Just before the 90 minute set started, drummer Joe LaBarbera was asked if this set with Gary Smulyan/bari, Bob Mintzer/ts and Darek Oles/b was part of a tour or recording project. “No,” he replied, “it’s just some guys getting together to keep busy.” Isn’t that the essence of the creative spontaneity of jazz?
The all star quartet opened things up with a series of back and forth exchanges on Pepper Adams’ “In and Out” which had Joe LaBarbera’s drums serve as the traffic cop to point Smuylan, MIntzer and Oles in the right direction. Tapping out a calypso like Gene Kelly, LaBarbera teamed up with Smulyan’s sorghum rich bari during a nifty duo portion of “It’s You Or No One” between the molten lava lines by the two saxes and Oles’ pulsating bass solo. Mintzer got a chance in the spotlight as the band turned into a lithe trio and the tenor sax created a spacious balm on the rich “Everything Happens to Me.”
Smulyan celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra on the Jones composition “Three In One” which had LaBarbera switch to Fred Astaire with his brushes gliding over the snares while the baritonist delivered a volcanic solo that showered hot ash like Mt. St. Helens. Closing with a torrid read of the bebop classic “Shaw ‘Nuff”, the four gents, consisting of a leader of the famed Yellowjackets, a Downbeat Poll winner, jazz’s best drummer and LA’s most in demand session bassist show how even during Halloween night, jazz doesn’t need any tricks to still provide a night of treats.
Upcoming shows include Kendrick Scott’s Oracle 11/07, Josh Nelson’s Discovery Project 11/13-14, Danny Janklow/10-16, Brian Auger 11/18 and the beginning of Steve Coleman’s one month residence 11/30