POP MUSIC AND JAZZ REVIEWS : An Indifferent Spike Robinson

Spike Robinson, the saxophonist from Colorado, now spends so much of his time overseas that he was billed at Chadney’s in Burbank, for his weekend gigs as “England’s popular tenor player.”

Robinson has a disconcertingly casual and unleaderlike attitude. In his Thursday show, smoking on the bandstand and drinking beer out of a bottle, he seemed equally indifferent to his repertoire, which includes two worn-out standards--”Nobody’s Sweetheart” and “You Were Meant for Me.” He even descended to the level of “Heartaches,” a cornball song when it was introduced more than 60 years ago.

On a few tunes, however, Robinson gave full expression to his warmth of tone and subtlety of phrasing. At his best he remains one of the outstanding tenor players in the Stan Getz-Zoot Sims tradition.

The sidemen are beyond reproach, although there is no particular challenge for them in this situation. Marty Harris on piano, Jake Hanna on drums and particularly the highly inventive Dave Carpenter on bass, all acquitted themselves creditably.

One can only hope that it is not too late for Robinson to take into account the responsibilities of leadership.