Jazz Report

Two more visits to the Hollywood bowl this week rounded out our triple dose of live jazz under the stars. Wednesdays show opened with Madeleine Peyroux. Her singing style has been compared to Billy Holiday. Her retro jazz stylings show the audience where her musical inspirations are coming from. She had a solid set mixed with original songs and standards. The sold out crowd of 17,000 loved her. She did an excellent job of setting the stage for the evenings headliner, Dave Brubeck and his quartet. I got to tell you, I've listened to music all over the world and here's this guy who looks like he's a hundred years old with his band as old as him dishing up some of the most savory jazz I've ever heard. A packed hour long set of gobs of great songs including his masterpiece Take 5. Bruce Hornsby finished out the evening with a short set with a new jazz trio. I've been a Bruce Hornsby fan since he toured with the Dead in 1990. Seeing him with a straight forward jazz combo was a new thing for me. His piano work, as always, was exceptional. Great time, great music and more Polly time, kissing and hugging the night away.

Last night we finished our summer series with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy backed up by the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Orchestra. What a night. Perfect weather and another sell out crowd. The Hollywood Bowl Jazz Orchestra opened up the first half with great songs from the likes of Duke Ellington & Count Basie. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy opened an energetic second set with their own brand of swing on steroids. The Hollywood Hornets did some swing dancing on stage while the bad played. I feel so lucky to have seen so much great music this summer and especially this last week. Life is good with a song in my heart and a smile of my face.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy