Jazz Reviews : Reichenbach Revives a Tradition at Amagi

Reviving a decades-old tradition of presenting jazz in the back rooms of restaurants is Amagi, a Sunset Boulevard eatery whose Wednesday-evening menu features jazz from trombonist Bill Reichenbach.

“This is like a three-hour, weekly vacation for me,” said Reichenbach after he finished a four-tune set of standards. “It’s wonderful, a great break from the usual stuff.”

Reichenbach, who is creating the music for the television series “Baby Boom,” fronted a quartet Wednesday featuring pianist Frank Strazzeri, bassist John Leftwich and drummer Nick Martinez. Their first two sets (the music begins at 5 p.m.) were not unlike a jam session in that there were no written arrangements, no set plans and little showmanship.

“This is the sitcom part of the afternoon,” Reichenbach joked after an on-stage band discussion about the pains of dentistry. He then launched into a swinging rendition of “Autumn Leaves” that exhibited the joys of artistry.

Be-bop was the order of the evening, and Reichenbach & Company displayed extraordinary facility at the ageless form. Bassist Leftwich was impressive with his bowed solos on “Autumn Leaves” and “Sweet Georgia Brown,” the latter taken at breakneck speed. Drummer Martinez, working with a scaled-down kit of two drums, cymbal and high hat, showed amazing musicality and deft skill with wire brushes. Strazzeri breathed new life into each tune with inventive harmonic structure and dazzling solo lines. He also contributed a fine composition, “Peaceful Moments,” to the set.

Reichenbach was at his best during a pair of ballads. Playing the bass trombone, he wove gorgeous melody lines on “Some Other Spring” and the classic “Body and Soul.” On the cumbersome baritone horn, Reichenbach challenged himself with “Sweet Georgia Brown” and an equally speedy rendition of “Limehouse Blues,” all the while maintaining musicality and craftsmanship.

The unpretentious Reichenbach band continues its Wednesday-night gig indefinitely.