JAZZ REVIEW : Mulgrew Miller Trio Offers Harmonic Diversity at Catalina

Mulgrew Miller, whose trio opened Tuesday at Catalina, has often been described as a hard bop pianist. But there’s much more to him than that.

Miller is a talented composer whose works include modal moments and exceptional harmonic diversity. His first set on opening night consisted of six extended pieces--two originals, one blues and three standards.

The opener was “If I Should Lose You,” with a solo introduction followed by a rhythm section ostinato as Miller led the group into a series of hard-driving variations. “Carousel,” from his current album, was an engaging original in 3/4 time, during which Richie Goods’ bass solo was well served by both Miller’s support and drummer Tony Reedus’ brushwork.

The high point of the set was Miller’s salute to “Body and Soul,” a piece that’s been played a million different ways in its 64 years but seldom with such subtly conceived harmonic deviations. This tour de force wound up surprisingly with a quote from “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.”

Miller showed his personalized way with the blues on “Blue Monk” before rounding things out with a sensitive treatment of “It Might as Well Be Spring.”

* Mulgrew Miller Trio at Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga, Hollywood, (213) 466-2210. 9 and 11 p.m. Door charge: $12; $15 Saturday. Ends Sunday.