What started as a fast paced weekend with the band Playing For Change at the Levitt Pavilion on Friday ended with a nice, smooth Jazzy note on Sunday night with the Kenny Burrell Big Band Jazz at the Levitt as well.
(Click on images to start a photo gallery.)
Playing for Change packed the house Friday night with music from all over the world. They got us dancing and clapping. Grandpa stood out with his raspy voice and his witty harmonica sound.
The local Levitt’s sound engineer was not familiar with all the songs, naturally. This situation produced few mishaps, as some solo singers were not heard. By the time the engineer got to boost their mic, another soloist had started singing. A big band such as Playing for Change needs a dedicated sound engineer traveling with them. That way he will be familiar with the songs and the solo assignments.
The Pasadena Summer Youth Chamber Orchestra (PSYCO) played at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church on Saturday to an almost full house. The orchestra was conducted by Dr. Paul Sherman and featured Angela Liu on flute, Erika Wang on Violin, Angela Shin on Cello, and Clarice Kwan on Piano. The concert ranged from Mozart to Beethoven.
This orchestra deserves every single donation for their efforts and talents. Their next concert will be on Tuesday, July 29 at 6 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion.
On the other side of town, the Pistolera Band was in full swing at the Levitt Pavilion. 
This songwriting grand prize winner band made the time go fast and brisk.
Foodie alert:
If you get the chance to attend any Levitt Pavilion concert and Mamma’s Pizza happens to be there, make sure you taste their “Roma” pizza. This is not a paid advertisement. Their “Roma” pizza is just that good.
Some folks were visiting the Throop Learning Garden when we arrived Sunday morning. Cherry tomatoes were in full bloom. Cucumbers and fresh herbs were readily available for whoever was helping that day. Then we were invited for a delicious vegan lunch in the hall.
The evening brought Jazz to the All Saints Church with the quartet Left Side Sax Alliance. The sanctuary was filled with Jazz lovers surrounding the musicians. If you have never been there, it is a very intimate setting.
If you happen to show up early, you get to sit around the musicians and feel their every move to the point where no “note” is wasted. Every bit of the music is caught and absorbed by the audience.
Kenny Burrell Big Band Jazz was the right doze to end a nice and eventful weekend.
After 40 years as a jazz professional, appearing on several hundred albums as leader and sideman, Kenny Burrell is among the handful of guitar greats who have forever changed the role of their instrument.
Kenny Burrell has been the recipient of many awards and has been voted “Best Guitarist” numerous times by music fans and critics worldwide. Recently he recieved this honor for the second time from the Jazz Times International Readers Poll.
What a treat.
Just a note, Playing for Change DID have their own engineer mixing, the regular guy was on monitors.
We did clarify it in this week’s edition of “Weekend Round Up”. Thank you for your comment to clear up the confusion.