JAZZ REVIEW : A SWINGING EVENING AT THE PANTAGES THEATER

It was a grand night for swinging at the Pantages Theater on Thursday as the ballad artistry of Carmen McRae, the exacting ebullience of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, the unabashed big band sting of Louis Bellson and the nonpareil talents of Mel Torme provided an altogether pleasing jazz event that faltered only at the box office.

Sadly, it would probably have taken the inclusion of some fusion act to fill the house, but those who half-filled it were treated to four fine examples of acoustic, improvised music. It was a purist’s evening.

McRae, accompanied by a trio headed by pianist Eric Gunnison, came out swinging with “I Hear Music” before settling into a ballad routine that showed the distinctive stylist at her best. “Have You Met Miss Jones,” “I’m Glad There Is You” and “What Am I to You” were perfect vehicles for McRae. It was her darkly emotive “Love Wants to Dance,” however, that showed her at her most subtle.

Brubeck opened his segment with “Festival,” a calypso-like tune that swung heartily from beginning to end. After a neatly swinging “Elana Joy,” which featured the emotive alto saxophone of Bobby Mitello, the quartet dug into “Tritonis,” a difficult tune based on tri-tones in 5/4-time that was made breezy by Mitello’s flute soloing. Bassist Chris Brubeck picked up the trombone for an inspired rendition of “Black and Blue” before the group, featuring drummer Randy Jones, wended its way through the classic “Take Five.”

Louis Bellson might have been given short shrift on the bill, but the vital and exuberant drummer far from shortchanged his audience with two rousing big band numbers. Fronting a band of locally based Bellson alumni, the former Duke Ellington drummer opened with Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “The Intimacy of the Blues” before rocking into his own “Carnaby Street.” Fine solos abounded, with notable efforts by saxophonists Bob Cooper and Bill Greene and trumpeters Steve Huffsteter and Walt Johnson.

Perhaps no performer in jazz has more fun on stage than Mel Torme. Certainly few can equal his enormous range of talent. Thursday evening proved both points as he, with guitar in hand, gave inspired life to “Cow Cow Boogie,” offered a pigeon French rendition of “Autumn Leaves” (and threw in a little Bach), introduced “Watch What Happens” with Strayhorn’s “Take the A Train” and moved to the drums for a rousing salute to the late Gene Krupa.

Torme is sounding his very best these days and he was at the top of his form with the evocative “Budapest Suicide” and the gorgeous ballad “Stardust.”