The Best Los Angeles Jazz Concerts of 2011
Walter Smith III
Blue Whale
Blue Whale, December 17
Joon Lee, the modest personality behind Little Tokyo's Blue Whale, is an indispensible part of the local jazz community who books some of the most daring acts in Los Angeles. Saxophonist Walter Smith III, a hard-swinging transplant, was one such act earlier this month. His band of ringers put on an powerhouse set before a standing-room only crowd that reminded everyone that there is a sizable (and bar-patronizing!) jazz community in Los Angeles. -Sean J. O'Connell
Kneebody with special guests, Daedelus and Busdriver
Little Temple, December 4
At a seemingly covert show at the Little Temple, this progressive-jazz-rock band delighted the boisterous crowd that somehow found out about the event. DJ and computer music genius Daedalus was somehow able to use the band as his own human turntable, setting up grooves and samples to which they played in a strange, fantastic courtship. Fast-rapping Busdriver closed it out, fronting the band with impressive flutter-beat poetry. Such collaborations only enhance Kneebody's unlimited creative capacity. (NOTE: Clip above from the Vienna Jazz Festival 2009.) -Gary Fukushima
Alex Machacek/Jimmy Johnson/Terry Bozzio Trio
The Baked Potato, November 4
Austrian guitarist Alex Machacek and former Frank Zappa drummer Terry Bozzio teamed for the first time with uber-bassist Jimmy Johnson at The Baked Potato for two nights in early November. The results were nothing less than electric, as Johnson both complimented and pushed Bozzio more with each song. The compositions from Machacek and Bozzio were both dense and intense, but still left enough space for each musician's virtuosity to shine. -Tom Meek
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