Pop and Jazz Reviews : A Trivial Pairing of McFerrin, Corea

Welcome to the Bobby McFerrin-Chick Corea Comedy Hour. Or should we call it “Trivial Pursuit”?

Whatever the title, Friday’s performance at the Wiltern Theatre was an enigma. Here were two artists of rare and influential talent--a singer who revolutionized wordless vocalism and a pianist-composer with classical, pop and jazz credentials--spending an evening onstage in search of laughter at almost any cost.

This curious mating began by accident when McFerrin sat in once with Corea’s trio and it went so well that McFerrin suggested they get together for some concerts. However, Corea’s trio was not involved on Friday. Had he brought along superb bassist John Patitucci and drummer Dave Weckl, it could have added a much-needed element of variety.

Here are a few samples of what happened: McFerrin gurgling in an indeterminate language; Corea hitting the top of the keyboard, plucking the piano strings, shouting and growling, attacking the side of the piano with mallets; McFerrin imitating a foghorn in distress; Corea pretending to give him a haircut. And that was just the first 20 minutes.

After intermission, Al Jarreau dueted with McFerrin for a treatment of “Oral Blues” that brought a standing ovation. McFerrin invited about 20 fans to join him as he coached them into becoming an ad hoc choir, singing a riff that was repeated some 96 times.

To give the two men their due, there were several interludes that actually switched from comedy to music. McFerrin sat on the apron and began, unaccompanied, a long wordless series of yodels, harrumphs, moos and cries that represented the unique vocal personality for which he became justly famous. Corea, too, had several minutes of serious solo piano before the comedy resumed.

Other highlights included a delightful version of Corea’s “Spain,” a wildly transformed “ ‘Round Midnight,” McFerrin singing and whistling on “Blue Bossa,” Corea in puckish Monkish mood on “Straight No Chaser.”

Is it demeaning for an artist of Corea’s caliber to resort to so much nonsensical clowning? Possibly not, if one judges by the good time everyone enjoyed onstage and off. Still, one can hope that the partnership, whatever its pleasures and pains, will be remembered, if at all, as a whimsical detour.