In a city as diverse in culture and large in population, it’s not surprising that Los Angeles has spawned such diverse musical offerings as The Doors, The Beach Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer and The Blasters. One band that broke ground in the burgeoning alternative rock scene in L.A. in the mid-1980s was Jane’s Addiction. Led by dynamic lead vocalist Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro playing guitar, along with Eric Avery on bass and Stephen Perkins hitting the drums, Jane’s Addiction was one of the first bands to emerge from the early 1990s alternative rock movement to gain mainstream media attention and commercial success in the United States. In doing so, they paved the way for a slew of bands coming out of the Northwest like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, as well as countless other groups across the country. In A&R departments at major record labels at the time, the foot soldier reps (me included) who were out on the streets five nights a week, were all looking for what could be the next Jane’s Addiction, which became the standard bearer for dynamic and captivating live shows, as well as having solid and innovative writing chops.
Now, more than 20 years after coming on the scene, Jane’s Addiction will be releasing a new record called The Great Escape Artist on Oct. 18, and will perform two shows in L.A. at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 3 and 4. The band has partnered with Citibank for a series of launch shows, which will also include two performances each in Chicago, Ill. and New York, N.Y.
Given that the band still has a rabid (if aging) fan base in L.A., by press time tickets could be scarce, however, taking a gander at citiprivatepass.com is an adventure in itself, offering presale tickets and show information about a diverse set of artists such as Jay-Z, David Sanborn, Guns N’ Roses and Paul Anka, among many others. Who knew that that a huge bank conglomerate like Citi would be offering presale tickets to music events? Well, now you do.
The Angel City Jazz Festival makes its return to the Southland through Oct. 2, with multiple shows in various venues around town. On Saturday, Oct. 1, the Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra will perform at 5 p.m. at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater as part of the Global Jam portion of the festival. The Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra is a performing arts organization comprised of instrumentalists, vocalists, dancers, writers and teachers. Currently under the direction of vocalist Dwight Trible, who Summer Concert Series attendees got to see for free in Culver City, this group will have world renowned players in the group for this performance.
Also on the bill that night will be piano and trumpet duo from Tokyo, Japan, Satoko Fuji and Natsuki Tamura – a husband and wife team. Fuji is one of the most original voices in jazz today, while Tamura has been compared to such players as Lester Bowie, Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. The Kandinsky Effect post-modern jazz trio will also be part of the show, with members playing tunes that run the gamut from jazz, rock, electronica and hip-hop. More information on the rest of the festival and other venues can be found at angelcityjazz.com/.
If you want to keep things a bit simpler on the music front and stay a bit closer to home, Pitfire Pizza in Culver City on Washington Boulevard is now offering live music on Sunday nights in the form of the hot jazz sound of Black Market Trust. Playing material in the vein of legendary gypsy jazz guitarist, Django Reindhardt, Black Market Trust consists of Brian Netzley on bass, with Chris Irwin and Jeffrey Radiach on rhythm and lead guitar.
The family tree that traces its roots to the Quintette du Hot Club de France, has sprouted countless branches across the globe in the 70 years since Reinhardt first jammed with violinist Stephane Grappelli. While it seems that every city lays claim to its own Hot Club-type band, this talented trio has the goods that delivers furious fretwork and swinging jazz on accessible tunes that will have adults and kids tapping their toes, while eating the piping hot pizza coming out of the large wood-burning ovens.
Singer/songwriter Tom Freund, whose latest record is called Hug Trees, will be performing a matinee kids show at McCabes Guitar Shop in Santa Monica on Saturday morning, Oct. 9. The disc comprises songs that Freund wrote for and with his daughter Delilah. It also features guest appearances from such distinguished singer/songwriters as Abra Moore, Brett Dennen and Victoria Williams. Freund is committed to helping the environment and a portion of the proceeds from each album will go towards an organization that benefits the environment. The show begins at 11 a.m. and more information can be found at mccabes.com/.
On Friday, Oct. 7, the Culver Club for jazz is presenting world-class jazz vocalist Kevin Mahogany at the Double Tree LA Westside Hotel on Centinela Avenue, near Sepulveda Boulevard. This Kansas City-reared vocalist has been compared to Joe Williams and Johnny Hartman, two hall of fame swinging balladeers, so this will be a show not to miss. Ticketing information and show times can be found at in-housemusic.com/radisson_calendar.htm.
Jonathan Weiss is a Los Angeles-based music supervisor for film, TV and advertising. Email him at jonjaz@aol.com.
