JAZZ REVIEW : John Novello Quintet Sizzles With Potential

Expect to be hearing more from John Novello.

The synthesist/composer, who played a one-nighter at Le Cafe Wednesday, has been devoting much of his time lately to educational work connected with his highly successful teaching book, “The Contemporary Keyboardist.” But his current group, a crisply articulate quintet that prominently features the vocals of Gloria Rusch, sizzles with potential for commercial success.

Novello has managed to create a strikingly contemporary-sounding music without sacrificing the drive and swing of mainstream jazz. On pieces like “The Bronk” and “Celebration” his mixture of riff-styled melodies and funk-driven rhythms brought color and feeling to a style that can sometimes become automated and passionless.

But the group’s genuinely unique identity became evident when Rusch joined the ensemble. The addition of her far-ranging voice to the mix on two Novello/Rusch originals, “On the Other Side” and “Space Dancin’,” and, especially, a surging blues, resulted in a sound and substance that should have no difficulty breaking through to the adult contemporary market. Rusch displayed all the characteristics of a superb solo singer, and her startling, octave-leaping scat singing was vital to the special character of the Novello ensemble.

Guitarist Jamie Glaser, saxophonist David Stanbaugh and Novello carried much of the solo load, with bassist Melvin Davis and drummer Randy Drake laying down a vibrant carpet of rhythm. The playful Glaser managed to have fun with everything he touched, while Stanbaugh did what he could with his Dave Sanborn-rooted method.

Novello, however, soloed as well as he composed, bringing a straight-ahead energy to his choruses that was reminiscent of Jimmy Smith’s unstoppable blues work. Clearly Novello, who describes himself as an educator as well as an artist, has the ability to teach as well as perform. At the moment, his future looks very bright in both directions.