Jazz Reviews : Leni Stern Leads a Flexible Foursome

Things ran hot and cool Tuesday at downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Avenue Bar as guitarist Leni (pronounced Lean-ee) Stern led an electrified quartet through bracing originals of the modern, contemporary mode.

During the third set by the group, a cohesive yet flexible foursome with a distinctive sound and an occasional penchant for loudness, the hot was provided mostly by guitarist Wayne Krantz. Krantz, who has been in Stern’s New York-based band for more than two years, is given to fiery, intense outbursts. Stern came up with the cool, revealing a preference for less frenetic ideas and for letting her notes stretch out for more than a beat or two.

The contrast allowed the group, which included bassist Paul Socolow and drummer Zach Danziger and is making its L.A. debut this week, to achieve a maximum of color with a minimum of instrumentation.

“Phoenix,” from the leader’s “Closer to the Light” release, exemplified the two guitarists’ divergent styles. As Danziger set a torrid tempo, Stern and Krantz offered a dulcet, relaxed melody, playing notes that shimmered like the rings of water that result when a tossed stone breaks the surface of a still lake.

Krantz soloed first, mixing brief, punchy statements with breakneck-clip, flowing lines--some built around phrases that changed slightly as he altered this note or that one but kept the idea’s basic structure. When Stern stepped in, she immediately broke the mood, squeezing out some of her notes like toothpaste from the tube, then playing series of notes with no hurry whatsoever to balance her extended tones.

The band, which also played such tunes as “Point Falling” and “Secrets” continues its Southland stay with performances at Stingaree Gulch in San Pedro tonight, and at St. Mark’s in Venice, Friday and Saturday.