JAZZ REVIEW : A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR COREA AT AMPHITHEATRE

It was a special night for pianist Chick Corea at the Universal Amphitheatre on Thursday, when his 45th birthday turned what might have been a business-as-usual jazz concert into a celebration.

The evening started uneventfully with solo guitarist Al DiMeola playing a long half-hour’s worth of his trademark high speed runs. His obvious technical prowess was fascinating on its own terms, but wore thin quickly--a classic victory of style over substance.

Tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter’s now not-so-new group sounds vastly improved since it debuted here last year. Shorter’s increasingly personal solo style--generally sub rosa in his work with Weather Report--has surfaced in an impressive fashion, although his talented, young rhythm section continued to confine him in too predictable, rock-style phrasing.

Corea’s Electrik Band, however, was a delight on all counts. Just returned from a lengthy European concert tour, the band members bristled with the jaunty confidence of a team whose members intuitively anticipate each other’s every move. Among the better moments in a set filled with highlights were John Pattatucci’s stunning bass work on “Silver Temple,” drummer Dave Weckl and guitarist Scott Henderson’s torrid comping on “Rumble,” and Corea’s ingenious interaction with computer-programmed percussion effects on “No Zone” and “Rumble.”

The evening climaxed with an impromptu jam session as Herbie Hancock and Al Jarreau came on stage to celebrate what was an obviously memorable birthday for Corea. It was equally memorable for those of us fortunate enough to have shared the experience.