By BARRY BLITZER Palisadian-Post Columnist Last week the L.A. Times featured a piece by Steve Lopez, one of my favorite if verbose columnists. He wrote about a super-talented New Zealand jazz pianist and arranger, Alan Broadbent, who currently resides with his family in Santa Monica, the point of the story being that jazz is rapidly dying out in this country and something’s got to be done to save it. I hope you agree. Which is why I’m urging every living and breathing Palisadian jazz aficionado to hustle on down to The Jazz Bakery in Culver City this weekend to catch the inimitable pianist Denny Zeitlin, with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Matt Wilson. Well worth a visit. And as financial incentive, full time students 21 and younger (with student IDs) are admitted for half price. Even better, parking is plentiful and FREE. Call 271-9039 for performance times and ticket info. o o o Moving into 2005, the Da Camera Society of Mount St. Mary’s College is sponsoring a forthcoming day at the historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, featuring The Bennie Maupin Ensemble. If you’re unfamiliar with the name, the highly esteemed Maupin plays an array of woodwind instruments ranging from saxophones to bass clarinet. Following the concert, there’s a screening of restored shorts from the ’30s and ’40s consisting of jazz cartoons and studio performances by the late Cab Calloway (of ‘Minnie the Moocher’ fame) and Duke Ellington and Woody Herman. All this plus an artists’ reception in the courtyard of this colorful theater. The date is Sunday, January 9 at 2:15 p.m. and the number to call is (213) 477-2929 for ticket info. o o o Still another venue worthy of your attendance is the quasi-speakeasy in Santa Monica known as The VIC. The owner/manager Ray, offers a varied selection of notable jazz musicians and vocalists on Thursday evenings (resuming on January 6) starting at 8 p.m. Aside from upscale vittles and booze, there are after-hours jam sessions featuring some of lesser known local players, Incidentally, mention this column and you’ll receive the latest password for admittance. Don’t mention it and you’ll get in anyway. o o o Speaking of keeping jazz and jazz performers alive, there are numerous legendary musicians available on CDs, everybody including the keyboard genius Oscar Peterson and his trio with the late, great Ray Brown on bass and Herb Ellis on guitar. Don’t neglect Ella and her unforgettable Rodgers & Hart, Gershwin and Cole Porter songbooks. There’s also Chet Baker, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, George Shearing, Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Artie Shaw, Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins, Art Tatum, Dinah Washington, Antonio Carlos Jobim (the Brazilian Cole Porter) and they’re all mostly available at Borders, Barnes & Noble and Rhino. Sad to relate, I receive not a penny in commissions. Now hear this: If you’re too tapped out after the holidays to spring for recordings, tune in to the 24-hour jazz station, KKJZ FM at 88.1 on the dial. Let’s all band together and keep our favorite homegrown music alive and well… and least through the New Year.
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