JAZZ REVIEW : Williams Quintet Busts Loose

Catalina, the only chance-taking jazz room in town, has sprung a surprise this week in the form of the Buster Williams Quintet.

A veteran of dozens of name groups--Herbie Hancock, Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner--Williams has long been known for the depth and power of his sound on bass, the resiliency of his beat and flawless intonation. As a leader, he not only furnished some of the most inventive solos but also wrote all the music.

Here are five first-rate musicians without the support of a powerful record company--without anything to offer, in fact, except sheer talent. That was not enough to fill the room Tuesday, but it should be by the time word gets around (the group closes Saturday).

Williams’ rhythm section partners have been here before in other settings. Renee Rosnes is a sensitive pianist whose solos built from ingenious single-note lines to emphatic bursts of chording, while Billy Drummond, the drummer, provides support that finds him constantly aware of the requirements for every soloist.

The front line, with Shunzo Ohno on trumpet and fluegelhorn, and Steve Wilson on alto and soprano saxes, set the pace for such state-of-the-acoustic-art pieces as “Where’s That Rainbow?,” “Native Dance” and “Something More.”