Jazz Reviews : Modernist Red Rodney Respects Tradition

Red Rodney, who came to jazz prominence with Charlie Parker in 1949, remains at heart a be-bopper. But his approach is fresh and spirited, his style contemporary.

In town as a last-minute substitute for the ailing Toots Thielemans, one example of the 60-year-old trumpeter’s modern attitude and his respect for tradition came, Thursday night at the Catalina Bar & Grill, during a rendition of the traditional “Greensleeves.” Hard-swinging in 3/4-time, the tune gave way to a fervent reading of John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps.”

Joining Rodney was tenor saxophonist Bob Belden, a New York-based commercial and film composer who has also worked as the trumpeter’s record producer. His deep, full sound and extraordinary musicality inspired a fascinating melodic dialogue with Rodney’s muted trumpet on “Softly, as in the Morning Sunrise” and formed hard-bop two-horn line on “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes.”

Keeping things swinging was the expert rhythm section of bassist Tony Dumas and drummer Ralph Penland. Pianist Bobby Lyle performed splendidly in a genre to which he is unaccustomed but nonetheless well-suited. His solo on Rodney’s ballad, “The Red Giant,” was inspired.

Rodney, who included a blues selection he used to sing as “Albino Red” during his Parker days, performs through Sunday.