Jazz Reviews : Pianist Denny Zeitlin

Denny Zeitlin, one of more unusual hyphenates (psychiatrist-pianist) in town this weekend, opened a three-night stint at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood on Thursday evening with a first set that was as close to perfect as one could hope to find.

Working in a trio with bassist Joel DiBartolo and drummer Peter Donald, Zeitlin showed himself to be a deft talent in a variety of jazz modes. Whether taking a straight-ahead, be-bop approach to a standard or exploring the vagaries of free form, the pianist was both imaginative and inventive.

Zeitlin opened his nine-tune set with a rousing rendition of “All the Things You Are” before settling into a reading of Charles Mingus’ “Goodbye Pork-Pie Hat,” a mournful tribute to the legendary saxophonist Lester Young. In this ballad, as well as the later “Lament” by trombonist J. J. Johnson, Zeitlin and company found their best moments of expression. With bassist DiBartolo prodding the melodies, Zeitlin diligently explored the harmonic structures, finding voicings that were as fascinating as they were emotive.

Zeitlin plays in a manner that bespeaks his intelligence. In Ornette Coleman’s “Broadway Blues,” he was challenged by the free form and created, without the help of any written melodic continuity, structure. Similarly, his improvisations on “Softly as the Morning Sunrise” led to the pleasant breaking down of that tune’s form as he rebuilt it.

Throughout, DiBartolo and Donald were in perfect sync with their leader. Donald played with a laid-back urgency that underwhelmed. Though capable of powering a big band, Donald chose this trio setting to make his presence more felt than heard. DiBartolo was succinctly supportive while still managing to contribute inspired solo moments, especially in a reading of “Just Passing By.”

Zeitlin closes tonight at the Catalina.