I've been lucky to work with the top players on the jazz scene in LA. Among my favorites are Betty Bryant, Robert Kyle, Jennifer Leitham, the Martini Kings, Sara Gazarek, Gina Saputo, Judy Wexler, Graham Dechter, Kristin Korb, Joyce Collins....the list goes on and on, I can't possibly name them all.
For eight years I had the pleasure of presenting live Sunday Night Music at Chaya Brasserie in Beverly Hills, and for two years booked live music at Il Moro on the West Side. I was very grateful to both venues for the opportunity, and have wonderful memories of my tenure as the live music booker for both of these beautiful Los Angeles restaurants.
I am starting on a new adventure - stop into the Hollywood Studio Bar and Grill on Friday nights from 5 to 7 PM. I will be playing piano and singing for the early cocktail hour, doing lots of ballads and bossa novas....chill, don't ya' know. Good food, great prices, free parking.
The Hollywood Studio Bar and Grill.
6122 West Sunset
Hollywood 90028
323-466-9917
Also, I am pleased to announce that I will be hosting for a few nights a week at Susan Fenniger's new restaurant "Street", opening in early March in the newly refurbished Highland Grounds space on Highland between Melrose and Santa Monica. Look for an early March opening...stay tuned.
Influences
A few of the
artists SJD has booked into live music venues:
I'm a booking manager, singer, and pianist in Los Angeles. I work for Corniche Entertainment, a division of the Corniche Group, Inc. Corniche was established as one of the top corporate travel agencies in the world, handling all aspects of travel for celebrities, sports, and corporate clients. Recently an Entertainment Division was established to book music for corporate events and private parties, and to manage Latin bandleader Louie Cruz Beltran.
Corniche Enterainment has booked entertainment for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's birthday party at the Governator's private residence, for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Border Governor's Conference, Doctors Without Borders, Proctor & Gamble, British Petroleum, Hollywood and Highland in conjunction with Cirque du Soleil, a private dinner honoring former Secretary of State George Schultz, among many other events. We are proud to be sending five of Southern California's finest jazz musicians to the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival this year.
I have long been a true blue jazz fan, but like and book lots of different styles of music, including Latin Jazz, Salsa, Brazilian, bluegrass, some country, folk, and pop.
I began singing classical and light opera in San Francisco, where
I was a member of the Lamplighters, a professional company that
performs mostly Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta.
I was appearing in musicals in LA, touring, and doing
dinner theatre and summer stock when I developed a love
for jazz and standards. Teri Merrill-Aarons, the late founder of the
Los Angeles Jazz Society heard me when I was a
full time music major at Los Angeles City College,
and began booking me under the auspices of the LAJS
in clubs throughout LA. I sat on the board of directors
of the LAJS for a couple of years, and was director of publicity
for their Tribute to the late bassist, Ray Brown.
By 1999 I was lucky enough to be sharing the stage with the late great Anita O'Day at the Atlas Supper Club
in Hollywood. O'Day's manager had heard me at The Gardenia,
and invited me to sit in one evening. "I like it", O'Day said
after hearing me, and she invited me to share the bill that
summer. It was a honor to hang with Anita. She was nearing the end of her amazing career, but she still had that great timing, wit, and plenty of charisma.
The same year I met another of my idols, Page Cavanaugh.
I became a regular at Page's Friday Night gig at the now-
defunct Bicycle Shop Cafe in West LA. We became buddies.
I liked to get there early on a Friday, and sit behind
Page at the piano so I could watch his amazing hands and
hear his remarkable stories.
I recorded my first CD with Page soon after. "Dreamer With a Penny" also features
pianists Joyce Collins and Jane Getz. I've studied piano
privately with both ladies. We got considerable airplay
throughout the U.S., as well as on BBC Radio 2 in London.
In 2005 I recorded two more sessions with Page. Cuts from those sessions, "Sweet Sue" and "The Coffee Song" are available for listening here.
As most of you know, Page left us in December of 2008. I was blessed to know him and be a small part of his amazing musical life. Page worked in every musical form of the 20th Century. From early 12" recordings in the late 1940's, to vinyl albums, early radio, early television, films at Paramount Studios, casette tapes, CDs, DVDs, the internet....he did it all, and did it in his own uncompromising style.
Viva Cavanaugh!
On a sad note, Susan Levitus, an amazing lady and true blue fan of the Great American Songbook and Page Cavanaugh, and who produced Page's last CD as a leader, passed away unexpectedly on January 29th, 2009. My heart is heavy as I write this - she was a dear friend and a class act. But, it is best not to dwell on the sadness of loss. Its best to be grateful for the richness of our friendships, and to look to the future - both Page and Susan lived their lives that way.
Also included on this page are a couple more cuts from "Dreamer With a Penny". "The Good Life" features a beautiful solo by the late Bob Maize, and drummer Ralph Penland's subtle brushwork. "You Are There" was written by Dave Frishberg, and Joyce Collins on piano plays with heartfelt intimacy.
"Dreamer With A Penny' is a charmer, check him out.."
Brick Wahl, Brick's Picks, LA Weekly
"LA is awash in fine vocalists...we are partial to the unassuming Mark Miller and his great quartet..." Brick Wahl, LA Weekly
" A superior vocalist, one of LA's finest..." Scott Yanow,
Music Connection Magazine
.. ..
Notice they misspelled "Cavanaugh"...ah, nightclub managers.
In the recording
studio with
Chico Marx.
**"photos used by permission of Page Cavanaugh and Susan LeVitus."**
Hey baby-we missed you 2 Friday nights in HSB&G already. Joel is still sick with a baaaad cough. Had hoped to come in. Hopefully next week if all is ok. Love,Claudia xo
Hi doll So sweet of you to stop in to hear me sing on Wed.even for the short time you were there. What a great surprise to see your face there. Joel was too tired so Craig,my friend from my old NYC days,here for his upcoming gig at Gardenia,took me instead. Hope to see you on Thursday night. We'll speak later this week. Many hugs and smooches,Claudia xo
