JAZZ REVIEW : Vibist Milt Jackson Comes in Fresh and Clear at Catalina

Milt Jackson always sounds best on his own, outside his role as vibraphonist for the Modern Jazz Quartet. That fact was underscored Tuesday at Catalina Bar & Grill when the 71-year-old vibist, long the physical force inside the intellectually heavy MJQ, pushed a strong, locally-based quartet in a commanding first set composed mostly of standards.

Credited for some 40 years as the artist who carried the vibraphone into the be-bop era, Jackson continues to sound fresh, finding new ways to make the blues sing while propelled by the strong tempos of the post-bop era. His work on Sam Jones’ “Unit Seven” was typical as he filled the up-tempo workout with short, finely hammered lines that played to the tune’s percussive attractions before racing through longer, melodic phrases.

Jackson was at his best on a Latin-paced “This Masquerade,” which found him fortifying the theme with clever variations that emphasized the pop tune’s gentrified blues elements. On John Clayton’s “Serious Grease,” he worked in a more rhythmic fashion to emphasize the piece’s funky nature.

The set was filled with the kind of breaks, beat shifts and practiced endings atypical of pickup bands. Bassist Andy Simpkins supplied firm foundations and up-register decorations while pianist Art Hillary, one of the instrument’s most distinguished spokesmen, opened up harmonic landscapes for Jackson’s exploration. The upstart of the group, baby-faced drummer Willie Jones III, seemed especially attuned to his leader’s attack, echoing Jackson’s phrases with snare rattle and cymbal shadings.

* Milt Jackson at Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, (213) 466-2210. $12 cover ($15 Fri.-Sat.) and two drink minimum. Jackson plays two sets at 9 and 11 p.m., through Sunday.