A Fistful of Guitars

John Pisano, a jazz guitarist who wrote some minor hits while a member of Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass in the ‘60s and later worked with jazz guitar great Joe Pass, loves his chosen instrument.

“The guitar fascinates me,” Pisano said. “There are so many directions you can go. There’s always something to do, something to learn.”

If there’s one thing Pisano cares about as much as picking up a guitar, it’s listening to colleagues play it. The longtime Studio City resident will get to do just that during the second annual John Pisano L.A. Jazz Guitar festival, being held Tuesday through Jan. 30 at Papashon Restaurant in Encino.

The festival offers a wealth of opportunities for guitar lovers and jazz fans to hear fine jazz guitarists. On Tuesday, there’s the English craftsman Adrian Ingram. On Wednesday, there’s Ron Eschete, the Southern California ace who favors the seven-string guitar, along with ex-Police plectrist Andy Summers, and others. Eschete’s trio appears Saturday.

“Ron continues to grow,” Pisano said. “He was always great, and he gets better every time I hear him.”

Paul Bollenback and Randy Johnston, two East Coast dynamos who are exciting fans and critics with their sizzling performances, appear Thursday and Jan. 29, respectively. Guitar legend Mundell Lowe is also in on the latter.

The festival closes Jan. 30 with a tribute to the innovative guitarist George Van Eps, who died Nov. 29. Local heroes Pat Kelley and Ted Greene will be among the many on hand. Greene, who is highly regarded as a teacher, will conduct a free seminar at 7 p.m. Friday.

Pisano, who will appear most nights, said he’s thrilled with putting the festival together, except for one aspect. “I don’t have time to play,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve been wanting to get the guitar in my hands all day but I’ve been on the phone.”

The L.A. Jazz Guitar Festival is held Tuesday through Jan. 30, 8 p.m. (except Jan. 30, 7:30 and 10 p.m.), at Papashon Restaurant, 15910 Ventura Blvd., Encino; $10 cover (except Tuesday, no cover), one-drink minimum. Call (818) 783-6664.

Comeback: Louis and Monique Aldebert, French singers who were members of the famed ‘60s vocal group the Double Six of Paris, and have appeared with Dizzy Gillespie and others, are making their first area appearance in five years on Sunday, 8 p.m., in free concert at the Madrid Theatre (21622 Sherman Way, Canoga Park; [818] 347-9938).

Worth Catching: Cornetist Bobby Bradford and saxophonist Chuck Manning, two enterprising and adventuresome improvisers, play Saturday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., at Rocco (2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel-Air; no cover, no minimum; [310] 475-9807). An intriguing new band, the Acoustic Jazz Quartet, with guitarist Jamie Findlay and saxophonist David Sills, arrives at Rocco on Thursday, same time.

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Zan Stewart writes about jazz for the Valley Edition. He can be reached at Zansky@AOL.com