billy Childs performs Wednesday, 7 p.m., at the Century City Shopping Center, (310) 277-3898.

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Critic’s Choice: Two top tenor saxophonists are in town the next few days, with Tim Warfield lighting up bassist Christian McBride’s performances tonight at the Hyatt Newporter in Newport Beach (714) 729-1234 and Saturday and Sunday at Catalina Bar & Grill (213) 466-2210, and George Coleman starting a five-night blowout on Wednesday at the Jazz Bakery (310) 271-9039.