Liz Cole, Jeffrey Gimble, Josh Nelson, The Gardenia. November 21, 2025

What do Mr. Rogers, Dizzy Gillespie, kazoos, the planet Mars and Petula Clark have in common? The answer was to be found last night at the good ol’ Gardenia as Liz Cole and Jeffrey Gimble treated us to a smart, eclectic set of music. Before the show the room was buzzing with conviviality, and when pianist Josh Nelson walked in, he said, “Oh, wow, this is a room full of friends.”

Once they got over some jitters on a somewhat bumpy opener, “I Thought About You,” Cole and Gimble relaxed into an easy rapport on their duets, especially the charmingly goofy “So Dumb, But So Beautiful,” an obscure novelty first released on shellac in 1944. They collaborated on a beautiful samba, Toninho Horta’s “Aquelas Coisas Todas,” greatly enhanced by drummer Aaron Rafael Serfaty's deft brush work.

Other standouts included Cole’s delightful Fred Rogers song “This Is the Day.” She used her melodic, clear voice to great effect on “Moon River,” featuring bassist Eric Sittner 

It was a pleasure to hear Gimble perform his version of “Don’t Sleep In the Subway,” delivered with a down tempo tenderness that the composers Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent possibly intended before it was turned into an up tempo 60’s mega hit by Petula Clark. Gimble performed Josh Nelson and Kathleen Grace's composition “How You Loved Me On Mars,” released on Nelson’s 2015 album “Exploring Mars.” I love this record and listen to it to this day. Gimble delivered the song with the emotional connection and respect that it deserves. He also dug deep emotionally for a reading of Karrin Allyson's lyric to Dizzy Gillespie’s “Con Alma.”

Showing that they don’t take themselves too seriously, Cole and Gimble had fun and broke out the kazoos for “Strictly for the Birds,” a vocalese number recorded by Dudley Moore and Cleo Laine on their album from 1982, “Smilin’ Through.” Josh Nelson expertly referenced a bit of Oscar Peterson and “Night Train” on the swinging blues form accompaniment.

The band was stellar throughout – Josh Nelson, sensitive and sparkling on piano and Nord; the versatile, sunny and gifted Aaron Serfaty on drums; Eric Sittner on bass providing solid support and fresh, inventive soloing.

With rumors afoot that the Gardenia may soon close, it’s hard to imagine where this kind of intimate, smart and satisfying evening will find a home. The Gardenia has been a mainstay of the cabaret/jazz scene in West Hollywood for some 40 years. One thing is clear, though – the people who honor and curate this kind of entertainment are resilient and very resourceful. Joon Lee's “Blue Whale” is soon to reopen. Cathy Segal-Garcia and Sidney Jacobs are reviving an intimate show room, “Birds of a Feather” near Disney Hall in downtown Los Angeles. I’ll choose to remain optimistic. Great music finds a way.

Shameless self-promotion alert – I’ll be performing a brunch show at “Birds of a Feather” on Sunday, February 22nd. Stay tuned for details.