JAZZ REVIEWS : Rare Reunion of Milt Jackson Quartet at Catalina Grill

The Milt Jackson Quartet, or specifically the version of it that the vibraphonist reassembled to open Tuesday at Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood, has the same instrumentation as the Modern Jazz Quartet, in which he works much of the time. There, however, the resemblance ends.

With Cedar Walton (whom he introduced as the piano candidate for his dream band) on board, and solidly backed by the impeccable bass of John Clayton and the stimulating percussion of Billy Higgins, Jackson finds himself surrounded by the high energy level that has been so noticeably lacking in recent years in the MJQ. Instead of plodding through Gershwin medleys, this unit has a repertoire of originals by Jackson, Ray Brown and particularly Cedar Walton, whose “Holy Land” found the four men connecting intuitively with each other and with the audience.

Walton, who normally leads his own quartet, is much more than a sideman here. His crisply articulated solos and vigorous backup work behind Jackson’s vibrant lines are key elements in the group’s success. Clayton, who matches him in expertise and enthusiasm, was the featured soloist in that elegant revival of Randy Weston’s “Hi Fly.”

Jackson’s virtuosity stretched from ballads (“Close Enough for Love”) to blues, an area in which his undiminished mastery was demonstrated in such pieces as Lee Morgan’s “Speedball” and his own “Bags’ Groove.”

Bags (Jackson’s nickname) truly hits his groove in this setting. One could only regret that this quartet gets together about once a year, while being thankful that these reunions are reserved for the Southland. The group closes Sunday.