Returning to the site of their successfully recorded album 3 Nights In LA, the team of saxist George Garzone with pianist Alan Pasqua, bassist Darek Oles and legendary drummer Peter Erskine showed that the previous visit here was no fluke, as the music presented on this evening was just as exciting and sparkling as the first, with the addition of friendly familiarity to add extra texture.
Playing only one song from the 3 disc album, Garzone was still able to keep “Have You Met Miss Jones Fresh” with a rich blend of swing and clever harmonics as Erskine’s pulse teamed with Oles was like a pair of stallions in the chariot race in Ben-Hur, as Pasqua added fervent bop lines. The swinging “Strollin’ Down On Bourbon Street” had the rhythm team canter with class, as Pasque’s fingers embodied a warm and easy glide with his block chords and Erskine coaxed Garzone’s rich solos along with his ride cymbal.
Garzone switched to soprano on his own “Between Two Cities,” producing a theme and solo that mixed melancholy gasps, slurs and clips on the slithering Middle Eastern theme, while Pasqua contributed ruminated musings, Oles pulsed along like a caravan guide and Erskine brought the place to a hush with his exotic mallets creating a luminous mood over the Sahara desert.
The team closed things up with Garzone getting his tenor and using it like a shovel to dig in deep as he plunged in with both feet on the freebopping “Chasing The Train,” going literally head to head with Erskine on as sparks flew on the wrestling match that came to a cheerful draw. The mix of Garzone’s earthy and searing sax and Erskine’s relentless brushes dancing like Astaire made for a wonderful climax. Were any tapes rolling on this set?
Upcoming shows at SamFirst Bar include Jonathan Pinson 10/30-31, Sam Barsh Trio 11/7-9, Joshua White TrioS 11/14-16