No Practice Makes Perfect for All Stars

Put an unrehearsed band of “all stars” on stage and what do you normally get? That’s right, a rehearsal masquerading as a performance.

But that wasn’t the case Saturday at the Orange County Art & Jazz Festival, held at the Fullerton Arboretum, when the festival’s All-Star Band gathered on the main stage. Directed by trumpeter Jeff Bunnell, the six-piece combo blew its way through an hourlong set of tunes from Horace Silver, Blue Mitchell, Clifford Brown and others in a way that made it hard to believe the participants hadn’t gotten together before to work out the kinks.

Held under sunny skies, the festival’s third edition presented a variety of jazz and blues at two sites, surrounded by art displays and food and beverage vendors. Groups ranged from the excellent band from El Dorado High School to professional ensembles playing Latin, fusion and mainstream. A jazz harpist entertained from the porch of the arboretum’s historic Heritage House, while children twirled and gyrated on the lawn in front of the tree-framed main stage.

But the high point of the day was the All Stars’ performance led by trumpeter Bunnell.

It wasn’t, however, as if the members of Bunnell’s combo had never worked together before. The trumpeter, saxophonist Eric Marienthal and trombonist Andy Martin had all participated in last year’s All-Star Band. And the rhythm section--pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist Dave Carpenter and drummer Joe LaBarbera--team regularly as the Bill Cunliffe Trio.

Still, one wouldn’t expect quite as polished, or exciting, a performance without the benefit of a rehearsal. But the seven-tune set proved to be an astounding presentation, producing the sort of music that both pleases and stimulates.

The rhythm section--led by Cunliffe, a past Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition winner--proved to be the glue that kept the group together. With Carpenter contributing fleet, often lyrical walk rhythms and LaBarbera, best-known as the late Bill Evans’ last drummer, mixing and matching rhythms behind the play, the formidable horn section had plenty of solid ground to take off from.

Marienthal was particularly stunning. Though Orange County fans have more opportunity than others around the country to hear the Costa Mesa saxophonist play unstructured, jam-session style gigs (he appears periodically at the Studio Cafe in Balboa when he’s not touring with Chick Corea or his own contemporary band), it’s still surprising to hear what an adept, agile improviser he is when playing more straight-ahead material.

His alto solo on “Joy Spring” was a model of clever, fluid-paced story-telling. His work on the ballad “My One and Only Love” featured soulful theme lines decorated with tasteful embellishment, while his unaccompanied closing on the same tune was ambitious, yet beautifully lyrical. And his sound on Blue Mitchell’s “Fungi Mama” was fired by a strong sense of the R&B; tradition.

Marienthal didn’t stand alone in these accomplishments. Bunnell was particularly light on his feet, playing with strength and speed at appropriate times, with cool reserve at others.

Martin, who has just released a new CD on Resurgent Records, avoided the bluster so often associated with the trombone, instead constructing his improvisations much like a trumpeter, without the gimmicks slide players often hide behind.

Working without the horns, the rhythm section spruced up “Love for Sale” in an arrangement that Cunliffe played when he was with the Buddy Rich band. The pianist spread the melody thin, hinting at the famous theme in a light, behind-the beat manner before swirling into a complex, rhythmically astute solo. LaBarbera developed polyrhythmic patterns between his cymbals and drums during his improv in a style that was crisp and tightly executed.

It’s not uncommon for all-star groups to be fired by ego battles, and that kind of inspiration wasn’t entirely avoided here as one dynamic solo followed another. But this kind of one-upmanship only made this performance better, as the participants continually upped the musical ante on one another.

Earlier in the day, keyboardist-vocalist Yve Evans, probably best known as a soloist who performs jazz and blues standards, added some electricity to her act with a beat-minded backing foursome. Evans’ version of “Wade in the Water,” powered by electric bassist Stan Sargent and drummer Dale Alexander, signaled that this would be no quiet piano-lounge set as the group got funky behind Evans’ spare, percussively slanted piano play and hip vocals.

Evans presented a number of medleys, combining “Take Five” and “My Favorite Things” at one point and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On?” in another. Even the barroom favorite “Misty” was played with an upbeat swing feel with fine solos coming from trumpeter Andrew Carney and guitarist Tony Drake.

Opening the day, the Fullerton College Lite Ensemble directed by Gregory Woll showed professional chops on an ambitiously rhythmic chart, “Boppin’ at the Buckhorn.”

The Cal State Fullerton Jazz ensemble directed by Allen Carter provided attractive framing for All-Star soloists Martin and Bunnell.

The surprise of the day was the El Dorado High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Richard Watson. With its strong brass players and confident rhythm section, the Placentia-based ensemble presented a well-rounded program that featured promising solo work from drummer Jeff Hoblin, saxophonist Kaci Kaufman, trombonists Chris Colonnier and Jonny Troop and bassist Steve Mann.

On the Heritage House front porch, jazz harpist Lori Andrews plucked “Take Five,” “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?” and her own “Jungle Blues,” bringing a decidedly celestial sound to the beat and swing tunes. Andrews operated much like a pianist, playing melodies with the right hand, supplying chordal support with her left. In Andrews’ hands, the harp swung, swirled and danced with intensity.

* The festival was scheduled to conclude Sunday with the Wendell Kelly Group, the Tom Hynes Project, the Fullerton College Jazz Ensemble and its guests Tony Guerrero and Greg Vail, among others.