JAZZ REVIEW : A Well-Balanced Mix From Stanley Turrentine at Catalina

Stanley Turrentine can still play the blues. Not exactly a news flash, right? But reassuring, nonetheless, in an era of changing musical currents, that the veteran tenor saxophonist is continuing to produce new wine from the aging vines of the jazz mainstream.

Tuesday night at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood, Turrentine’s late set was a typically well-balanced mixture of blues, standards and funk. He opened with a breathy, low-register reading of “My Romance,” articulated with a sensuous undercurrent that perfectly expressed the song’s lyrics. When the tempo moved into a characteristic New York groove, Turrentine’s lines snapped and popped--crisp with the essence of the blues.

A more contemporary-sounding funk piece was considerably less appealing. Typical of the kind of crossover music Turrentine has traded in for years, it was catchy and rhythmic, but eminently forgettable. “I Can’t Get Started” and a rolling, rocking blues triggered more vital sounding solos. Turrentine’s commercial success may be dependent upon such funk-styled variations on popular songs, but the real essence of his skill is best revealed in his warm, bop-based interpretations of standards and blues.

Turrentine was accompanied by an exceptionally fine quartet. Bassist Scott Ambush soloed in a convincing amalgam of contemporary and traditional styles, while guitarist Bobby Broom recalled both the vigor and the sheer musicality of the young George Benson. Bob Fox on keyboards and Ernie Adams on drums maintained a powerful flow of support throughout the shifting musical styles.

Turrentine and his quartet continue at Catalina’s through Sunday night.