Jazz Veteran Makes Classy Statement

People like Pete Jolly are the bedrock of any art form--of any trade or profession, for that matter.

The pianist, a front-line veteran of the L.A. jazz scene for four decades, is not an innovative improviser, he’s not a prolific, ground-breaking composer. No, he’s just a journeyman musician who makes a solid, classy statement from the bandstand.

Jolly’s appearance on Saturday at the Jazz Bakery was true to form. Working with the spiffy Nick Martinis, his drummer of 30 years, and first-rate bassist Bob Maize, Jolly offered unpretentious, swinging looks into several great pop standards and rarely heard jazz compositions. With the latter, Jolly makes a considerable contribution as an archivist who keeps arcane classics in public view.

The pianist began his set with “Dear Old Stockholm,” the folk melody made popular by Stan Getz that’s on Jolly’s new “Yours Truly” album. Later, Jolly played Horace Silver’s “Yeah!,” dropping in zesty strands of notes and brisk, choppy chords.