Critic’s Jazz Picks

Summer has always been a fruitful season for jazz in the Southland. In the last few years, however, Los Angeles has become such fertile territory for the music that the summer has simply become the warm weather segment of a year-round abundance of choices.

The new century’s first jazz summer will again feature a full schedule of events at the Hollywood Bowl, from the Playboy Jazz Festival, June 17 and 18, to the eight Lexus Jazz at the Bowl Wednesday night performances, from July 12 through Sept. 13. Among the highlights: the distinctly multicultural slant of the Playboy Festival, with participants such as David Sanchez, Richard Bona, Ruben Blades and Ozomatli joining mainstream artists Dianne Reeves, Elvin Jones and the Count Basie Orchestra. The Lexus Jazz programs feature singers Nancy Wilson and Cassandra Wilson, the quartets of tenor saxophonists Joshua Redman and Michael Brecker, the 80th birthday appearance of Dave Brubeck, and tributes to Mel Torme and Louis Armstrong, all in the company of the world-class Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

Rare Bowl performances by Diana Krall and Tony Bennett with the L.A. Philharmonic on Aug. 4 and 5 are on the don’t-miss list--if you know a good ticket broker. Both nights are already sold out.

But there are don’t-miss programs taking place in smaller venues as well. In the week of June 13-18, for example, Latin jazz fans will have the opportunity to experience the brilliant piano work of Gonzalo Rubalcaba at Catalina Bar & Grill, as well as the rhythmic energies of soprano saxophonist Jane Bunnett’s Spirits of Havana at the Jazz Bakery.

The superb, all-star trio of drummer Roy Haynes (with pianist Danilo Perez and bassist John Patitucci) is at Catalina Bar & Grill June 27-29. And pianist-psychiatrist Denny Zeitlin and bassist David Friesen bring a blend of music that is as intelligently provocative as it is rhythmically buoyant to the Jazz Bakery July 21-23.

Jazz fans should also stay tuned for the schedule of events planned for the new Knitting Factory Hollywood, expected to open in mid-June at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. with music ranging from mainstream to alternative and avant-garde.