Jazz : Vocals Outshine the Headliners at Greek Theatre

Though pianist David Benoit and guitarist Russ Freeman were the headliners Friday night at the Greek Theatre, the show was stolen by the purposefully stirring vocals of Phil Perry, who guested with Benoit-Freeman, and Diane Schuur, who was second on the bill--following opener Tom Scott.

On such heavily back-beat vehicles as “After the Love Has Gone,” Perry applied his pale-as-Budweiser tenor, closing his eyes, wincing, then sliding seamlessly from soft, mid-range tones to vibrant notes that were as thin and shiny as Freeman’s electric guitar strings.

In her set, Schuur walloped the piano as she lit into “Spirit in the Dark,” a demoness determined to get through to the crowd. Her enthusiasm, her muscular alto and throbbing piano backing all combined to do the job.

The Benoit-Freeman set consisted of easily-digested instrumental pop/jazz vehicles. The leaders performed these tunes sure-footedly, and, sporting appealing tones, offered improvisations that contained rows of pretty notes that lacked aesthetic grit.

Scott, in an R&B; mood, romped through “Pick Up the Pieces,” “Rock Island Rocket” and others, displaying his ability to craft persuasive if derivative bluesy solos.

Each band’s rhythm section provided the kind of dynamic whammy that kept the sets on track.