Unconventional jazz guitarist climbs to success at early age

Guitarist Pat Metheny is no stranger to academia, but after becoming a professional jazz guitarist at age 14, homework and grades were never a priority to Metheny. “My (high school) graduation was like a mercy graduation. There was no way I had the credits to get out of school,” he said. Metheny brings his jazz […]

String Cheese rocks Hulaween bash

On Halloween night the Shrine Auditorium hosted a different crowd than usual, as the former home of the Academy Awards housed the “Academummy Awards,” the special “Hulaween” show featuring Colorado-based jam band The String Cheese Incident. The band’s energetic performance style was clearly displayed at the Thursday night show, during which the members played three […]

Singer makes use of unique vocals, persona

The crowd at the Troubadour Thursday night was about 75 percent female. This is the case when an attractive, acoustic singer-songwriters performs. Jason Mraz, an up-and-comer headlined the sold-out show, proving to the 600 enthusiastic fans that he has more to offer than many of his crooning contemporaries. With a guitar in hand, bongo drums […]

Flecktones to play bluegrass, jazz blend at UCLA

The banjo might remind you more of “The Beverly Hillbillies” theme song than eclectic rock music, but for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, well, it speaks of both. For the Flecktones, the banjo is an incredibly diverse instrument that can play jazz, classical, rock, jam and bluegrass. Saxophones are meant to be played two at […]