Grusin Shows His Versatility at Le Cafe

In a unique initiative that other versatile artists might well emulate, Don Grusin visited the Room Upstairs at Le Cafe in Sherman Oaks for four nights, using a different personnel and musical idiom every evening.

Friday, the second of the four, was announced as an acoustic mainstream night. Well, yes and no: The electric bass of Abe Laboriel hardly fits that description; nor do his hopping-up-and-down comedy contortions. Grusin played piano on most numbers, but doubled on electric keyboards that enabled him to synthesize everything from steel drums to a police whistle.

Such quibbles aside, it was a generally well-planned program, with Ernie Watts serving as director, cuing the solos and playing saxes. Alex Acuna on drums completed the group, mainly in various Latin and funk modes.

Grusin opened with a modestly elliptical solo on “All The Things You Are,” for which Watts compensated with a tenor display that went from extrovert to extravagant. He was similarly kaleidoscopic, though ultimately effective, on alto in “My Foolish Heart.”

Also heard were “Water Wings,” a tune from the days when these four men worked as part of a group known as Friendship, and a volcanic version of Watts’ “On the Border.” Acuna lent drama to the pump-up-the-volume ambience.

Grusin seemed a little lost at times, as if overwhelmed by all the action. It would be rewarding to hear him display his keyboard talents alone--or perhaps along with his brother Dave, as he did in an album a couple of years ago.