Jazz

In keeping with the purpose of the Brand Library, a place to find materials related to art and music, officials believed a two-week jazz series would be a cool fit. The idea for the series grew out of a meeting with jazz portrait photographer Bob Barry, who had all the connections for putting together panel discussions, film screenings and a jazz concert. The series, featuring an exhibition of his work, kicks off Saturday and continues through Feb. 19. Planning the two-week event are Alyssa Resnick, senior library supervisor, and Cathy Billings, art librarian and gallery manager.

There is obviously one thing that cozy and quaint Jax Bar & Grill in Glendale is known for besides food and that is the jazz musicians they bring in to entertain their guests. On Tuesday night, the New York-based jazz trio known as Origin Blue made a stop at the trendy establishment during their West Coast tour. With a few people celebrating birthdays, several couples out on dates, and some locals enjoying a beer or two at the bar, the scene was set for Origin Blue to deliver a funk-filled performance of their eclectic style of jazz.

La Crescenta-based musician Dave Siebels has scored dozens of films and television shows, and has traveled the world performing for crowds as big as 75,000 people. Nevertheless, he was a little nervous as he took the stage at the Lanterman Auditorium on April 29 for the debut performance of his first album, “Dave Siebels with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. “In live performance, once you have played those notes they are gone,” Siebels said. You can’t take them back.

Crescenta Valley resident Charles Bausback, 86, made his way slowly to the podium last Saturday morning at Two Strike Park after being honored as a Crescenta Valley pioneer at the annual Arbor Day ceremony. “I’m not sure if I’m deserving of this honor,” he told the crowd of more than 250 people who came out for the morning festivities, “but we’ll make the best of it.” Bausback’s recognition was a highlight of a busy morning that celebrated not only tree-planting — the reason why Arbor Day was first enacted over 135 years ago — but the chance for the community to gather.

The quiet upstairs nook of Left Coast Wine Bar transforms into a vibrant space filled with the sounds of Cuban jazz on Friday nights. Singer and pianist Iliana Rose performs with her band while audience members sip wine and sample some of the dinner menu items. Others sing along with Rose or shake the percussive instruments on their table to Cuban classics like “Guantanamera.” Sergio Gonzalez on drums, David Zasloff on trumpet and Roy Alnashef on bongos complete Rose’s quartet band.

Singer Rick Blessing caught the bug for swing as the young son of an Air Force jet pilot. The family spent many evenings in the officers’ clubs during the 1960s, where they would listen to bands while having dinner. “When I was in high school, I’d go to the officers’ clubs with my parents in Germany and Madrid,” Blessing said. “There would be jazz bands, from four to eight pieces. I told them I could sing, and they gave me the chance to perform.