Taking some time off from being in the Military Service, bassist Hamilton Price got back in his civilian clothes and teamed up with all stars Billy Childs/p, Walter Smith III/ts and Jonathan Pinson/dr for a swinging mix of original inspirations and tributes.
Seeming to be at the center of gravity for every song, drummer Pinson opened up the evening with an exotic rumble that introduced Chris Potter’s “The Source” before Smith III’s earthy tenor slowly built up to a volcanic climax. Price’s deft interplay with Childs formed some creative sparks to fly before things tempered down with Josh Nelson’s “Jogging Day,” creating a sonic mist between Price’s gentle throb of a pulse with Pinson’s restless stick work that went from Class III to IV at bends in the river.
Smith III’s opening aria to “Little Melonae” featured velvety hands of tone, while Pinson snapped like Rice Krispies in the underground before Child’s jumped into the pool with a giant cannonball that sent ripples of ivories flowing outward. Dedicated to Smith’s friend and mentor Jimmy Greene, who’s faith got him through a personal tragedy (read about it in the “Interview” section here), “Greene” combined Childs’ graceful piano effleurage, with Pinson and Price slowly undulating like petals and the composer’s tenor delivering cathartic cries of grief and resignation. The emotion emitted in this Selah were deep and visceral.
Chops and muscle closed the first set with a quicksilver “Four By Five” that had bass and drums marching triple time, something Price must have picked up in Basic Training, as Childs and Smith reached the sprint at the finish line breaking the tape at the same time. There’s a reason these four gents grace albums by Terence Blanchard, Terry Gibbs, Wayne Shorter, Denise Donatelli and Chris Botti; they’ve learned to serve the music, and it was served with style this crisp night in Little Tokyo
Upcoming shows at the Blue Whale include Julian Coryell Mar 16, Mark de Clive-Low Mar 17-18, Margot Gillian Mar 19, Vardan Ovsepian Mar 24 and Sinne Eeg Mar30