Jazz Reviews : Save an Elevator Ride for the McDaniel Quartet

Don’t go to Inn Arty’s, the 8-month-old storefront wine bar in Pasadena, expecting to be on the cutting edge of jazz. At least not when the Michael McDaniel Quartet is occupying the stage.

Friday night, McDaniel, a tenor saxophonist and flutist of no renown, led his Quartet through a poorly executed, uninspired opening set that was about as stimulating an experience as a ride in an elevator. The difference being, that elevator music is generally more pleasurable.

Although guest trombonist Stu Pilorz contributed some lively, well-thought solos during the lackluster set, he was burdened by a sloggish rhythm section, a pianist with merely basic skills and a leader who should be sequestered in a practice room with his tenor saxophone.

McDaniel’s saxophone intonation was, in a word, abominable. Amid the squeaks and squawks that accompanied his every effort came poorly realized solo lines akin to those one might hear from a first-year student. When he played in tandem with Pilorz, the problems became even more evident. At best, McDaniel hit an adequate stride on the flute, though his improvisations were decidedly amateurish.

The band played five tunes during its opening set, including a pair of McDaniel compositions. Each outing displayed inordinate mediocrity, with George Gershwin’s “Summertime” leaving one hoping for a quick change of seasons.

Pianist Althoas Brown contributed no significant solos and showed little competence as a section player, his comping being limited to heavy-handed pounding of basic chords. Bassist Bill Markus, whose pedestrian playing was nonetheless unobtrusive, was in a constant rhythmic struggle with drummer Alan Cook.