It was fitting that pianist Aaron Goldberg chose the Mother’s Day weekend to bring his trio to Los Angeles, as his team, along with ex-employer Josh Redman, provided a mother of a show Saturday night at the cozy and hip Moss Theatre.
Emphasizing material from his wondrous new release The Now, Goldberg opened up with the album’s “Trocando Em Miudos” which had the leader start off with a somber and reflective solo; his wave of rhythm was quietly caught on by Matt Penman/b and Obed Calvaire/dr as they waxed and waned with a subtle pulse. Goldberg’s touch on the piano was clear, clean and gentle, while on “Perhaps” he joyfully bopped during a bouncy duet between bass and brushes. Calvaire’s earthy drums delivered Afro Cuban grooves while Goldman’s touch was both percussive and melodic on “Yo Yo” whereas “Francesca” spotlighted dainty and tactile delicacies that were reflective and ebullient.
Up strode Redman, who stepped up to the plate and swung mightily and hit one against the left field wall on the sleek and volcanic “Long Gone,” which had the rhythm team throw red meat to the ravenous tenor sax. Redman was just as torrid on “Shed” which also included Goldberg and Calvaire having a shootout at OK Corral that turned into a funky groove just before everyone dropped out for Goldberg’s solo treatise rollicking up to the climax of the tune. The more sensitive side of the quartet was revealed on “”Lambada de Serpente” in which piano and drums created a morning mist and Penman’s bass sounded like golden dew drops. The evening was brought to a roaring close as Redman dug in and threw kerosene on the burning rhythm section on the nimble and tricky “Oam’s Blues” which mixed torrid tempos with hairpin turns, resulting in a 4 Alarm Fire that had the crowd ready to call 911. The excitement generated from these gents was infectious, with Goldberg and company mixing melody and madness, showing a great future while his music , as his recent disc says, is in The Now.
Upcoming shows sponsored by The Jazz Bakery include Vijay Iyer 05-11, Jane Bunnett 05-16 and Alfredo Rodriguez 06-11.