JAZZ REVIEW : Rushen: Back to Her Roots

It’s always news when a former jazz artist who has gone on to greener pastures returns to the scene of his first love. Or her first love, as was the case when Patrice Rushen put together an acoustic jazz quintet for performances Saturday and Sunday nights at Le Cafe in Sherman Oaks.

Rushen’s prodigious talent as a pianist was evident 20 years ago in Los Angeles when she won awards for the Locke High School band. As she moved later into electronics, fusion, singing, and eventually such prestigious jobs at musical director of the Emmy Awards, her jazz ability was all but forgotten--but certainly not lost.

She was in stunning form Saturday, recapturing the spirit of works by other pianists who were her childhood idols: Thelonious Monk (“I Mean You”), Horace Silver (“Song for My Father”) and Herbie Hancock (“One Finger Snap”). She bopped her way through the Monk tune, then dug deep into blue funk on the Silver opus. Her articulation and phrasing at the keyboard was consistently powerful. This exciting re-examination of her past proved that your roots, once you’ve established them, can never be forgotten.

The totally unrehearsed group provided her with worthy company. Oscar Brasher is an eloquent trumpeter whose every solo was notable for its purity of sound and sensitivity of construction.

Benny Maupin, the ex-Hancock tenor player, came on far too strong in his overblown opening solo, but settled into a more controlled groove later.

Tony Dumas, as always, showed a supple, Brazilian style on upright bass, and drummer Ndugu Chancler offered support for the soloists that seemed to coincide with their every accent.