Jazz Reviews : Grappelli Opens ‘Sounds of Genius’ Series in Pasadena

An evening spent in the company of the music of violinist Stephane Grappelli is much like a reunion with an old lover: It is reassuringly comfortable and familiar, with enough surprises to sustain inordinate interest.

As the first artist to perform in this season’s “Sounds of Genius” series Monday night at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, the 80-year-old Grappelli lived up to his billing through his jaunty explorations of a series of pop tunes. While the works of Ellington, Gershwin, Porter and Kern carry their own genius, it was the efforts of Grappelli that breathed life into lesser songs like “Blue Moon,” “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love” and “Chattanooga Choo-Choo.”

Music, of course, is something to be played, and there is nobody on the current jazz scene more playful than Grappelli. Even in those serious moments when the violinist would be waxing at his most poetic, one could sense that he was merely marking time--waiting for a funny transition, an oddball musical quote, a doubling of the tempo.

His partners in this musical joy were like-minded in their efforts. Guitarist Martin Taylor, whose brilliance was best displayed in his solo rendition of “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” provided deft background and support to the trio’s efforts. Bassist Jon Burr, whose introduction to “Blue Monk” was a delightful medley of Thelonious Monk tunes, played the perfect foil to Grappelli. When the violinist found Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” a vehicle for pizzicato expression, Burr bowed his way through the melody in a rumbling low register.

Despite an arm’s-length list of musical associations during his career, Grappelli is still best remembered for his work with the quintet of the Hot Club of France, a group founded in 1931 that featured guitarist Django Reinhardt. Memories of that time were offered with renditions of “Nuage” and “Daphne” at the close of his first set.

While those enduring strains have withstood the test of time, there’s little doubt that what will prove the most durable of Grappelli’s gifts is the joy he derives from--and brings to--music.