THE SHERATON L.A. DOWNTOWN CALENDAR August  2008 Click here for Hotel Website Click here for Directions

SHERATON LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN 711 South Hope St., Los Angeles, CA 90017 T: 213-488-3500 EVERY FRIDAY 7 PM to 10 PM No Cover - Self Parking (First 2 Hrs FREE) – 50% OFF All Bar Snacks (Full Bar Selection) 20% OFF Dinner At The Grill – Special “Jazz” Room Rate: Make A Night Of It! AUGUST 1 RHONDA BENIN QUARTET Rhonda Benin(Voc), Dr. Dee Spencer(P), Ron Belcher(B), Babatundea Lea (D/Perc) With a voice described as sweet, sultry, like caramel sweetened with honey, vocalist Rhonda Benin is enjoying a full and rewarding musical career. Her career began as background vocalist for icon Maria Mauldar. She has since appeared on over 100 artist recordings, and has shared the stage with noted artists like Patti Austin, Janis Ian, Jackson Brown, Sweet Honey in the Rock and more! Her internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble performing African American roots music was nominated for a GRAMMY. Critics note: “Rhonda can bend notes with a bass, talk serenade with a piano and steam the kettle from the drums." Jean Bartlett, Pacific News AUGUST 8 ANA GAZZOLA "BRAZILITY" DUO Ana Gazzola(Voc/S), Angelo Metz(G) Ana Gazzola started playing the guitar and singing at the age of 5 in southern Brasil. She later moved to Rio de Janeiro where she quickly became headline vocalist at “CALIGOLA” the most famous jazz club in Brazil, located in the heart of Ipanema Beach. Ana has toured extensively, enchanting audiences with her caressing tones in Europe, Asia and especially North America, where she has lived for the past 14 years. Ana and Sonia Santos, two powerful Brazilian vocalists, formed a native band “Brasil Brazil,” which received critical acclaim here in Los Angeles for its euphoric celebrations of sound and the carnival-like atmosphere of its live shows. Ana is fluent in English and Portuguese, and has written many of the songs she performs. AUGUST 15 SHERWOOD SLEDGE TRIO Sherwood Sledge(Voc), Peter Smith(P), James Leary(B) Sherwood Sledge is one of LA's top jazz, blues & gospel entertainers! He has appeared with renowned artists such as Quincy Jones, Patti LaBelle, Freda Payne, and many more. Anyone familiar his work with Quincy Jones, or who has ever heard Sherwood sing as featured soloist with the First AME church choir in L. A., will peg him as one of the world's most inspired gospel singers. His performance tonight will feature great jazz standards as well as foot-tapping rhythm & blues favorites. AUGUST 22 PAMELA FEENER TRIO Pamela Feener (Voc),Howlett Smith (P),Richard Simon (B)Pamela Feener is a vocalist whose impeccable phrasing and story telling with lyrics captures the attention of all who hear her. Her early career was rooted In Las Vegas playing some of the hottest, well-known Las Vegas Hotels. She has toured nationally, performed on TV Variety Shows, and worked in well-known Jazz clubs across the U.S. from The Plaza Hotel, NY to The Playboy Club in NY, Chicago, St. Louis and Los Angeles. Pamela always surrounds herself with top musicians including Gildo Mahones, Art Hillery, Frank Collett, Tamir Hendelman, Christoph Luty & Roy McCurdy, to name a few. She is currently co-starring in the theatre production of, "The 1940s At Club Sweet Lorraine's," where she plays jazz icon, Ms. Peggy Lee. AUGUST 29 JON MAYER TRIO Jon Mayer (P), Chris Colangelo (B), Fritz Wise (D) Jon Mayer is an emotive, playful and superbly inventive bebop-based pianist. He comes from the rhythm-derived pianistic culture of Horace Silver and Red Garland. Jon has played with Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Mary Stallings, Ernestine Anderson, and has toured with the Manhattan Transfer. “A consistently inventive player with a rich harmonic imagination and an innately upbeat sense of swing, Mayer is always a pleasure to hear.” Don Heckman, LA TIMES