JAZZ REVIEW : Bandleaders Offer Mixed Set

A band consisting entirely of bandleaders turned sidemen--it seemed like a novel idea, but would it fly? On Tuesday at the Moonlight Tango an ensemble led by drummer Frank Capp provided the answer: yes and no.

Yes, because there were some super talents here: Paul Cacia’s altissimo trumpet on “It Might as Well Be Spring,” Bill Watrous’ serene trombone on “Time for Love” and in a duet with Ann Patterson’s baritone sax on a Brad Dechter original; Bill Elliott taking the band through a time warp for a cute 1930s-style novelty; and other pleasures.

On the negative side, there was the perpetual problem of noisy patrons, whom Capp repeatedly tried to shush; the lack of rehearsal, as a result of which at least one chart (an impossibly difficult opus by Kim Richmond) produced what is known in jazz circles as a train wreck; and the surplus of singers (just Barbara Morrison, the last and best, would have been enough). Additionally, the premise was not exactly adhered to; a couple of men really were not and are not bandleaders.

Al Porcino, a fine lead trumpeter who lives in Munich, was on hand for his Tango debut. Alongside him was Jack Sheldon, a splendid trumpeter and capable vocalist.

Inevitably this ad-hoc unit could not aim at a unified style, but some of the old familiar charts (“Shiny Stockings,” “Tiny’s Blues”) were expertly read and fit the situation comfortably. The least you could say about “Celebrity Bandleaders” was that a good time was had by both on and off the bandstand.