Thursday, January 10th at 8:00 p.m
Garrett Smith on trombone
Kevin Rastegar -bass, Zack Harmon -drums
Adam Benjamin - fender rhodes and Zack Hexum - saxophone

Twenty seven-year-old trombonist Garrett Smith has performed on every continent in the world but Antarctica.  Graduating from USC some 5 years ago, he has successfully gone on to work with Prince, James Brown, Sting, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake; as well as subbing in the renowned Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and doing some recording with Terrence Blanchard.  But resume aside: he plays the horn with a unique lyricism and precision that is not to be missed.  He takes a difficult and relatively awkward instrument and makes it sing like a saxophone: very much in the tradition of J.J. Johnson while also reflecting the influences of the present time to create a sound that is truly his own.
cover $10.00

Saturday, January 12th at 8:00 p.m
The Mike Gurrola Quartet
Mike Gurrola was the featured artist in the Young Artist Jazz Series at Catalina Jazz Club in September 2007 where his successful partnership with Peralta began. Mike's shows have been LA Weekly Brick's Picks twice in recent months. Tony Austin is a professional song writer, composer and  drummer.  He composes for TV, films, and commercials. He currently plays with The Salvador Santana Band. Austin Peralta has recorded two CDs with sidemen Ron Carter, Billy Kilson, Buster Williams, Marcus Strickland, Steve Nelson and Ronald Bruner Jr.  Javier Vergara plays saxophone and flutes in the world famous Poncho Sanchez Band. Brick Wahl of the LA Weekly said in his March Brick's Picks, "Javier Vergara mixes Wayne Shorteresque ideas and Charles Lloyd's ballad feel into his sound". He can be heard on the latest Poncho Sanchez release, Raise Your Hand!
cover $10.00

Friday, January 18th at 8:00 p.m
Nick Mancini Sextet
Andy Sanesi (drums), Edward Livingston (bass),
John Storrie (guitar), Matt Weisberg (piano)
Katisse Buckingham (woodwinds)
Mancini, seen most often leading his quartet through dazzling originals as well as creative interpretations of standards, has assembled a high-impact sextet, further galvanizing his position as a powerhouse bandleader and performer in the ever-evolving improvised music scene in L.A.
cover $10.00

Saturday, January 19th
Two Shows: 8:30 p.m. $25.00 and 10:30 p.m. $20.00
The Ultimate Afro Cuban Jazz Quartet
"A Tribute to Carlos "Patato" Valdez, Legendary Percussionist"
featuring Chuchito Valdes on piano, Francisco Aguabella on congas, Raul Pineda on drums and Sawa Perez on bass

Friday, January 25th at 8:00 p.m
San Gabriel Seven featuring Bill Watrous and Nick Mancini
SGS is a Jazz/Latin/Funk band with tight horns, a killer rhythm section, and great arrangements - both originals and clever new takes on familiar jazz standards. Hailing from the Pasadena area, SGS has become one of the most popular groups in Southern California and features seven of the most talented musicians around. The group has been together for just over two years and has already released two CDs nationally ("Chop Check" and "Blame It On Trio"). A third CD is currently in the works (to be recorded later this year). SGS has featured many world class musicians including Bill Watrous, Eric Marienthal, and Pete Christlieb. San Gabriel Seven is seen regularly at L.A. live jazz venues such as the world famous Jazz Bakery, Holly Street Bar & Grill, Cafe 322, and various other places and events around town. They have also played two mini-tours in St. Louis, MO. Lead by Trombonist, Jim Lewis, the San Gabriel Seven are well on their way to becoming a household name in the world of jazz.
"Due to a variety of factors, many musical groups in L.A. find it difficult or impossible to develop much cohesiveness in the sound, a quality which only comes from rehearsal, focus on the underlying meaning of the music, and other things which require deeper involvement by players than surface-level skills. SGS is unique due to a variety of things: focus, leadership, hard work, and dedication by the core members, and smart management of resources. It is unusual to find a true instrumental group which has both high musical standards and the work ethic necessary to produce a really tight, believable, personal sound. SGS has achieved this beautifully! " -Bruce Lofgren
cover $10.00

Saturday, January 26th at 8:00 p.m
The San Gabriel Seven
cover $10.00

Wednesday, January 30th
Bassist & Composer Morrie Louden and his Group.
Morrie's dedication to his craft throughout high school led to a music scholarship at De Anza College in Cupertino, California, known for having the finest jazz department in the Bay Area. After graduating in 1980, Morrie toured the world for many years with pop icons: Engelbert Humperdinck, Barbra Streisand, The 5th Dimension, and Paul Anka, to name just a few. These experiences led to performing with The New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall. In the nineties, Morrie formed his own group featuring well-known jazz soloists---to include: Bob Sheppard, Carl Fontana, Rick Margitza, Eric Marianthal, Ralph Moore, Brandon Fields, among others. In 1996, he built the superb MoSound Recording Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada: a state-of-the-art recording facility where he has spent much time composing and producing.
Two Shows 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Tickets $10