Jazz Reviews : Pianist Adam Makowicz Opens at Catalina

Look at it from Adam Makowicz’s point of view. The expatriate Polish pianist had just arrived Thursday night for his annual visit to Los Angeles and was opening a four-night run at Catalina Bar & Grill. The room was filled with an enthusiastic audience, most of whom appeared to be Polish-speaking. Everything seemed right with his musical world.

But when Makowicz launched into a colorful set devoted completely to Gershwin songs, the noise level in the room began to rise. When Makowicz lowered his dynamic level, the conversational decibels dropped; when his musical intensity increased, the accompanying dialogue became louder and more animated.

Ironically, and perhaps sadly for Makowicz, most of the distracting activity was taking place at the Polish-speaking tables.

With technique to burn and a masterful command of his material, Makowicz can--and did--make the best of a situation that might have driven a more erratic performer from the stage.

The familiar Gershwin tunes received different, often unusual interpretations. “Somebody Loves Me” was played in a semi-stride style, with a crisply articulated, off-beat counter line. “Embraceable You” was disguised with a complex cross rhythm so disjunct that it nearly confused Makowicz’s otherwise dependable rhythm team of bassist Charlie Haden and drummer “Tootie” Heath.

“Summertime” surprised with an against-type interpretation that managed to maintain the lyrical flow of the melody in the context of a highly rhythmic up-tempo. And “Who Cares,” played at an even faster clip, allowed Makowicz to demonstrate the virtuosic technique that is the heart and soul of his improvisational style.

But, despite his intensity, Makowicz was obviously affected by the unsettling atmosphere created by his noisy audience. He and his music deserved more considerate treatment--especially from an audience of his own countrymen.

Makowicz continues at Catalina, one hopes without conversational accompaniment, through Sunday night, with shows at 9 and 11.